Producers wanted the lead role in Sicario rewritten for a man,and I agree with them: Sicario could have been a better movie with a male lead. The lead character in Sicario is a dupe, and a patsy.
Lead character (Emily Blunt) starts off kick-ass enough, kicking down doors and shooting up the place.
But they are quickly outclassed in every way by a couple of grizzled pros (Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro), whose door kick-downing and place up-shooting skills are totally superior. And they know just what the hell is actually going on.
After a kick-ass start, Blunt spends the next 90 mins blundering into every rookie mistake possible.
And then she isn't even in the climax of her own movie.
Emily Blunt has built up a fair bit of kick-ass credit as the Full Metal Bitch in middling Sci-Fi actioner Edge Of Tomorrow.
And I would have enjoyed Blunt in Brolin or Del-boy's roles.
I suppose the lead could have been written as male or female, and it shouldn't have mattered. But the whole 'Hollywood didn't want a female action lead' furore, that accompanied the release of Sicario, puts the spotlight on the action lead; and this character is bad at action.
Yes, the whole point of the movie is to have a character out of their depth, in a situation they can't control. But due to being screwed by the system; not because they are a woman.
I guess in a few years the kick-ass, female action lead will be fully established; and the flawed action lead of Sicario will have aged incredibly well. But at present, the cry went out: 'here comes a film with a kick-ass, female action lead'; and that just isn't really the case.
But then, what happens if you make your female lead infallibly, impossibly kick-ass? Why, Mad Max: Furiosa Road happens.
Imperator Furiosa was essentially given her own movie, in all but name. I suppose rebooting Mad Max without Max himself would have been a bit weird; but more weird than him playing second fiddle in his own comeback?
Theron is kick-ass at punchin' n' drivin' n' shootin'. Besting Max at fisticuffs, using him as a tripod for her rifle, and it is she who drives the big rig; where Max only gets to drive his little boy-racer car.
Theron's character is broadly analogous to Brolin, or Del Toro's in Sicario; is this the type of character women need to be playing? Or is it just it needs to not be big deal when a woman does an action scene?
Obviously it is the later thing, rhetorical question fans.
At least 2015 will be the last year in human history society will have to deal with this nonsense, because soon the Force will Awaken; and Nemi Astwansan will be the most kick-ass action lead of any gender.
Although no one will be as kick-ass as Han Solo, obvs.
Sicario: 6/10
Furiosa Road: 7/10
Theron's character is certainly broadly analogous to Brolin, or Del Toro's in Sicario for the purposes of what I am writing here, that is for damn sure.
Han Solo: he acts like he doesn't care, but he does. (TM:TM).
Haywire: the punchin' convinced, but folk didn't buy the acting. I quite dig this film.
Kick-Ass: Hit Girl is a huge fan favourite, partly because it is awesome to see a young girl swearing and fighting like she has a black belt in both; but mainly because she kicks the most ass.
I... I didn't Google the name of the Star Wars chick. Padwé Udwelo?
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