Reviewed by Ramona Prioleau
Released in 2014 and starring Keanu Reeves, John Wick is one of the best action films of the last decade. The film tells the story of an ex-hitman (Reeves) who comes out of retirement after a group of gangsters kill his dog, a gift from his recently deceased spouse.
While achieving revenge for a pet may at first sound like a fairly contrived plot device, it is a surprisingly powerful motivation for Wick’s character. There are a number of moments where the film allows Reeves—in what has to be his best performance since The Matrix—to display complex emotions like unchecked despair or uncontrollable anger. What seems like a throwaway story beat at first actually opens the door into an engaging exploration of Wick’s psyche and history, a challenge that Reeves rises to in tremendous fashion.
Furthermore, having the film’s events be kicked off by such a “mundane” event allows the action, not the plot, to take center stage. This is a very good thing. Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, the co-directors of the film, are two veterean stuntmen directing for the first time, and their expertise is evident from the very beginning. The film is heavy and punchy, and the action is unlike anything else on the market. The style and rhythm of the film’s numerous fight sequences are fresh, tight and satisfying, and it’s clear that this film could only have been made by artists who have a deep understanding of their field. There are a number of long takes in John Wick, minutes-long sequences that are complexly and meticulously choreographed. They stand out starkly when compared to the over-edited action scenes seen nearly everywhere else today. Reeves also very clearly does many of his own stunts, which adds yet another dimension to his already incredible performance.
One of the other most engaging parts of John Wick is that it is not merely a shoot-em-up action flick. Though Wick’s revenge takes center stage, there is actually quite a bit of worldbuilding to be found in this film. Learning about the criminal underworld that Wick comes from is genuinely as interesting as watching him hit headshot after headshot. It’s the kind of franchise-prepping that isn’t overt or heavy handed. While the potential for the eventual sequels is apparent, the film never postures or winks at the fact that we should expect more. Instead, it lays out a world full of intrigue, rife with possibilities. These world-building segments a;sp allow for the film to settle into a steady yet quick-moving pace that doesn’t merely jump from set-piece to set-piece.
It’s not all that dramatic to suggest that John Wick has changed the action genre for good and for the better. By placing stunts at the center—not CGI, not huge set pieces, not heavy handed plots, but fine, well-crafted stunts—John Wick is able to deliver all the best parts of an action movie and so much more.M
February 2024
