Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The new action thriller “Atomic Blonde” — from the co-director of “John Wick” — indulges a spy fantasy, only one grottier than even the grottiest James Bond. With star Charlize Theron at the helm and Wonder Woman already blazing a path at the box office, a new franchise may well be born.

To access this post, you must purchase 1 Year Membership **Annual $144**, 1 Year Membership **Annual $300**, 1 Month Membership **Monthly $25** or 1 Month Membership **Monthly $15**.

CalMatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media.