John Wick: Chapter 4 - Amazing Action
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Apr. 18, 2023 • By Jason Elhilow
DescriptionA review of John Wick: Chapter 4 and how it's a perfect distillation of the franchise.
MessageWe recommend watching John Wick: Chapter 4 to form your own opinions about the movie.
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LionsgateIntroductionOn Saturday, I came home from watching the newest installment of John Wick. This is my first time seeing one of these films in theaters, but I have been a fan for a while. Now, if you are familiar with them, it is quite clear what to expect: guns, glamor, and insight into a fictionalized underworld. And, to say the least, John Wick: Chapter 4 delivers, bringing fans right back into its ongoing narrative of the famed hitman as he escapes his ex-communication from the High Table. The picture, which stars Keanu Reeves, has made well over $300 million worldwide, beating its predecessors by a long shot. It acts as a perfect conclusion, wrapping up the many loose ends of the story so far set up almost a decade earlier. So, here's a review of it, even though I am three weeks late!
The StoryTo the delight of some and the dismay of others, the story of Chapter 4 is not too indifferent from the first three. We immediately start off with seeing Wick training, Laurence Fishburne's Bowrey King providing him protection as he recovers from being shot and falling off a roof in Parabellum. Then, he quickly runs off and kills the Elder, who reigns over the High Table, in a not-so-dramatic way. This sets everything else in motion, including the destruction of Winston's (Ian McShane) Continental Hotel, the death of his concierge (played by the late Lance Reddick), and increasingly targeted attacks on ANYONE who may be harboring Wick. Now he has beyond angered the criminal organization he spent years trying to escape, and Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård) decides to make him his main directive, launching a world tour, in a sense, to finally kill him. Specifically, he hires Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind retired assassin and former friend of Wick, to do the job, all with a bit of blackmail over him in the form of his daughter, forcing his hand in the job. From there, it is just pure action and ridiculousness, as Winston tells Wick that IF he can manage to get the sponsorship of his former family (who are still part of the Table), that he can challenge the Marquis to a duel. And, if he manages to win that fight, he (and Winston, as his second), will be able to get reinstated/have their names cleared, the Continental being fully restored and Wick's reputation back to "normal."
When it comes down to things, the plot of this film is paper thin, but so are all the other ones. Honestly, the one with the best, most detailed narrative was likely the first, but do not think that 4's narrative misses out on any specific beats. I'll get to its cinematography and stellar action later, but just going off of it with the characters and their individual journeys, this film is fantastic. Reeves continues to play a stoic yet likable John Wick, going beautifully off McShane's Winston and Yen's Caine. He finally becomes more at peace with himself and the death of his wife, realizing that if he keeps on going, it is only going to get worse, not better. There is also Mr. Nobody, played by Shamier Anderson, who tracks down Wick the entire movie and acts as almost a direct representation of where John was in the first, along with having a dog (if you know, you know). Worldbuilding is also put first and foremost again, as we learn more about the traditions and rules of the High Table. Ultimately, especially with its runtime, the film appears to be his swansong, slowly wrapping up the years-long story set up in Chapter 1. If you are into that, then this movie is for you. But there is something else that should really get you while watching it: how beautiful it looks.
The CinematographySome of the shots in this film are just so Goddamn fantastic. The stylistic directing of Chad Stahelski only gets more so in this movie, lighting, shot composition, and perspective all being played with wonderfully to ENHANCE the experience, specifically in a theater. One scene really sticks out to me, as the camera decides to move up into a bird's eye view as Wick and Mr. Nobody fight their way through a building as they rush toward the final duel. It is a way of viewing things you rarely see in modern films, and just looks plain cool.
The way fights are shot stays the same as it has in past installments, which is nothing but a good thing. Away has the world gone with shakey came and a million cuts a second for better, more throughout choreography and angles, keeping as much as possible in one frame and shot, holding when needed. Lights also play a heavy focus, along with a beefy bass soundtrack over most of the fighting, adding to their epicness. Everything just looks, sounds, and is cool. I don't know how else to explain it. Though there is one final reason to see this movie, the real point of watching any Wick film: the action.
The ActionIf you are okay with absurd and crazy "gun-fu" action, then Chapter 4 is just for you. This movie goes all in, with massive, heavily choreographed shootouts, battles, duels, and more taking up well over 50% of its runtime. And every scene, even if they may drag on a bit longer than NEEDED, are still beyond fun to watch.
The one shot that sticks out the most in my mind is when Wick is driving a car in Paris and just goes in donuts, shooting everything and everyone in his way. Yen's Caine is also pretty awesome, as at first, you almost underestimate his abilities, just to pull through every fight like it's any other Tuesday. In comparison to the first three, this one goes all out, really trying to make every moment worth remembering, and remember I do. To put it simply, this is the craziest entry in the franchise yet, and even though it concludes with what seems to be the end for John, we all know that there will likely be a fifth (along with a bajillion spinoffs). And as long as the action is there, I will watch!
