Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

John Wick : Chapter 4 

This is one of the best action films I have ever seen! Now their is a handful of films I would put on that level of all time great action films Terminator 2 : Judgement Day is to this day the best action film I’ve ever seen now Mission Impossible ranks among the best action franchise now that being said. What the franchise that John Wick has accomplished is a best of all time franchise Next to mission impossible as I thought with the stunt work and sheer scope of the third one their would be no way they could top some of those sequences. Well you know what Keanu Reeves goes beyond what we thought was possible and surpasses the last film with not only the best action in the franchise but some of the best action ever put to screen.  

Firstly, Their is so much I have to say about John Wick Chapter 4 and I’ll start off with the action and stunt work this film presents. Now some people will say that this film just glorifies action and is built off unnecessary violence and relies on it to carry its story forward for those people that think that you clearly are missing what the film is trying to tell people. As each shot from a gun or stab from a blade has a purpose and reason it’s not just bloodshed for shock value theirs reasoning for it. As their is car chases, staircase fights, and oh god the hand to hand combat is outstanding and it never feels over the top it keeps it grounded and each fight is custom made to each characters own fighting style so each character we see In the film presents their own spin on how they hold themselves in a fight. I cannot applaud the stunt men and woman who truly are the heroes of this film for putting their well being on the line for the sake of entertainment and the oscars need a category for stunt-work in movies because it truly is a whole other art form. The action is unlike anything I have seen in quite some time as the way each fight is executed to the way the screenwriters wrote each fight to top the last in such elaborate and brutal ways truly blew my mind. The way the camera even moved and captures the manic energy of the moment has your heart pulsing the whole time while being in total awe of what is going on onscreen. From a visual and technical level its beautifully captured and from the stunt - work it truly is on another level of brilliance in terms of action as John Wick Chapter 4 gives genius action set pieces that will be studied and analyzed from its brilliant showmanship of action at its finest form. 

Secondly, now for the performances Keanu Reeves does not say a lot verbally with his character but he is able to capture the sheer emotion through his psychical actions and it is amazing to see unfold. He grabs you the moment you see him and he does not let up as he wears his heart on his sleeve and he can tell you everything from a look or a simple action he does and it’s truly a fantastic performance and one of the reasons why John Wick has become one of his most memorable characters in his fantastic filmography. Then the performance for me that really stole the show was from Donnie Yen who plays a Blind assassin and old friend of John Wick. His entrance into the film was amazing and the moment you see him you are captivated by his personality and how his fighting style is brutal, fast and stylistic he also brings a emotional vulnerability to this character that hits you in the chest. If their was a performance I would say everyone will be talking about after watching this movie is Donnie Yen and his amazing character that is brought to life outstandingly well onscreen. Now their are many other solid performances like Bill Skarsgard who delivers a menacing performance as the antagonist of this film he isn’t your typical moustache twirling villain. He goes to any means needed to get John Wick even if it’s setting the city he’s in into a total war zone and the way he executes his characters motives is quiet but theirs a simmering darkness to him that comes out in moments of terrifying rage but for the most part is pretty quiet unless he absolutely has to act on psychical intimidation or sadistic violence to get his point across. It is a performance I hope does not go unnoticed due to his more quiet take on this well written villain but Bill Skarsgard truly is terrific here giving a solid performance. Everyone else all brings their A game but Keanu Reeves the man himself again channels that action star quality we love about him and still finds new ways of exploring this character while Donnie Yen gives a scene stealing performance as the incredibly cool and mysterious character Cane. 

Lastly John Wick Chapter 4 is not only one of the best action films of this year but it is one of the best action films ever put to a screen. From its incredible action set pieces to the pulse pounding hand to hand combat scenes and even the scope and scale of the story it truly is an epic conclusion to an amazing action franchise. It should be seen on the biggest screen possible with the best sound system as it’s explosively amazing and truly captivating from as mentioned from the action, the performances, the cinematography to even the music and sound design and editing John Wick Chapter 4 is masterfully crafted. This is a film everyone needs to run to go see on the big screen. 

As John Wick is desperate to get out of the lifestyle he’s been known for his enemies will not make it easy for him to go quietly and leave that life behind. 

