Gillipedia Official Rating: Yeah
Score: 8/10
The fourth and possibly final
installment in one of my favorite action franchises doubles down on everything.
As a result more than even the heights of Chapter 3, this movie feels
like it goes over the edge with videogame-like action for mostly better results.
I think it’s really weak thematically and embraces cheesy dialogue a bit too
much, but the action is thrilling and the cinematography is truly a standout.
This almost 3-hour movie sees Keanu
recovering from his wounds from the previous film, bent on killing all in his
way of getting out of this international hitman organization run by the High
Table. Keanu lets his co-stars do most of the talking, letting his stares and
the occasional, “Yeah,” explain his emotions for him—truly, again, in fashion of
a silent videogame protagonist. Heck, the two most impressive sequences are a
20-minute action scene at the Japanese Continental where baddies literally
appear wave after wave, then one of the final action scenes has a top-down
perspective like an MMORPG.
Some action beats are longer, showing
off all the choreography that Keanu and the stuntmen had to prepare for, and
others show off simply cool ideas, like a whole scene dodging cars in a busy
roundabout in France. This is mostly set to an electronic beat, but you can
also expect a nighttime setting mixed with beautiful neon colors. Take that one
scene from Skyfall at the top of that Shanghai building and just
multiply that by 5 and that’s the results here. I’ve said this about John
Wick films of past, but knowing the director’s stunt background and Keanu’s
real preparation truly enhances these scenes where characters have to
strategize around ammunition, cover, and each other’s fighting style. What
became used incredibly from John Wick 3 that I feel is overused here is
the bulletproof suits everyone wears, requiring headshots, or repeated fire to
break the other character before going in for a kill—it starts to get a little
cumbersome and too much by the end.
A few characters, including the great
inclusion of Rina Sawayama, remarks to Wick how everywhere he goes, death
follows… And throughout this film, I was trying to disprove that statement and
simply couldn’t. Keanu offers a simple, “I am sorry,” but many friends
fall as a direct or indirect result of Wick’s actions. The ultimate goal is to
clear his obligation and he always fights with respect for his opponents, but
it’s also undeniable the destruction left behind, and I don’t think there was a
great resolution here.
You have heard about Donnie Yen appearing
in this movie, and he is absolutely amazing. He plays a blind hitman,
reluctantly following Bill Skarsgard’s orders to kill Wick in order to keep his
own daughter safe. And where other films will use stuntmen and quick cuts to
fool the audience that their star can believably wield a weapon, Yen moves with
such impressive agility. And what is truly incredible is how every move he
makes makes sense on how an elite hitman would act if they were blind.
He crosses path Wick throughout the film, but we all know it’s no spoiler to
say that they’re destined to fight each other at the end.
I think I’d still put Chapter 3
as my favorite in the series, but there’s still plenty to love from this film.
It’s very violent with an incredibly high body count, and some of the lines are
truly cringe, but Keanu, Yen, Sawayama, and Hiroyuki Sanada (playing Wick’s
friend and Sawayama’s father) all fight with distinct styles, and every single
one of them is a joy to watch. I genuinely would consider this film for a Best
Cinematography nomination too. The studio is considering another film after the
great box office returns so far, but I’d be perfectly happy with simply
spinoffs focused on other characters. This series has been one of my favorites
of recent memory, but that doesn’t mean another film is a necessity. Also,
Lance Reddick’s character returns here too after an incredible supporting role
from the previous film, and it saddens me about his passing, so quick shout out
to him. If you’re a fan of any of the previous films, this one is worth the
watch in theaters.
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