ConclusionTo really conclude things, John Wick: Chapter 4 has some of the best action in recent history, along with a simple yet satisfying story and beautiful cinematography. It's a fun, violent, but worthwhile conclusion to Wick's story, and an absolute blast to see in theaters, so I'd recommend getting in there before its time is up! This is one of those films that really needs to be seen there, because if you don't, you WILL miss the experience of a lifetime. And no one wants that.
The StoryTo the delight of some and the dismay of others, the story of Chapter 4 is not too indifferent from the first three. We immediately start off with seeing Wick training, Laurence Fishburne's Bowrey King providing him protection as he recovers from being shot and falling off a roof in Parabellum. Then, he quickly runs off and kills the Elder, who reigns over the High Table, in a not-so-dramatic way. This sets everything else in motion, including the destruction of Winston's (Ian McShane) Continental Hotel, the death of his concierge (played by the late Lance Reddick), and increasingly targeted attacks on ANYONE who may be harboring Wick. Now he has beyond angered the criminal organization he spent years trying to escape, and Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård) decides to make him his main directive, launching a world tour, in a sense, to finally kill him. Specifically, he hires Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind retired assassin and former friend of Wick, to do the job, all with a bit of blackmail over him in the form of his daughter, forcing his hand in the job. From there, it is just pure action and ridiculousness, as Winston tells Wick that IF he can manage to get the sponsorship of his former family (who are still part of the Table), that he can challenge the Marquis to a duel. And, if he manages to win that fight, he (and Winston, as his second), will be able to get reinstated/have their names cleared, the Continental being fully restored and Wick's reputation back to "normal."
When it comes down to things, the plot of this film is paper thin, but so are all the other ones. Honestly, the one with the best, most detailed narrative was likely the first, but do not think that 4's narrative misses out on any specific beats. I'll get to its cinematography and stellar action later, but just going off of it with the characters and their individual journeys, this film is fantastic. Reeves continues to play a stoic yet likable John Wick, going beautifully off McShane's Winston and Yen's Caine. He finally becomes more at peace with himself and the death of his wife, realizing that if he keeps on going, it is only going to get worse, not better. There is also Mr. Nobody, played by Shamier Anderson, who tracks down Wick the entire movie and acts as almost a direct representation of where John was in the first, along with having a dog (if you know, you know). Worldbuilding is also put first and foremost again, as we learn more about the traditions and rules of the High Table. Ultimately, especially with its runtime, the film appears to be his swansong, slowly wrapping up the years-long story set up in Chapter 1. If you are into that, then this movie is for you. But there is something else that should really get you while watching it: how beautiful it looks.
The CinematographySome of the shots in this film are just so Goddamn fantastic. The stylistic directing of Chad Stahelski only gets more so in this movie, lighting, shot composition, and perspective all being played with wonderfully to ENHANCE the experience, specifically in a theater. One scene really sticks out to me, as the camera decides to move up into a bird's eye view as Wick and Mr. Nobody fight their way through a building as they rush toward the final duel. It is a way of viewing things you rarely see in modern films, and just looks plain cool.
The way fights are shot stays the same as it has in past installments, which is nothing but a good thing. Away has the world gone with shakey came and a million cuts a second for better, more throughout choreography and angles, keeping as much as possible in one frame and shot, holding when needed. Lights also play a heavy focus, along with a beefy bass soundtrack over most of the fighting, adding to their epicness. Everything just looks, sounds, and is cool. I don't know how else to explain it. Though there is one final reason to see this movie, the real point of watching any Wick film: the action.
The ActionIf you are okay with absurd and crazy "gun-fu" action, then Chapter 4 is just for you. This movie goes all in, with massive, heavily choreographed shootouts, battles, duels, and more taking up well over 50% of its runtime. And every scene, even if they may drag on a bit longer than NEEDED, are still beyond fun to watch.
The one shot that sticks out the most in my mind is when Wick is driving a car in Paris and just goes in donuts, shooting everything and everyone in his way. Yen's Caine is also pretty awesome, as at first, you almost underestimate his abilities, just to pull through every fight like it's any other Tuesday. In comparison to the first three, this one goes all out, really trying to make every moment worth remembering, and remember I do. To put it simply, this is the craziest entry in the franchise yet, and even though it concludes with what seems to be the end for John, we all know that there will likely be a fifth (along with a bajillion spinoffs). And as long as the action is there, I will watch!
ConclusionTo really conclude things, John Wick: Chapter 4 has some of the best action in recent history, along with a simple yet satisfying story and beautiful cinematography. It's a fun, violent, but worthwhile conclusion to Wick's story, and an absolute blast to see in theaters, so I'd recommend getting in there before its time is up! This is one of those films that really needs to be seen there, because if you don't, you WILL miss the experience of a lifetime. And no one wants that.
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