PIC OF THE WEEK!
Movie Review – John Wick: Chapter 4
Review by Ray Schillaci
How often can one be satisfied by the fourth installment of a franchise? Rarely, does it happen for fans. In the case of John Wick: Chapter 4, not only does returning director Chad Stahleski and his writers up the action, they deliver with much fervor the characters created in the John Wick universe, take us deeper into the mysterious High Table and even throw in another four legged friend to root for.
Stahleski and company from the onset prepare us for the closing chapter in the life of Mr. Wick and what a wild ride it will be. The John Wick films have become increasingly violent and over-the-top with each chapter gone by. Chapter 4 is the coup de grâce of the series.
This is far from any ordinary action movie. It is a Cirque du Soleil of non-stop bullets, blades, mayhem and madness with dear John taking the full brunt of it getting smacked down by baddies, being thrown from buildings, cascading down endless stairs and being pummeled by cars. But, like the old saying of the Timex watch, he takes a licking and keeps on ticking, much to the dismay of his adversaries.
As with the other John Wick movies, Chapter 4 continues where Chapter 3 left off. So, that means if you have not seen the other John Wick movies, do not even bother with this one until you are caught up. And, if you are opposed to films with a lot of action and violence then you may want to find a comfy rom-com to cozy up to instead. The difference between the John Wick movies and other action fare is the story and its stars. Believe it or not, along with all the explosive violence there is a poignant story behind Mr. Wick and that’s where the laconic Keanu Reeves excels with those few quiet moments; the mourning of his beloved wife, his yearning to leave behind the life he is best known as – the Baba Yaga, “a boogeyman” of assassins.
The only way John knows how to rid himself of this cursed life and get his revenge against the High Table is to appeal to the Elder, “the one who sits above the Table.” He travels to Morocco to reason with the man. Needless to say, it does not go well and John heads back to Osaka to meet up with one of the few friends he has left, only to find he’s made the situation far worse for him and anyone connected with him as well.
***MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD***
The High Table has given a senior member of their group, the Marquis Vincent de Gramont, unlimited resources to kill John Wick. The Marquis wastes no time and confiscates the famed Continental from its manager, Winston, and stripes him off all his duties while declaring him “excommunicado.” For good measure he also kills someone close to Winston. Basically a warning for Winston to not have anything more to do with Wick.
The Marquis travels to Paris to recruit a good friend of John’s, a retired High Table assassin who is blind. Caine is actually a swifter, badder version of Marvel’s Daredevil. At first, Caine refuses the job, but the Marquis threatens the life of his daughter and makes him a promise; his and his daughter’s freedom for John Wick. Caine reluctantly takes the job.
John soon finds assassins at every corner gunning for him as the bounty continues to raise in the tens of millions. Anyone close to John has their life in danger and no matter how many men John kills, ten to twenty more come after him. Winston is able to meet with John and suggest that the only way to put a stop to it all is possibly challenge the Marquis to a duel via the old traditions. That would free him from his obligation to the High Table.
Problem being, the only way he can do this is if he is part of a crime family and he severed those ties long ago from the Ruska Roma. John will have to go back to the Ruska Roma and ask his adoptive sister if he may come back into the fold. Of course, it’s never that easy. His adoptive sister’s father was killed by a German High Table senior and she will only bring John back into the fold if he kills the man that killed her father.
You can guess the rest. One massive shoot out after another. Insane car and motorcycle chases that compete with Mission: Impossible. What continues in this 2 hour and 49 minute marathon is a non-stop spree of assassins that are coming out of the woodwork to kill one man who has only his wits, martial arts, a multitude of weapons and a sharp looking 3-piece kevlar suit that repels bullets. You’ll barely have time to catch your breath or slip away to the bathroom for a quick break without missing something spectacular.
As I mentioned before, John Wick: Chapter 4 is not just an action junkie’s dream. The supporting players are so distinguishable and the actors inhabit them beautifully. Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King is wonderfully boisterous and a great foil to Ian McShane’s Winston, who is marvelously droll. Clancy Brown as Harbinger plays his name to the hilt while Bill Skarsgård as the Marquis is the snide villain we love to hate.
Then there is Donnie Yen as Caine with his nonchalant humor and a sense of humanity even while kicking ass left and right. Shamier Anderson as Tracker fascinates with his elusiveness and last but not least Lance Reddick as Charon who always remained respectful and had an air of majesty to his character. His recent passing is a terrible blow to both his family and the acting community.
To top it off, Keanu Reeves’ laconic performance matches that of some of the gritty roles made famous by Clint Eastwood. Reeves is so believable in a near Superman-like role we barely have time to question whether he’s dead after several encounters or if he’ll actually have the energy to get back up. We can’t help cheering him on when he grunts and slowly forces himself back on his feet even if he gets knocked over again and again.
His pain is not just physical, John Wick has so many demons he is fighting inside and he yearns for peace. That’s what makes the entire series stand out among so many of its genre with much thanks to the writers and director Chad Stahleski. Now that the book has been closed we can only hope for something even more exciting from all this talent.
Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Release Date: March 24, 2023
Run Time: 169 Minutes
Rated: R
Country: Germany/USA
Distributor: Lionsgate
