The ominous crime boss calls an associate/minion who has slapped his only son, asking for an explanation as to why he was shown such disrespect. The answer, from the sombre associate: “He stole John Wick’s car… and he killed his dog.” At which point, the Russian crime boss understands why the slap was a just move, and why he was willing to sacrifice their relationship.
John Wick is a movie about a former hitman, whose car has been stolen and his puppy killed. He goes on a revenge rampage after the gangsters who dealt him this wrong. It’s a simple premise really, but oh boy, has it been executed with flare and panache.
This is a revenge movie not quite like any other. John (Keanu Reeves) is devastated after the death of his wife, she sends him a puppy to console him during this time of loss (beyond the grave present). The puppy, his final link to his beloved wife. A man who now has nothing left to lose is pissed. He has skills, means and most importantly, determination. He goes out seeking his revenge.
And we, the audience, are taken into a world that is hidden and exclusive, only available to the most efficient and renowned assassins. A world that is well put together for the most unsavoury elements of society. And oh boy, is it cool.
John Wick has some of the best gun action sequences that I’ve seen in a movie for a long time, it’s often referred to as “gun-fu”. The fight sequences are rough and dirty, they’re not overly excessive in the protagonist glamour, which we are so used to seeing within a movie. You are convinced that John is a first class assassin, he’s capable, he’s skilled, he’s also a little rusty.
Keanu Reeves is… well, Keanu Reeves. And quite frankly, that’s OK. He’s good as the titular role. He’s also familiar and it’s as though you’ve seen this character elsewhere previously, in another of Keanu’s movies perhaps?
The hero of this movie is its well written script, cinematography and editing. This movie is very well put together, with a script that gets to the point, is incredibly informative without being obnoxiously obvious or “intelligent”. It’s a movie that does not deviate from the world which it has created. It doesn’t try to convince you that John is a hero, he is not that. He’s a man who is out for revenge against his former employer, it just so happens that his former employer is a really bad guy.
The way John goes about seeking his revenge is slick, meticulous and befitting someone of his notoriety.
John Wick was directed by first time first string directors Chat Stahelski and David Leitch. This being their first foray into actual movie directing, having only previously been the directors of action sequences.
I thoroughly enjoyed John Wick. It’s an action movie, nothing more, nothing less. Sure, Keanu’s acting could have been better, but meh, there’s more than enough in this movie for you to not care in the slightest.
There is one flaw in the chain of events which you just don’t quite understand, it is the classic mistake which is often made by the villain. A mistake which, when I am the villain, I shall not make. I will leave you to decide for yourself what this is.
Willem Dafoe gives a great performance as an old assassin, Marcus. Dafoe, if you don’t know, is one hard fighting man. And Adrianne Palicki (the hot blond chick from Friday Night Lights) is fantastic to watch as well. Her scene along is worth watching this movie for.
The action sequences in this movie cannot be faulted. And there’s so much of it, it feels as though 50% of this movie is pure action, whilst the other 50% is informative dialogue and plot development.
Michael Nyqvist plays the Russian crime boss who tries his best to save his spoilt ingrate son. And he gives a solid performance. As for the son, played by Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), he is the epitome of the spoilt brat that you want to smack.
The weak point in John Wick is Keanu’s performance, and yet, it’s also the strong point. Keanu is a very likeable man, his ability to act is never going to win an Oscar, but, it’s reliable and you will always root for him.
John Wick 2 is currently under production, and I’m excited at the prospects of seeing more of this world which has been created. It’s not often that such a fantastic exclusive parallel world is created. The customs, the currency, the rules of engagement, the services which are available are pretty cool. There is one scene which involves a policeman that reveals so much in 10 seconds.
John Wick is one of those rare movies, where you are immersed in detail and information, without being spoon-fed. You are able to ascertain a lot with very little, and that’s what makes it such an enjoyable film to watch.
Rating: 8/10, it’s a fun revenge movie without crappy revenge dialogue. John gets on with the business at hand, and often, silence is the best form of communicating.
See it again: Yes, I’ve already seen it three times. And I’m sure I’ll see it again before the end of 2016.
Worth my time: Yes, the ability of the director and scriptwriter to tell a story is very good. A quality which I’ve rarely seen in a movie. Yes, there are movies out there which are more spectacular visually and more intelligent with dialogue, but John Wick’s winning edge is the ability to show so much with so little.
Take my mother: Maybe, mum’s not so into gun-fu, but dad is. That said, they both really enjoyed John Wick.
Talking points: The hotel, the “take-out”, the currency, and the fight scene. And for the car lovers out there, the cars.
Annoyance factor: 3/10, they killed the puppy. It’s a puppy. And well, the classic mistake that villains make, that’s annoying. But I guess it wouldn’t be what it is without it. Bad guys really do need to be better at being bad.
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