‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Review
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Rina Sawayama, Donnie Yen, Clancy Brown, Lance Reddick, George Georgiou | Written by Shay Hatten, Michael Finch | Directed by Chad Stahelski
John Wick: Chapter 4 takes Keanu Reeves further than he’s ever been, with more locations, bigger set pieces, and a larger ensemble, John Wick: Chapter 4 is not only the best instalment so far, but a true action classic that will be looked back on for generations to come.
When John Wick first dipped his pinky back into the world of crime in 2014 it was hard to imagine the size we would end up seeing these films get to. Now John Wick is fighting off and killing what feels like entire cities worth of henchmen, in even more unique and crazy ways than he has ever done before. The brilliance of all these films has always been in their originality in their action set pieces and their dedication to practical stunts. Here they take that to the highest level they have taken it so far and will make you start to question why these incredible stunt performers are never honoured at the awards shows for their outstanding contributions to movie making. From Buster Keaton to Jackie Chan, stunts have always been a major part of motion pictures, in particular action movies. In the last few years, John Wick has been one of the few standouts to that legacy of stunt performances, now, if ever, is the time to finally honour these men and women at the next awards show. In John Wick: Chapter 4, these action set pieces go to places you never imagined and pull off shots that left my jaw on the floor. The action that was the climax of the last film becomes the opening to this one, and it just keeps getting bigger and better. There are moments of action that haven’t left my mind, and if you’re a sucker for the crazy action style these films have found then this may be the happiest you’ll ever be at the cinema.
Not only do the stunt performances and action set pieces go up a level, but so does the cast. Returning characters such as Winston (Ian McShane), and Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) are always highlights in these films, and they get some great lines of dialogue that made every interaction a real treat. The film’s cast is really highlighted, however, in the new supporting characters. Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, and Rina Sawayama are all great new additions, but the real stand-out here is the incredibly talented Donnie Yen. Donnie Yen has always been a highlight whenever he appears on screen, but here it’s an even greater highlight, as the film knows exactly how to use him, and for the first time gives another layer to an antagonist for these films. His character feels like a real living part of this world and is given a real reason to go after John Wick that finally gives a villain a motive besides hunting him for money. His character is also a great take on the fictional character Zatoichi, a blind warrior made famous in a Japanese series of films. This adds another level to Donnie Yen’s character and performance, and made for some imaginative fight sequences in which Donnie Yen excels. Every scene he was in, whether it was pure action or if it was a quiet dialogue scene, he was always engaging and entertaining, and a real highlight of the entire series.
Now, with many studios pumping out action film after action film, such as Netflix with movies like The Gray Man, and Extraction (both of which are scheduled for sequels), you do have to wonder why the John Wick films stand out so much from these. The stunt work and practical effects really are the first to be noted and what many people talk about the most, but the biggest thing I came away from the latest instalment thinking was, just how well-lit every scene was, and how great everything looked. There were never any conversations in darkly lit alleys or basements that you’ve seen a million times before. Every aspect of the film has been thought over, and every shot and every frame is set to show us something unique and interesting. So many action films have so many plain, boring backgrounds that offer no depth to the screen, we get the same backdrops time and time again, but not here. Here the filmmakers showcase their incredible craft, from the set design to the cinematography… and god that cinematography is good! There isn’t a moment of action you don’t see due to poor lighting, there isn’t a fight that isn’t in an interesting location where the environment becomes part of the action. Even the dialogue scenes that any other action movie would just want to get through, are set in unique places that offer so much more to each scene. It’s never boring and shows off the talent of this cast and crew in every scene. If future action films can take any lessons from John Wick, I really hope they learn how to light their scenes better and find more interesting locations for their action.
John Wick: Chapter 4 ends up feeling like the series magnum opus, its final say on the action film, its swan song. There are set to be spin-off films and the world will be expanded, but it is hard to imagine they will ever reach the heights of this again. Not only is this one of the best action films of the last ten years, but it is also one of the best-crafted films I can remember. It’s everyone working at the top of their game to give one crazy, entertaining ride that I know I will be going back to watch again and again. Make sure you catch it on the biggest screen possible, with the most packed out crowd, and you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
***** 5/5
John Wick: Chapter 4 is in cinemas now.
