JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 (2023)
Updated: Mar 27, 2023
Keanu Reeves is Back in this Adrenaline-Fueled Action Sequel.
Grade: A
John Wick: Chapter 4 is an outrageous and poignant thriller that proves a film series can be consistently good if it is properly executed. It is a saga of vengeance and its consequences, of loyalties broken and mended, and of incredible and at times even amusing action. It has something for everyone; people who just want to see Keanu Reeves wiping out legions of bad guys will be rewarded, and those who want something a little deeper won’t be disappointed, either.
Reeves plays John Wick, a retired assassin who opened the series seeking revenge for the killing of a dog left to him by his late wife. Since then, he has been struggling to free himself from the constant hounding of the High Table, a shadowy league of assassins that seems to occupy every city in the world. Chapter 4 opens with him killing a prominent Table figure known as the Elder (George Georgiou), and the results are disastrous for those who dared to help him. After many fights and brushes with death, including an encounter with a tracker who goes by Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson), John learns from his friend Winston (Ian McShane) that the only way out is to challenge Table member Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård) to a duel in Paris. But Gramont does not play fair, and he sets up an even greater bounty on Wick’s head, determined to have him killed before their duel is set to take place.
One thing the series is known for, in addition to Reeves’s performance as the fugitive killer, is its amazing choreographed action sequences set amid gorgeously-shot locations. Chapter 4 continues this tradition as Wick and his friends and foes do battle with guns, swords, axes, and bows and arrows. For Wick, a gunfight is never just a gunfight. He hardly ever hides behind something; he is always jumping out at his gun-wielding enemies, flipping them over and shrugging off attacks with his Kevlar tuxedo. He travels from the neon-drenched streets of Osaka to a water-drenched dance club in Germany in his desperate search for peace, punching and shooting all who get in his way. And no matter how many times he is knocked down or thrown off impossible heights, he always gets back up. All the while, he is reminded by those around him that no matter what happens, he can never find true peace because of his murderous nature.
Chapter 4 avoids the common action movie trap of giving the supporting cast only one character trait. While Bill Skarsgård essentially plays the typical slimy bad guy, most of the other players are able to bring multiple dimensions to their roles. The best newcomer is Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind former friend of John’s who is forced by the High Table to hunt him down. Yen brings plenty of heart to Caine’s character, who is only fighting to save his daughter. His fighting style also complements Reeves’s splendidly, and he has some amusing solutions to his handicap when dealing with opponents.
The third act of Chapter 4 is a nonstop barrage of action as John fights his way to the site of his duel past many iconic Paris landmarks. The ensuing carnage reinforces classic lessons, like “Don’t play in traffic,” or “Don’t run up the stairs.” Just when you think it may be over, the movie always manages to pull one more goody out of its sleeve for this climax. Cinematographer Dan Lausten on two occasions uses a long overhead shot of the action in an abandoned house, giving us a bird’s-eye view of the fight. It all culminates in an emotionally satisfying ending that concludes one story arc while hinting at further adventures in this dangerous world. Only time will tell if Chapter 4 will be considered the best in the series, but its action, story and performances make it a strong contender.
Director: Chad Stahelski
Screenplay: Shay Hatten, Michael Finch (Based on characters created by Derek Kolstad)
Producers: Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee
Cast: Keanu Reeves (John Wick), Donnie Yen (Caine), Bill Skarsgård (Marquis Vincent de Gramont), Laurence Fishburne (Bowery King), Hiroyuki Sanada (Shimazu Koji), Shamier Anderson (Tracker/Mr. Nobody), Lance Reddick (Charon), Rina Sawamaya (Akira), Scott Adkins (Killa), Ian McShane (Winston Scott)
Rated: R (for pervasive strong violence and some language)
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