Review: John Wick Goes Off, And Nothing Can Stop Him.
- Jan 17, 2017
- 2 min read
Chad Stahelski, a man known more for his stunt work than anything else, turns his hand to directing with the explosive, adrenaline filled John Wick. A tale of loss and revenge, it’s an action movie with more depth than most realise.
A retired hitman, living in quiet seclusion. A recently deceased wife and a final gift, a puppy. A violent break in and the death of a dangerous man's best friend. As the dog is buried, the hatchet is dug up and John Wick prepares to go to war, and anyone who gets in the way is dead.
John Wick is Keanu Reeves at his best. He plays it reserved for the most part, a seething anger held at bay. But when he lets loose, there's no stopping him. Everyone else is top notch as well. Michael Nyqvist plays Viggo, the head of the Russian mafia and the man Wick used to work for. He knows him better than anyone else. His son, the one who set in motion the bloodbath that is on it’s way, is played by Alfie Allen in a suitably slimy and unlikable manner. Willem Dafoe and Ian McShane also make appearances as parts of Wick’s past, risen to the surface as the film unfolds.
While the acting is solid across the board and the world building is expertly done in a reserved manner, it is in the action that John Wick truly shines. Taking a more realistic approach to its gunplay, it’s fast, hard and flashy. From the methodical way in which the titular character works his way through legions of soft targets to the more intense and personal fights, it’s incredibly well done with the Red Circle shootout quickly becoming one of my favourite shootouts, ever. Wick reloads as his ammo runs dry, making for some tense and exciting moments and, most importantly, Wick is human and the hits he take slowly add up, his initial fervour and calm being replaced with pain and rage as the film goes on.
John Wick is, without a doubt, the best action movie of 2014, and one of the best since. From the way in which people speak his name to the way he dispatches his targets, John Wick is a great character and a great movie.
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