John Wick Movie Review

Keanu Reeves is fairly synonymous as far as action films go; though he isn’t nearly as prevalent as he was in the nineties, the likes of Speed and The Matrix films built a strong image for the actor. After many years of average to poor offerings, the actor teams up with director/stuntman Chad Stahelski in one of his finest films yet. Taking inspiration from many films such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, John Wick is a strong and well put together addition to the action genre.

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is a retired hitman who is living a seemingly secluded life while mourning the loss of his wife (Played in brief moments by Bridget Moynahan). Unfortunately for John, his peace doesn’t last long as he stumbles across a band of youths led by Iosef Tarasov (Played by Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen). After a nasty spat at John’s home, John dives back into the criminal underworld on a vendetta to eliminate the Russian crime lords he once worked with. It’s a premise which has been seen many times before; in fact, at several points it reminded me of the much lauded Max Payne, minus the one-man police investigations (the 2001 game, not the awful 2008 film adaptation!). John Wick puts in the effort to mix things up with a network of acquaintances which John encounters on his crusade. His previous background in the criminal underworld provides far more twists and turns than there usually would be in a film like this, whether its assassins barging in to claim a bounty set by mob boss Viggo or an unexpected ally helping John out of a sticky situation. The film is paced well, giving audiences a good amount of time to learn about Wick and his day-to-day life before diving into the action. Above all else, John Wick’s plot gets all the plot attributes of an action film right and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.

The engaging plot of John Wick is backed up by some good performances from the main actors. In terms of physicality, Keanu Reeves is on his highest form since the Matrix trilogy. It’s also a welcome sight to see the actor take some tentative steps forward when it comes to conveying emotion. It’s a relatively simple bond between Wick and his wife, but you can see the resolution on his face as he hunts down those who wronged him. Above all else Reeves manages to portray John Wick with a sense of light duality; on the one hand, he’s calm and collected and on the other he’s ruthless and efficient. Michael Nyqvist is also solid as main antagonist Viggo Tarasov; you get the sense that Tarasov knows John Wick very well and this builds a dramatic tension between the two characters. Unfortunately the side characters can’t escape the trap of being side-lined as they often do in many modern action flicks; while they do contribute a fair bit to varying up the plot, they are relatively basic and generic. Willem Dafoe goes underused on Wick’s old partner Marcus and Alfie Allen doesn’t really have enough material to make Iosef as developed as his father. While the side characters do disappoint, the main cast ultimately redeems the film, particularly the interactions between Reeves and Nyqvist.

John Wick also carves a fine niche when it comes to choreography and editing; inspired by anime and martial arts films, the film incorporates the gun fu style, blending hand-to-hand combat with fast paced shoot-outs. It’s an incredibly engaging mix with the film quickly alternating between the two to ensure that neither becomes stale. It’s pulled off with some slick editing that keeps the action at a consistent medium frame at all times. Both forms of combat are also very impactful as well with the often bloody violence always putting across the film’s gritty setting and tone. The music is rough and pounding, adding even more flair to the film’s action sequences and the settings themselves look just as you’d expect; grim, underground, dark and seedy. Even with all the gruffness on the surface, John Wick understands that the best action comes through building tension and putting its central protagonist against overwhelming odds; although Wick is a professional, he doesn’t simply blaze through the opposition like many action films nowadays and this keeps the audience invested in his mission.

Move over Taken, there’s a new breed of visceral, moody action in town; John Wick is slick and stylish, setting itself apart from countless other action flicks with its brooding atmosphere, brutal fight scenes and brilliant editing.

Rating: 4/5 Stars