'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

'John Wick: Chapter 2' Review

John Wick: Chapter 2 picks up relatively soon after the end of John Wick as John Wick seeks to return to his normal life. Of course that's impossible for men of Wick's talents, so he's dragged back into the fold to repay a debt. A bounty is then placed on Wick and he finds himself in the fight of his life. 

2016 put forth many sequels that no-one wanted and no-one liked, with Star Trek Beyond or Captain America: Civil War standing as the only two sequels that worked in last year's desolate blockbuster wasteland to come to mind. Thankfully, John Wick: Chapter 2 is a sequel that's justified on the merits of the excellent underbelly assassin world-building done in John Wick alone. Chad Stahelski, working solo this time, takes full reigns of the franchise and proves he's quite capable of bearing the full weight of an action blockbuster on his own as he ups the scale of the action sequences.

Stahelski goes for bigger and better but doesn't ignore the importance of the refined intimate "gun-fu" fighting style that made the first so popular. Working alongside cinematographer Dan Lausten, the neon glow and subtle nightlight are properly utilized in framing exceptional action. One thing the Wick franchise should definitely be credited for is its persistence not to resort to shaky-cam but rather show long well-handled takes of brutal hand-to-hand combat and gun escapades. This time around the action set pieces include Roman catacombs, public venues, and a labyrinth of mesmerizing mirrors, each set piece featuring a memorable action sequence or two.

John Wick: Chapter 2 could have easily become virtually a rehash of the original but writer Derek Kolstad manages to think of a way to bring Wick back into the mix that works for the purpose of the film but isn't quite as emotionally driven as the first. Kolstad does however recoup for this by fleshing out more of the mercenary lifestyle; throwing tailors, arms dealers, and accountants into the mix. Practically everything beloved regarding the original is deservedly amplified and further explored to the appropriate extent.

The cast includes a mix of returning characters and fresh faces that put full commitment into the bullet bonanza. Keanu Reeves' portrayal of John Wick as a weary action hero compliments the narrative perfectly. Reeves' silence in some scenes almost speaks louder than words and his physical commitment to the role is virtually unchallenged by actors today, excluding perhaps Tom Cruise. Reeves manages to invest audiences in an unequivocal killing machine by gifting Wick a touch of humanity.

Ian McShane returns as Continental Hotel owner Winston, serving as a source of support for Wick, and Laurence Fishburne shows up for a Matrix reunion as the Bowery King, chewing up as much scenery as possible along the way. Common and Ruby Rose provide suitable physical threats, portraying private bodyguard Cassian and mute hit woman Ares respectively, each trading blows in visceral hand-to-hand combat against Wick. Meanwhile, Riccardo Scamarcio's Italian crime lord Santino D'Antonio serves to be a multifaceted antagonist with understandable motivations and clear intentions.

In conclusion, John Wick: Chapter 2 succeeds in an avenue few action sequels ever achieve. It raises both stakes and spectacle without losing sight of the components that made the first one so great. I wouldn't say it's definitively better, but it's at least as good as the first and does succeed in the merits of pulling off bigger action. One can only hope that a third chapter gets off the ground to see if Stahelski, Reeves, and crew can raise the bar any higher.

Film Assessment: A-

Throwback Thursday Review: 'John Wick'

This week I'm reviewing John Wick to tie-in with John Wick: Chapter 2, which I've actually seen and should have review up for fairly soon following the publication of this review. Reviews you can expect for the remainder of February are Throwback Thursday Reviews for Spider-Man and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and reviews over new releases The LEGO Batman Movie, John Wick: Chapter 2, The Great Wall, A Cure for Wellness, and Get Out.

'John Wick' Review

After the sudden loss of his wife, John Wick receives a puppy named Daisy as his final gift from her. Following an encounter with the Russian mob in his slick 1969 Mustang, the thugs break into his house late at night, beat him, kill his dog, and steal his car. John Wick then tells the revenge tale of an ex-assassin pulled back into his past and hunting down those responsible.

John Wick was a film I remember catching at home rather than in the theaters and being completely blown away by the stunt work and action sequences. Unsurprisingly, it held up remarkably well. Stunt-coordinators Chad Stahelski and David Leitch stepped up to co-direct John Wick and the duo manage to string together an excellent revenge thriller. But John Wick isn't just another indispensable action flick.

The visual aesthetic to John Wick balances a subdued palette for John's normal affairs but an extravagant colorful hue to the twisted criminal world. The two best action sequences are the club and home invasion sequences that heavily feature stunt choreography called "gun-fu", a style of sophisticated close-quarters combat combining martial arts and firearms. The fight choreography is a brutal ballet, it's gruesome yet maintains a semblance of grace in how it's carried out. The "gun-fu" is absolutely incredible and the fact Keanu Reeves remains committed enough to perform a good chunk of the stunts himself makes it go the extra mile and feel all the more real. 

Derek Kolstad penned the screenplay and one of his greatest achievements is the underbelly world of assassins he manages to build throughout the film. There's everything from a laundromat service of sorts that will dispose of dead bodies and clean up the mess in exchange for a handsome fee to the Continental Hotel for these hitmen where no outside business (conflict) is allowed at risk of being excommunicated or even killed.

Kolstad establishes this rich world that screams for further exploration in sequels or spin-offs but Kolstad also wisely keeps some specifics under wraps because it only makes sense that these mercenaries would be secretive about their lives. Kolstad also sets up an excellent source of motivation to get Wick back into this way of life that's simultaenously logically and emotionally grounded. The narrative's relatively simple but Kolstad provides an interesting angle for what could have been a generic revenge story.

The cast assembled for John Wick are exceptionally talented and help to elevate proceedings regardless of how complex the characters they're portraying appear to be. Keanu Reeves' performance remains a career best as Reeves channels both an unhinged violence and vulnerability to John Wick. Reeves is committed in every regard and makes an epic action hero that's not purely a reckless unstoppable force but one with a human soul.

Willem Dafoe's a charming marksman, Adrianne Palicki plays the femme fatale, Alfie Allen portrays an overconfident crime prince, and Michael Nyqvust chews the scenery as Russian mafia head. Meanwhile the remaining underworld is bristling fun supporting roles for Ian McShane, Clarke Peters, Lance Reddick, and John Leguizamo.

In summary, John Wick remains to be an entertaining action escapade truly deserving of future installments.

Film Assessment: A-