The John Wick franchise has been the standard of the action genre for nearly ten years. However, starting in 2014, the series has progressively grown in action and scope. What began as a single entity where a widower vowed revenge for killing his dog has turned into a world of outrageous set pieces and downright spectacular hand-to-hand combat that stands as some of the finest in the genre.
As Chad Stahelski’s ecstasy of action headed into the fourth entry, the question was not whether the film would live up to expectations but how the latest entry would top the rest. John Wick: Chapter 4 surpasses the first three entries and becomes a quintessential example when examining why the Academy Awards have not incorporated a stunt category into their yearly ceremony.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is an all-timer, cinephiles! It’s a 3-hour action spectacle that jumps into the pantheon of action movie classics. Its pacing is frenetic and action pieces are jaw-dropping, and it’s rich with stakes, heart, and consequences.
Like the previous entries, John Wick: Chapter 4 continues Mr. Wick’s journey to freedom. After the events of Chapter 3, Wick is left without the protection of the High Table, and the mark on his head remains intact and consistently grows as time progresses. With Wick constantly looking over his shoulder, he looks for a way out while dealing with enemies across the globe, including the menacing Marquis (Bill Skarsgård) and Caine (Donnie Yen).
With a nearly 3-hour run time, the film’s pacing was crucial to the investment of the audience, and Shay Hatten and Michael Finch are up to the challenge as their screenplay examines where John has been over the past nine years.
Unlike other action franchises where each entry has our hero’s singular story, the John Wick series has remained about one man’s journey, and Hatten and Finch understood the assignment. Most importantly, Hatten & Finch’s screenplay and Stahelski’s direction brilliantly divide the action set pieces into three parts, making the film’s pacing sensational. Once cinephiles come down from the high of one giant stunt piece, another commences.
Not only are these set pieces blended beautifully, but each grows in scope and builds to a third act in Paris that I dare not spoil. While the film is yet to be released, the final hour of Chapter 4 will go down as one of the most memorable last acts in any action film.
The John Wick series has never had a complaint from this critic on its cinematography, but it’s safe to say that Dan Laustsen’s work on Chapter 4 is the best of the series. Laustsen’s lens is spellbinding as each location throughout is given its own identity and uniqueness, removing the repetitive feel of a film rich with action.
The heart and soul of this franchise remains with Keanu Reeves, and Reeves continues to evoke the charm and hilarity of line delivery that has made Wick one of my favorite characters in the genre. The word “yeah” has never been turned into two syllables and evoked more emotion than when Reeves delivers it.
On the supporting side, Bill Skarsgård and his suits are perfection. While the series has had unique villains throughout, Skarsgård stands as the best of the series. In addition, Shamier Anderson, his pup, and Donnie Yen deliver commanding supporting takes and offer some of the most memorable moments in the film around a card table.
As the Oscar season is in the rearview mirror, John Wick: Chapter 4 is the perfect way to kick-start the blockbuster season. It’s large, breathtaking, and satisfyingly delightful. Chad Stahelski cements his place as one, if not, the best action directors working today and delivers a franchise-best that I hope never to be excommunicated from.
