John Wick Chapter 4
John Wick Chapter 4 is in theaters at the time of writing. Rated R. Common Sense says 17.
Check out The Mr F Digs Movies Podcast (Episode 10, John Wick Chapter 4) for the full story behind the review!
STORY: B
John Wick is famous for keeping gravediggers busy, but one thing he won’t let die is the past. John Wick wants out of the international assassin lifestyle, to be released from any and all obligations to The Table.
In one universe, the John Wick franchise (or Wick-iverse, as I shall refer to it hereafter) might be a deep exploration of human nature, honor, and identity. In this universe, the Wick-iverse is a video game. Avatar: The Way of Water looks like one; John Wick is built like one. Wick’s only path to redemption is to clear a level after level after level. The swanky Japanese hotel. The Berlin bar. The bounty hunter sightseeing tour of Paris. Each level is filled with an infinite number of minions to be dispatched, most of which hold very little danger for our main character.
Part of me wants to take points off for what the Wick-iverse could have done: taken us on this thrilling ride while also exploring deeper questions about the nature of destiny. But perhaps that’s unfair. The Wick-iverse has always been completely upfront about what it is: a deliriously addictive death ride that always delivers.
PEOPLE: A-
I left my abacus in the car, but I’d be shocked if John spoke more than thirty words in the entire film. Keanu didn’t need to spend hours memorizing lines. He spent that time in the dojo. His extraordinary physical work during the combat scenes is ballerina-like. But more importantly, it’s believable.
The rest of the cast gets more to say. Donnie Yen saunters with power and grace at every moment, even while stealing a slurp of ramen amidst flying arrows and gunfire. Bill Skarsgard infuses the Marquis with just the right balance of cold-bloodedness and entitlement. Laurence Fishburne and Ian McShane return and are up to their usual old tricks, thank goodness.
But sadly, the most memorable performance comes from Lance Reddick, who tragically passed away a week before the film’s opening. Always a compelling actor, a heartbreaking poignancy embraces his words throughout the film.
FILM GEEK STUFF: A
There is an overhead shot during one of the final pieces that lasts so long it could have been its own movie. The stunner of a set piece follows Wick battling his way through multiple rooms and floors of an abandoned Parisian apartment building. The choreography involved must have taken weeks to perfect. What truly makes it stand out is how different it is from any other shot in the film - and not just because of its length.
It’s not a spoiler to say that John Wick kills a lot of people. The vast majority of those kills involve leg locks around the neck and shots to the head. They’re always shot low and close, making us feel like we’re actually in the middle of the fight. The overhead shot gives us distance. We float far above the fray. We become more of an observer than a participant, giving us a much needed moment to catch our breath before the grand finale.
Additionally, the film is always beautiful to look at. The lighting, color, and production designs paint images that will stay in your brain for days. Actually, this is probably what artists during the Baroque period would have produced if they had moving picture technology.
RUBBING THE UNDERBELLY (Elective Class): A-
I’m fascinated by the idea that secret societies like The Table might be out there. I’m fascinated by the idea of Continental Hotels offering safe havens to powerful and dangerous people. I’m fascinated by the idea of private radio stations that keep bounty hunters apprised of their quarry’s whereabouts. I’m doubly fascinated by the idea of those stations broadcasting from cozy offices inside the Eiffel Tower.
These ideas are partly what draw me to the Wick-iverse despite my aversion to gratuitous violence. I personally don’t believe societies like these are out there, which makes spending time inside this world is exciting. I feel like the people dancing in the Berlin club. The Wick-iverse may immerse me in a brutal sea of violence, but it’s got enough bright lights and hypnotic beats to keep me from running away.
The story works because it has found a topic able to capture the imaginations of people with opposite beliefs. I bet people who do believe something like The Table exists are equally captivated by these movies.
FINAL COMMENTS:
The Wick-iverse could be so much more, and I’m always crushed when it decides to be nothing but a frenetic, dazzling, and beautifully rendered video game.
Do I want every movie to be made specifically to my tastes? Yes. Yes, I do. If I were Prime Minister of Movieland, I would enact a couple tweaks in the Wick-iverse. I’m not talking about anything major. I’d add another brief meaningful conversation or two. I’d have John grow and evolve just 0.01% more from his experiences. I just want the Wick-iverse to be everything.
Actually, I’ll pass on being the Prime Minister of Movieland. Every film should be able to choose its own destiny. I’m ok being Commander-in-Chief of my own personal DVD collection. Because maybe the changes I’m suggesting work like food coloring: a single drop completely changes the look and feel of the entire thing. If that’s the case, then I say let the Wick-iverse live the way John Wick wishes to live: in peace.
I’m glad John Wick is out here being John Wick. While I may not fully adore it, it’s more important to be true to yourself than to adjust your vibe in order to please everybody else. That’s true in movies, and that’s true in life.