by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
It is an amazing time to be an action movie fan, isn’t it? The impressive projects that have released over the last decade or so have created one of the best periods of action filmmaking in history. There was almost an action film that won Best Picture with Mad Max: Fury Road, we got a big contender this year with Top Gun: Maverick, and the Mission: Impossible franchise has continued to grow and improve with each passing entry. But it is John Wick that has shocked the world. This mid-sized action thriller starring Keanu Reeves (who was at a bottoming out point in his career) took the world by storm. With each new entry, the stakes get higher, the scale grows, and the world in which Wick lives gets even deeper and more colorful.
In John Wick: Chapter 4, are writers Shay Hatten and Michael Finch able to continue Derek Kolstad’s work in creating this vivid world of assassins? This sequeltakes audiences (almost) to the tippy top of The Table, the organization that rules the not-so-clandestine world of assassins in which Wick lives. We are introduced to a new and powerful adversary, the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård). His influence and drive for power make him an intimidating force to reckon with. Wick faces down an army of adversaries, and must turn to the more ancient ways of this world. This opens this film to some great spaghetti western-inspired shootouts and elements. This latest entry offers up interesting new characters, exciting new set pieces, and a deeper dive into the man named Wick.
What is the journey that we are taking with Wick? He is a desperate man looking for a way to finally be out of this crazy nightmare he’s been a part of since the first film. Endless body counts and increasingly more powerful enemies create a more desperate man. When John is confronted with the possibility of being out of this world forever, we see deeper into what this man values and what he is motivated by. His biggest antagonist is driven by power and reputation (he can be the man who finally kills Wick). But there are a few more roadblocks in his way who are motivated by deeper reasons, making them interesting and sympathetic characters. There is plenty of soul to throw around in the biggest entry in this franchise, which is quite exciting.
Outside of the ever-reliable Reeves’ imposing and affecting performance, who else stands out in this action epic? Donnie Yen is the best new addition to the film — he makes you want to see a whole movie just on his character’s journey. His character, Caine, is a reluctant assassin being forced into confronting Wick, despite having a long history of friendship. This blind man is a compelling force in the action, and Yen is a charismatic and soulful performer who brings plenty of depth. Skarsgård plays the Marquis with slimy perfection — he’s a refined and violent man who is driven by power. Laurence Fishburne and Ian McShane are sassy and charismatic as ever, giving their own layers to Wick’s story. Shamier Anderson gives a compelling and mysterious turn as Mr. Nobody, an assassin with his own code and motivations. His own love of his dog and his pride give him a strange connection to Wick. Clancy Brown is imposing as a Table elder who is the conduit for this mighty organization in the film. But it is the early Osaka Continental sequence that brings us the father-daughter duo of Hiroyuki Sanada and Rina Sawayama; it makes a huge splash. In their limited appearance, Shimazu (Sanada) and Akira (Sawayama) have a surprising amount of depth, and we connect to them immediately. The less I say about action star Scott Adkins, the better… but you will love every second his ludicrous character is on screen.
But what about the action? It would be a disservice to talk about too many details of the actual action. That would ruin so much fun and so many surprises! Let’s just say that it is dynamic, and some of the most unique and exciting action you have seen on screen. You will have to pick your jaw up from the ground, your face will hurt from grinning too much, and you just might laugh quite a few times along the way. Series director Chad Stahelski has proven that he can balance the smaller moments and deliver 40-minute clips of high-octane action, and Dan Laustsen’s photography is breathtaking as always, helping create a visual feast. The music is the cherry on top — it balances a pulsating score, thumping electronic music, and well-placed covers.
Where does John Wick: Chapter 4 lie in this pantheon of action mastery? This franchise has grown and expanded with each new entry in a way that is almost unfathomable. This feels like a crown jewel of the most impressive crown around. This just might be one of the greatest action films ever put to screen. Don’t miss this one in a theater. Sit back, relax, and get ready for the most high-octane three hours you have ever experienced in a theater.
Score: 10/10
John Wick: Chapter 4 will be in theaters on March 24
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