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| Keanu Reeves in "John Wick: Chapter 4" Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com |
Ever since Director Chad Stahelski introduced his all-powerful action hero John Wick in his 2014 film, “John Wick,” audiences were introduced to a setting that held many possibilities for where his story could go. Since then, each sequel has delivered on those possibilities to solidify this series as an action franchise for the ages, one that keeps getting better and more daring with each outing.
Stahelski now brings us his most ambitious installment yet with “John Wick: Chapter 4,” a movie that heightens the action to a blistering degree, offers another in-depth view into John’s profession, and offers what may be one of the best action films of all time.
After the events of the third film, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is looking to leave the organization known as The High Table when it left him for dead. However, to become a free man, he’ll have to make his way through armies of highly trained killers as the bounty on his head continues to grow.
Once again, Reeves proves to be one of today’s most talented action stars, putting himself through grueling sequences that show the unstoppable nature of his character. Given how extensive the action sequences and the fact that they take up a tremendous portion of the movie and Reeves’ screen time, there isn’t a lot of time for his character to engage in dialogue. However, Reeves makes up for this by showing how committed he is to upping his character’s game and making it feel invigorating all over again to see John pummel his way through hundreds of assailants. A career resurgence for Reeves was certainly unexpected, but as you’re watching this film, you’ll see how this grand-scale action thriller culminates everything Reeves has accomplished in this series, leaving you exhausted as you watch him.
The story comes loaded with supporting characters; not just returning ones, but new ones that open this world in thrilling ways. As for those who return, we have Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King, a former underground crime boss; Ian McShane as Winston Scott, manager of the New York Continental Hotel; and the late Lance Reddick (who passed away last month) as Charon, a concierge at the New York Continental. As for exciting and engaging new characters, this movie spoils us with them. We have Donnie Yen as Caine, a blind assassin and an old friend of John’s; Bill Skarsgård as Marquis Vincent de Gramont, a top member of the High Table; Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu Koji, the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel; Shamier Anderson as The Tracker, a bounty Hunter pursuing John; Rina Sawayama as Akira, Koji’s daughter and concierge at the Osaka Continental; and Scott Adkins as Killa Harkan, head of the German Table. While all of these new characters make a lasting impression, it’s Yen who comes out on top. As a blind assassin who knows his way around the sword and glides effortlessly through this foes, dodging hits left and right, Yen brings a cool-as-ice persona as he enters his fights. All of the supporting characters fight for our attention and deserve it whenever they’re on screen, but it’s Yen who walks away with most of it.
The screenplay by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, the former of whom was a co-writer on the third film, expands the complex mythology of this environment. What’s remarkable is how they take what started as a rather simple revenge story from the first movie, and then balloon it into an epic world of hired killers that this franchise has become. The narrative takes us through many locations to make the action scenes feel fresh, all while giving us plenty of characters to provide an abundance of intrigue to the story as you see how they interact and play into the bigger scope of the narrative. With this film being nearly three hours, Hatten and Finch have written a screenplay that’s befitting to how far John has come in his journey, showing that they knew such a story needed this length, and not a minute is wasted in how the events unfold.
The cinematography by Dan Laustsen, who provided the camerawork for the second and third films, outdoes himself to the highest degree with what he offers this time around. With action sequences that last upwards of a half-hour long, Laustsen is more than up for challenging himself. Whether it’s a fight at the Osaka Continental, a giant Berlin rave, or the extensive finale in France where we have thrilling confrontations at the traffic circle around the Arc de Triomphe, a large, under-construction townhouse, or a grueling fight up a huge outdoor staircase leading up to the Sacré Cœur, you’ll be drained after each majestic set-piece. While all of these skillfully crafted sequences are up there with some of the best that this franchise has given, the best sequences is the one in the townhouse. At one point in this scene, Laustsen employs an overhead camera that follows John from room to room as he takes down his attackers. It’s all done in a long take that lasts a couple of minutes, giving us a thrilling scene that’ll absorb you in its technical accomplishments.
Stahelski, who directed all of the John Wick movies and is himself a stuntman, continues to use both of those talents to give us exhilaratingly choreographed action sequences. With the camerawork from Laustsen and the editing from franchise newcomer Nathan Orloff, this team makes sure that every action scene feels different from the last. This guarantees that from scene to scene, you’ll be wondering, “How could they possibly top what came before?” But, they manage to do it every time. They aren’t afraid to start off on a high note because they know how far they can go when it comes to delivering these unforgettable scenes, showing that the ideas with which they can present the action are endless.
Four films into this series, it has, once again, increased its status as a tremendous action franchise. With this latest film, another wick has been lit, and the result is absolute dynamite.
Grade: A
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