'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum' Review

Synopsis: After gunning down a member of the High Table, legendary hit man John Wick finds himself stripped of the organization's protective services. Now stuck with a $14 million bounty on his head, Wick must fight his way through the streets of New York as he becomes a target of the world's most ruthless killers.

Runtime: 130 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for pervasive strong violence and some language)

Who should see it? Adult fans of action films and the John Wick franchise.

American action films aren't quite what they used to be... A majority of modern action sequences involve extreme close-ups, visceral shaky camera work, and excessive editing to mask subpar stunt-work or diminish well-choreographed set-pieces. Fortunately, former stuntman Chad Stahelski directed all three entries in the John Wick series (though it's worth noting David Leitch co-directed John Wick). Stahelski and Leitch's extensive stunt background aided them in ensuring the focused intensity of involved stunt-work wouldn't be lost in post-production, and I'm pleased to report that degree of attention and care persisted in each of the two successive installments.

Concerning carnage, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is no less impressive than its predecessors. I'd daresay Stahelski successfully upped the ante in his third go-around! In Parabellum, John Wick's on the run without access to the amenities usually provided to the network of underworld assassins, so he's forced to use whatever's in his vicinity to survive. Wick brandishes seemingly innocuous items as his weapons of choice because he has no other choice, similarly to the infamous No. 2 pencil scene from John Wick: Chapter 2. I'd prefer not to disclose these utensils since I'm sure you'd rather be astounded in the theater when John Wick takes a guy out of commission with X, but know this leads to some gloriously gruesome kills. You will surely wince as Wick works his way through his assailants.

Of course, it's the technicality behind it all which should be recognized above all else. The stunt performers never let up amidst nearly non-stop action while the cinematography and production design offered an attractive aesthetic. The film is genuinely visually-arresting from start-to-finish on behalf of the fine work from cinematographer Dan Lausten and production designer Kevin Kavanaugh, so hats off to the two of them in addition to the entire crew.

In regards to the screenplay, series screenwriter Derek Kolstad was joined by Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, and Marc Abrams to further the franchise. Before watching Parabellum, I'd suspected it would provide a definitive resolution to the John Wick trilogy. I now know that's not quite true since the door was clearly left open for a sequel and/or spin-off (both of which are supposedly in development). The four writers constantly challenge Wick to adapt to his surroundings and overcome extenuating circumstances, and I loved that element of the story. Wick's physically more vulnerable than ever before with the added complication of being declared "excommunicado" with a $14 M bounty on his head. However, the story's not as tight as I'd hoped since Kolstad and company chose to pursue narrative threads aside from the matter of Wick's struggle to survive. Things quickly become complicated, but it's all authentically complex and true to the nature of the narrative. Otherwise, I liked how they handled exposition so that the dialogue further fleshed out the world and John Wick's past while retaining the sense of mystery surrounding the network of assassins and Wick.

Front and center, Keanu Reeves commits wholeheartedly to the physicality and personality associated with the role. As a weary action hero desperately grasping to the meager remains of his soul, Reeves strikes a delicate balance in portraying the humanity and ferocity of John Wick. The likes of Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick, and Ian McShane join Reeves in reprising their respective roles of the Bowery King and Continental employees Charon and Winston. 

Meanwhile, Halle Berry, Jerome Flynn, Mark Dacascos, and Asia Kate Dillon are prime, potent additions to the series. Berry's character Sofia is a stand-out in particular, largely thanks to her firm resolve and two Malinois dogs.

All in all, Parabellum cements John Wick as a blockbuster pillar of American action cinema alongside the likes of the Mission: Impossible franchise. I sincerely hope Hollywood continues to churn out additional entries for both series as long as Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves are able and willing, because I'll gladly return to the theater time-and-time again! I know two things for sure, though. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum hit its mark as a killer third chapter, and I'm eager to see what happens once Stahelski, Kolstad, and Reeves regroup and reload for Chapter 4!

Film Assessment: A