Rated R : Some Language|Pervasive Strong Violence

Keanu Reeves : Reeves delivers an incredible final outing as John Wick that had me teary eyed! Now most people think his performance isn’t that layered or complex due to its primarily psychical nature of the character but their is so much depth to him through what he dose not say. The way he can just show the sheer heartache of loss he has had in his life with just a look in his eyes can tell you all you need to know of what’s going on in his heart. As by this point in his life he’s lost so much, his wife, his dog and now he just wants out of the life that has brought him nothing but emotional hardship and pain. As he will not go quietly if he is going to leave this life behind he wants to let everyone who ever hurt him that he can take them down in ways they never thought were possible. Now the way of coming to the character from an angle that is emotionally hurt and wants that satisfaction of finishing off the people that wronged him really made for an incredible performance. As none of the ways he approaches the character in all the other films ever feels the same he constantly finds new ways to explore the nature of John Wick keeping him exciting and engaging to watch as your constantly learning new sides to him and that’s just a compliment to Keanu Reeves as an actor because he could of just done the tough guy look and showed off his action moves and just let that be the driving force of his character but no he keeps on raising the bar on where this character’s head is at emotionally and I love that. By the time we reach the end of the film it feels like his arch has been completed in such a satisfying way and Reeves brings yes that movie star quality of being a total action here with truly breathtaking commitment to the psychical nature of the role but it’s also how he can explore the heart of who he is as well and showing those smaller more intimate moments that make the performance truly special. As it’s never one note he levels both the action and emotional part of his character beautifully it never feels like one is out shadowing the other. Now Keanu Delivers a incredible final performance as the intimating but emotionally driven assassin that will blow you away in how he just commits himself fully to showing people why his action films are among some of the best ever put to screen but also he’ll bring you to tears to the amazing tender emotion that will touch your heart. Keanu Reeves delivers an incredible performance that is truly astonishing. 

Donnie Yen : Donnie Yen is the scene stealer from this movie by far! Now the moment he appears onscreen he gives such an electric screen presence you cannot but be drawn to his character instantly. He brings this smart and incredibly charismatic energy to the character that chews up each scene he’s in. He plays an old friend of John Wick and is put upon the task of bringing him down despite being lifelong friends he tries to put his personal feelings aside in order to get the job done. Now the way in how he approaches that onscreen was so layered as yeah the way he takes people down is very stylistic and engaging but it’s the man behind the blade that really struck me in terms of his performance of this character. As sure he may seem like he can remove his personal feelings from his work but you can see the toll it takes on him as he is absolutely crushed that he is the one who has to take on John Wick. It very much is a man who follows the code he swore by but at the same he wants to do what’s right in his heart and that emotional inner conflict you can see on his face and through his delivery of the dialogue is phenomenal. As Donnie Yen brings such a heartbreaking but also cool performance if that makes sense as when he’s taking down people my god is it cool to watch but theirs always such a calculated way to how he will outsmart people who think just because he’s blind he must not be a good fighter. The way he can hold himself in combat with finding unique ways of using a gun or even a sword is jaw dropping  he’s easily the best fighter aside from John wick and you can’t take your eyes off of him. He gives such a confidence to Caine it will have you going oh wow is he so freaking cool but also have you in tears as he can pull on your heartstrings with a look or very few words and it’s powerfully brought to life by Donnie Yen. He easily could of made him just be some forgettable character but no he brought amazing amount of depth and emotion to him that hits you in the chest all the while chewing up the scenes he’s in with his fantastic onscreen presence in a performance that deserves to be noticed and just because it’s an action movie isn’t a excuse to say eh it can’t be award worthy his work in the film is amazing Donnie Yen shines as a blind assassin who wears his heart on his sleeve what a truly great performance. 

Chad Stahelski : Chad my man you have one of the best directed action films probably since 2018’s Mission Impossible’s fallout. Now this man has been part of John Wick’s journey since the beginning back in 2014. Not only did he show the world that this character was not some assassin who is like 100 other movies but he brought such a unique nature to this world that made him stand out along the best action franchises due to the incredible writing, fantastic performances and truly Next level action set pieces  that constantly kept topping the previous one. The way he captures the sheer intensity and brutality of the story is truly masterful as their are hand to hand combat scenes that are beautifully brought to the screen but it’s also how he can take a simple setting and truly use it to his advantage and use the atmosphere as a character for the big set pieces in the film. As there are ways he frames a shot in this film that had me stunned as for example their is a big grand action sequence that is shot from above and looks like a video game in the way the camera is set up as a overhead shot. It follows John Wick coming room to room in this mind blowing sequence and now the stylistic approach to the look of the film never feels like it’s showing off in saying look at us being all cool it never feels that way but simply is showing in great ways how to capture this world and the sheer pulse Pounding action in ways that really put you in the middle of the scene and have you totally locked into each moment from it’s incredibly framing. Another thing that he does really well is he never over complicated the narrative with two many characters or having tons of side plots the entire plot is John Wick trying to find a way out of this life and theirs three people trying to kill him and the heart of what is being told never feels lost as the core of the movie is very much yes John Wick but the sense of finishing what he started and becoming emotionally happy once again and it is able to give that to the audience without it trading in the story for the  fast editing and camerawork it always kept its course narratively and then put all the flashy stuff second which I loved. The sound design in this film is also insanely good as from the way characters would shoot or even punch to the sound of a sword getting pulled out the sound mixing and editing was terrific here and on a technical level this film is truly on another level of outstanding as you typically don’t see action films on this caliber. For the direction it really was amazing as the story kept you engaged then you have the emotionally charged performances from Reeves and Donnie wrapped in some of the most captivating action sequences put to film while wrapping up John Wick’s story in a very satisfying way and sure the film is almost three hours but it earns its runtime and never feels like it even was that length the way he paced this film was astonishing as it never let up for a moment. The story kept going and going and you never felt bored or that a scene dragged on it was magnificently done and Chad Stahelski delivers one of the finest directed action films I’ve ever seen and wow what he accomplishes is amazing truly terrific direction.