23 Mar John Wick: Chapter 4 Review

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4

dir. Chad Stahelski, starring Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Laurence Fishburne, and Ian McShane

With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin. Returning are all the favorites: Winston, Charon, and the Bowery King being joined by new characters such as Shimazu Koji, Caine, and Mr. Nobody. Chapter 4 further develops the universe, destroys the old to make way for the new, and, most importantly, kicks all the ass. Featuring some of the best stunt and fight choreography, to include a battle at The Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre (and all 300 steps leading up to it), John Wick delivers on its promise of redefining action movies. Drenched in style and effortlessly cool, the film reminds audiences of the power of practical filmmaking and displays the tangibility of every punch, kick, stab, and gunshot wound. In short, John Wick: Chapter 4 is fucking awesome.

Starring Keanu Reeves in his fourth outing, Chapter 4 further establishes the character of John Wick and further cements Reeves’ place amongst the action greats. Reminiscent of a modern day Clint Eastwood character, Wick’s penchant for as few words as possible is simultaneously a throwback to classic action stars of dubious acting talent and incredibly fitting for the character. Once again, Reeves accomplishes as much as he can in camera, displaying a dedication to the craft of filmmaking only slightly more sane than Tom Cruise. Reeves understands exactly what is needed of the role and through the years has managed to create a character that will undoubtedly go down in the annals of action movie history as one of the most compelling.

Throughout the franchise, many actors have appeared for a spell: Willem DaFoe, Common, Ruby Rose, Halle Berry. None have been more interesting or impactful as Donnie Yen. An actor made to grace the Wick stories with his infinite charisma, Yen’s Caine, a blind High Table assassin, is tasked with killing the titular character in exchange for the safety of his daughter. Yen manages to steal almost every scene he’s in; thanks to inventive fight choreography and a quickly explained backstory, Caine makes for something of a mirror for Wick: a reluctant killer. A perfect pairing for Reeves, Yen’s entrance into the series will only make audiences wonder why it took so long.

Bill Skarsgard plays the Maquis Vincent de Gramont, the film’s antagonist and one of the most powerful members of the High Table. A product of an insanely good costuming department, Skarsgard doesn’t have a lot of screen time when compared to Reeves, but his presence is immediately impactful. The juxtaposition of young versus old, of a traditional way of handling things as opposed to newer thinking is the heart of the film. For his part, Skarsgard is great as Vincent de Gramont, delightfully weaselly as he sends scores of hitmen to deal with Wick before Wick deals with him.

Returning to the director’s chair is Chad Stahelski, who co-directed the first film with David Leitch (Bullet Train) and went on to helm the rest of the series solo. Here in Chapter 4, Stahelski has made his masterpiece, creating a film that doesn’t come close to feeling its 169 minute runtime. Stahelski’s understanding of the character, and in the lore he’s helped to create with screenwriters Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, makes for a rich mythos that’s built without sacrificing the pacing. Aside from the talents of Reeves, Yen, and the scores of stunt performers, the production design is the true star of the movie, making for some of the most gorgeous and intricately designed sets to be seen in the genre. Combined with the sublime cinematography from veteran cameraman Dan Laustsen (to include an amazing tracking shot in the third act), there hasn’t been an action movie that looks this good since Mad Max: Fury Road.

Overall, John Wick: Chapter 4 not only makes for the best entry in the franchise thus far, it’s also one of the best action movies of the last decade. Chad Stahelski’s dedication to the genre pays off in spades, delivering a nonstop thrill ride that will leave audiences just as exhausted as the character. Keanu Reeves once again brings a touch of heart to John Wick, making it impossible for viewers not to root for him to succeed as he scrapes to survive every known assassin the world. A sumptuous visual feast, the cinematography and set design show a level of technical mastery not seen in almost 10 years. The story of a man so entrenched in his set path he has no choice but to move forward despite its consequences, the movie is an explanation of how far someone is willing to go to achieve their goals. A momentous film with a number of dynamite action scenes set inside lavishly produced sets with expert camera work, this is a must see on a Dolby or IMAX screen. John Wick: Chapter 4 hits theaters March 24th.

Review by Darryl Mansel