John Wick: Chapter 4

Released March 24, 2023

Directed by Chad Stahelski

* No plot spoilers, but very mild spoilers describing a late movie sequence *

Action movies do not get the respect they deserve. We often write them off as being just fighting, guns, and explosions, but that is a failure to recognize the meticulous craft and attention to detail required to create a great film like John Wick: Chapter 4.

The John Wick series has proven itself with each entry. Beyond the action and spectacle, the characters and world building has been consistently fleshed out with new lore for The High Table and the titular Baba Yaga himself. Every answer leads to more questions and intrigue about this shadowy society of assassins.

Clocking in at just under 3 hours, this is the longest John Wick movie and while it did not feel short, I didn't mind the runtime. The structure made it flow like missions in a video game. There were three distinct acts and each had a satisfying climax that smoothly moved into the next segment. I'm happy to have more beautifully shot action but there were a handful of scenes that kept going after they should have ended. A well paced action movie needs to give the audience space to breathe after a shootout or fight. Overall, John Wick 4 handled that well but there were times where my body wanted that time to breathe and rest, only for two more henchmen to show up. It’s gratuitous and over the top... but I can't say it was a huge negative. Isn't that what we all came to see?

The direction is brilliant. Director Chad Stahelski is THE modern master of action, there is no other contender that even comes close. Sequences capitalize on their environments and everything is meticulously choreographed to create cathartic moments that have the audience nearly leaping from their seat. Having just rewatched the first three movies, I could really appreciate how the franchise has evolved from it's already amazing opening chapter.

Cinematically this is a masterpiece. Honestly one of the best looking movies I have seen in the last few years. From framing to colour palette, the cinematography shows off a variety of vibrant hues and rich inky blacks so well. It will be a great test movie for a Dolby Vision/HDR home theatre when it gets a home release. These aren't just tracking shots of a landscape or characters walking around in a dialogue scene. Every frame is a painting…but each frame is full of dynamic action and several moving parts. The fact that the camera can maintain such a beautiful composition while real actors and stunt people are throwing down with such intensity is mind blowing.

There is one scene where John is blasting people away with flaming incendiary rounds in a packed antique apartment. The camera moves up above the action to see the layout of the building from above, following Wick in a long take as countless enemies are coming at him. The level of interaction with the environment is perfect, each kill involves someone flying into a bookcase or smashing into a mirror as the flames spread and illuminate the building with an orange glow. One of the best action sequences I’ve seen in a long time!

This scene characterizes why this movie, and the franchise, deserves recognition and praise. The care that had to go into executing the perfectly planned camera moves, prepping the meticulously crafted set, and expertly executing the fight choreography is insane. Anyone who doesn’t consider these movies to be art doesn’t understand the craft, skill, and dedication it takes to make something like this happen.

Great cinema is not limited to dramatic art house films. The merit of a movie should not be judged by its ability to present emotion and drama through dialogue alone… action is a film language and John Wick: Chapter 4 is a perfect example. Similarly, great acting is not just teary eyes and powerful line deliveries. Physicality and movement is part of a performance too. To say Keanu Reeves' acting isn’t great is a dismissal of the hundreds of hours he dedicated to becoming a master martial artist and gun slinger. He is doing 90% of his own stunts. Very few stunt doubles and even less computer generated visual effects were used. Stahelski has commented that there should be an award category for stunt performances and after seeing the amazing stunt work in this movie you should agree.

The supporting cast is full of other great actors, including Bill Skarsgård (Pennywise from It) as the very hateable antagonist. Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick return as the Manager and Concierge and are just as charming as always. Newcomers Shamier Anderson and Rina Sawayama felt like set ups for future spin-offs but they add a fresh dynamic that while a weak point still worked. The most welcome additions are Hiroyuki Sanada and Donnie Yen. Having these two legends in a John Wick movie is a dream come true. If you've seen any of Yen’s movies (specifically Ip Man) you know he is one of the most talented martial arts actors out there and his performance here is just as great as ever. His character, Caine, has an interesting hook and a tragic back story that make him a suitable match for Wick. The fights between Reeves and Yen are phenomenal and it was a joy to watch two masters at work.

If you aren't into action, martial arts, or exciting action sequences, the John Wick franchise probably isn’t for you, and you probably shouldn't jump in at Chapter 4. On the other hand, if you have seen some of the previous entries or just haven't got around to watching any John Wick movies, this is the reason to catch up and see how far the franchise has come. John Wick: Chapter 3 slipped behind in a few ways but Chapter 4 delivers where it faltered. With a prequel movie and spin off series in the works, this is a world that has so much more to deliver. John Wick: Chapter 4 is the crescendo of an unexpected but incredible story that continues to surpass itself with each film. It resets the bar for action filmmaking and makes other movies feel sloppy or heavily reliant on digital effects in comparison. I am looking forward to watching this again while it is still in theatres!

8/10 - The best John Wick film yet! A little long but delivers a leap forward in every aspect, deeper story, more impactful character arcs, and a masterclass in choreography and cinematography that places this well above any other movie in the genre. It deserves tremendous respect and praise for how meticulously crafted it is. This is cinema!

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