At a tight 100-or-so minutes (packed with as much fast action as it is creative ideas), John Wick feels like one of the strongest action thrillers in years.
The film follows the titular John (Keanu Reeves), a former hitman who comes out of retirement after his dog (a final gift from his late wife) is killed by the arrogant heir to the biggest crime syndicate in New York (played by Alfie Allen). After quickly but effectively sketching out Wick’s past in the opening scenes, the film dives right into the stylish, heart-pounding hyperviolence that Reeves was born to play. The slick direction (handled here by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch) and sharp script do a great job of setting up narrative dominos before letting the hero blow them away.
If you’re in it for the top-notch action, John Wick does not disappoint. The choreography, aesthetic and soundtrack all come together in exhilarating fashion. There are even some fun co-stars (including Willem Dafoe and Adrianne Palicki) in the mix who do a great job of giving Wick a run for his money – helping Keanu’s lead seem incredibly badass without ever feeling truly invincible.
The film also proves quite adept at world-building, with cool concepts like a neutral safe zone hotel and a specialised gangster cleaning service not only fleshing out the setting but also adding some great comic relief. Though the second half of the movie may fatigue some, John Wick still stands out as still one of the best action flicks of the year.
4/5 stars
John Wick opens in cinemas Thursday October 30.
