#Keanu reeves delivered yet another insanely good movie

[halsteadsbradshaw]

I just got home from watching John Wick chapter 4 and I just have no words

[thenerdparty]

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum - Film Review

Written by Shawn Eastridge

Five years ago I heard about an action movie in which Keanu Reeves played a master assassin seeking revenge on the men who killed his puppy. I thought it was a joke. Turns out, it was one of the best action films of the decade. Two years later, John Wick Chapter 2 rolled around, taking things to the next level with more amazing action sequences and an impressive amount of worldbuilding. While it wasn’t as fresh as its predecessor, it still got the job done and ended with a thrilling cliffhanger that left me excited for more. 

Now here we are with John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, which might very well be the best of the bunch. Everything great about the first two films is amplified and refined to perfection. At a little over two hours, Chapter 3 never out-stays its welcome thanks to outstanding choreography and a wide variety of settings and scenarios for the brutal carnage on display. There’s plenty of breathing room to allow for this world’s finer details to shine through. These moments provide some relief, but for the most part the film is relentless in its divvying out of one adrenaline rush of an action sequence after another. 

One of the great joys of cinema is when an action scene is executed with flawless finesse. Chapter 3 gives us multiple action set pieces that would serve as the showstopper for any one action film. It’s an embarrassment of riches. Even more impressive I rarely felt fatigued. Each fight is carefully choreographed and staged based on John’s surroundings, bring something fresh to the table each time. That this freshness is maintained through the entire runtime is impressive to say the least.  

Part of the key to the film’s success is Reeves himself. Reprising this role for the third time, Reeves exudes an aura of effortless cool and world-weariness tinged with bits of humor and an undercurrent of tragedy that makes him so endearing. His willingness to throw himself into these stunts, to fully devote himself to the action only helps. Note how many fight sequences play out in wide shots and long takes so you can clearly see Reeves is the one doing the fighting. 

Returning cast members Ian McShane, Lance Reddick and Laurence Fishburne are a delight, as are the new additions. First and foremost, Mark Dacascos is an absolute treat to watch. He makes for one of the most lovable baddies this franchise has offered up as of yet. Anjelica Huston shows up, lending her elegant gravitas to a small but effective role. Also joining the fray is Halle Berry, and to say she kicks ass in this movie is an understatement. She holds her own, matching Reeves’ penchant for amazing stuntwork. And hey, wait a second, is that Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman from The Raid films? Yes, PLEASE. 

Of course, another vital ingredient to the film’s success is Chad Stahelski’s masterful direction. The guy made his feature debut with the first John Wick and his talents have only grown more refined which each entry. His direction on Chapter 3 feels even more confident and assured. He knows exactly how to frame these fight scenes to ensure they’re at their most effective and he trusts his insanely talented stunt team to deliver the goods. Boy oh boy, do they. Aiding the visual appeal is returning cinematographer Dan Laustsen (The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak), whose sensibilities create a neon, comic book style world that feels both fantastical and totally grounded. He outdoes himself here.

Some might complain about the lack of stakes. I get it. John Wick is, after all, seemingly unkillable. But he doesn’t earn his victories without immense struggle. You feel every bone-crunching blow and that effort, plus the brilliant choreography and staging, kept me engaged. And perhaps the most pleasant surprise? This franchise doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Thank God for that. Maybe someday these films will start to overstay their welcome, but that day seems a long way off. I, for one, am ready for another go. Long live Mr. Wick.