‘John Wick: Chapter 4’
Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski return with trusted collaborators to their neon labyrinth featuring elevated action and a cast of adversaries and allies to create the most John Wick film in the franchise.
The fourth chapter picks up where the last chapter concluded with John Wick in a state of excommunicado and stripped of all the privileges he once had. The actions of the past three films have caught up to him meaning consequences for those that have allied with him. Assassins are sent to the Continental Hotel Branches in New York and Oskaka to question managers Winston Scott and Shimazu Koji on Wick’s whereabouts. Leading the search for Wick is Marquis Vincent de Gramont who wants to rid the world of Mr. Wick leading to a high body count throughout the almost 3-hour runtime spanning from Berlin to Osaka. With nowhere to run, Wick is now set on an anti-hero's odyssey for the one thing he wants: his freedom.
Director Chad Stahelski once again uses his stuntman background to create exact choreographed action sequences that are hypnotic to the viewer. What makes the John Wick franchise is that each action sequence feels like a painting brought to life full of color, style, and gore. Stahelski's background in stunts positions him as an expert as he captures bodies falling, jumping, and more with mixtures of close-ups and full-length that allow the audience to see the physicality of each performer and their precise movements. All the focus is put on the action with no interruptions from the outside world. The collaboration between Stahelski and cinematographer Dan Lausten presents clean action sequences that never muddle the point of view of the characters and their location in relation to the action. John Wick also expands from its typical gun work to involve new forms of combat such as MMA, swords, and archery to detail the evolution of John’s enemies and the deterioration of his stamina.
Chapter 4 builds on the previous films bringing back fan-favorite characters while also welcoming a new mix to Wick world. While Reeves has limited dialogue, his silence, and actions speak volumes about the emotional exhaustion of his character. The Wick here is a different man than the one first introduced back in 2014. His recusal leaves room for the supporting characters to have breakout moments.
Donnie Yen portrays Caine, a blind assassin sent by Marquis to kill Wick. Both Wick and he share their desire to escape from their world in favor of being with the people they love. Yen is brilliant in this role perfectly balancing insane action sequences with the emotional weight of his situation. John Wick: Chapter 4 is a film that will stay with its audience as much as Wick’s kills haunt him. The entire series is about this man coming to terms with the death he has caused and what he must battle to rid himself of this vicious cycle. The relationship between Caine and john perfectly puts this into place as both men have come out of retirement to continue their killing sprees pondering the question that will they always be compelled to return to this world. Death feels more of a looming idea in this installment compared to the others.
John Wick’s world feels like a fantasy set in the world of underground crime. The Wick franchise moves away from reality seen through them never mentioning any modern world security organizations; everything operates through the High Table. At one point when John Wick is battling a baddie in a nightclub full of dancing bodies, and everyone is oblvious to the literal fight taking place in the center of their dance floor. In another scene of Wick playing car roulette around the Arc de Triomphe, none of the cars stop; they only get faster to up the intensity. The hitman’s actions are invisible to the world around him with his intent to focus on the task at hand. The ambience of the film mirrors a late night adventure that has to be completed before the sun comes up. In these late hours all bets are off and anything can happen making this the perfect setting for Wick and the High Table to operate in. Even with all the destruction, the only thing at stake in this film is Keanu Reeves.