Title: John Wick
Running Time: 101 min
Director: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki, Ian McShane
Review:
"Point Break", "Speed" and "The Matrix" are all among the most memorable action movies of all time and left no doubt that Keanu Reeves could get your blood pumping from excitement. "47 Ronin" and "Man of Tai Chi" on the other hand are films that a lot of mainstream movie-goers haven't even heard of. Yes, nowadays, it is very quiet around the biggest action star of the nineties, but with "John Wick" Reeves attempts to kick ass once more. And kicking ass he does!
"John Wick" is an absolute blast that delivers perfectly on many levels. Firstly, there is the writing: Though in its core our main character's motivation still is the 'typical dead-wife', the event that triggers his killing spree isn't her death, but rather the murder of his dog. However, that's not the only fresh thing the movie brings to the table. It really builds its own world in which criminals are somehow very familiar with each other, oddly casual and ridiculously pragmatic. This creates a certain kind of self-awareness that makes for some excellent humor while maintaining a gritty atmosphere.
The actors also must have had a lot of fun, as every single one of them contributes quite a lot to making their characters as interesting as they are relatable. Alfie Allen gets to channel a little bit of Theon Greyjoy from "Game of Thrones", and after portraying Mockingbird on "Agents of Shield" Adrianne Palicki gets to show off her fighting skills once more. Willem Dafoe is excellent as usual, and in terms of quality Michael Nyqvist's portrayal of the villain is poles apart from his rather forgettable performance in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol".
And then, on the top of his game, there is Keanu Reeves who has a powerful presence in this film. Not only does he sell the vulnerability of the titular character, but gets to show off magnificent fighting skills and just plain awesome stunt-work. He is an outright menace that works with such a ruthless precision that you'll whisper a "holy shit" to yourself multiple times. It's true, the action in this film is a non-stop thrill ride with beautifully choreographed fight scenes that flawlessly mix kung-fu, wrestling and guns. Luckily, director and former stuntman Chad Stahelski is completely aware of how to shoot these kind of sequences and amplifies their impact by refraining from quick cuts and shaky cam.
So in the end, "John Wick" is an action piece that stands out through impressive fights and its own unique world-building. Keanu Reeves' return to glory and definitively a must-see for every fan of the genre!
For Fans Of:
The Raid (2011)
The Equalizer (2014)
Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
The Matrix (1999)
Click Here To Watch Trailer!
And check out my friend's review over at B.A.'s Screentest for a second opinion!
Running Time: 101 min
Director: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki, Ian McShane
"Point Break", "Speed" and "The Matrix" are all among the most memorable action movies of all time and left no doubt that Keanu Reeves could get your blood pumping from excitement. "47 Ronin" and "Man of Tai Chi" on the other hand are films that a lot of mainstream movie-goers haven't even heard of. Yes, nowadays, it is very quiet around the biggest action star of the nineties, but with "John Wick" Reeves attempts to kick ass once more. And kicking ass he does!
"John Wick" is an absolute blast that delivers perfectly on many levels. Firstly, there is the writing: Though in its core our main character's motivation still is the 'typical dead-wife', the event that triggers his killing spree isn't her death, but rather the murder of his dog. However, that's not the only fresh thing the movie brings to the table. It really builds its own world in which criminals are somehow very familiar with each other, oddly casual and ridiculously pragmatic. This creates a certain kind of self-awareness that makes for some excellent humor while maintaining a gritty atmosphere.
The actors also must have had a lot of fun, as every single one of them contributes quite a lot to making their characters as interesting as they are relatable. Alfie Allen gets to channel a little bit of Theon Greyjoy from "Game of Thrones", and after portraying Mockingbird on "Agents of Shield" Adrianne Palicki gets to show off her fighting skills once more. Willem Dafoe is excellent as usual, and in terms of quality Michael Nyqvist's portrayal of the villain is poles apart from his rather forgettable performance in "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol".
And then, on the top of his game, there is Keanu Reeves who has a powerful presence in this film. Not only does he sell the vulnerability of the titular character, but gets to show off magnificent fighting skills and just plain awesome stunt-work. He is an outright menace that works with such a ruthless precision that you'll whisper a "holy shit" to yourself multiple times. It's true, the action in this film is a non-stop thrill ride with beautifully choreographed fight scenes that flawlessly mix kung-fu, wrestling and guns. Luckily, director and former stuntman Chad Stahelski is completely aware of how to shoot these kind of sequences and amplifies their impact by refraining from quick cuts and shaky cam.
So in the end, "John Wick" is an action piece that stands out through impressive fights and its own unique world-building. Keanu Reeves' return to glory and definitively a must-see for every fan of the genre!
For Fans Of:
The Raid (2011)
The Equalizer (2014)
Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
The Matrix (1999)
Click Here To Watch Trailer!
And check out my friend's review over at B.A.'s Screentest for a second opinion!
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