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JOHN WICK
A stylish and offbeat variation of the classic anti-hero with a perfect taste of tongue-in-cheek makes the 2014 action thriller John Wick, a film that works thanks to a somewhat interesting variation in the presentation of its central character.
The introduction of John Wick is not really anything we haven't seen before, but the only difference is that we are definitely not being told everything. It's not obvious what John does for a living, but his beautiful home implies that he is very good at it and that he is currently taking some time off. We find out one of the reasons for this is the death of his wife (Bridget Moynihan), who actually bought a puppy and had it delivered to John before her death. The puzzle pieces don't start to fall into place until the son of a Russian mobster (Alfie Allen) steals John's 1969 Mustang and murders the puppy. When dad (Michael Nyqvist) learns what his son did, he kicks the crap out of his son and then places him in a safe house for his own protection.
Through the use of carefully structured backstory and his present day reputation, it finally comes to light that John Wick is a former hitman whose reputation is unprecedented and has garnered respect on both sides of the law. The aformentioned Russian mobster is no exception where this respect/fear of Wick is concerned, but is not above putting a $2,000,000 contract out on him either.
Screenwriter Derek Kolstad has constructed a straight up action thriller that combines a quiet tongue in cheek quality to the story as well as populating the story with good guys pretending to be bad guys and bad guys pretending to be good. It was such fun seeing a story like this where the bad guy is aware of what he's up against from jump and not being terribly thrilled about it. This slimy Russian is so fearful of this guy Wick that he is willing to throw his own son under the bus and once you see this guy in action, you'll know why.
Keanu Reeves showed he had the chops to be a viable action hero in Speed and in The Matrix franchise, but anyone who still has any doubts need look no further than his work here...Reeves has never commanded the screen the way he does here, bringing a warm emotional center to this assassin who can kill with his bare hands, but only utilizes this skill when he absolutely has to. Reeves is aided by the strong direction of Chad Stahelski, who displays a flair for mounting an edge-of-your-seat action thriller. Art direction, film editing, and a pulse-pounding music score help bring this classy action thriller home.
A stylish and offbeat variation of the classic anti-hero with a perfect taste of tongue-in-cheek makes the 2014 action thriller John Wick, a film that works thanks to a somewhat interesting variation in the presentation of its central character.
The introduction of John Wick is not really anything we haven't seen before, but the only difference is that we are definitely not being told everything. It's not obvious what John does for a living, but his beautiful home implies that he is very good at it and that he is currently taking some time off. We find out one of the reasons for this is the death of his wife (Bridget Moynihan), who actually bought a puppy and had it delivered to John before her death. The puzzle pieces don't start to fall into place until the son of a Russian mobster (Alfie Allen) steals John's 1969 Mustang and murders the puppy. When dad (Michael Nyqvist) learns what his son did, he kicks the crap out of his son and then places him in a safe house for his own protection.
Through the use of carefully structured backstory and his present day reputation, it finally comes to light that John Wick is a former hitman whose reputation is unprecedented and has garnered respect on both sides of the law. The aformentioned Russian mobster is no exception where this respect/fear of Wick is concerned, but is not above putting a $2,000,000 contract out on him either.
Screenwriter Derek Kolstad has constructed a straight up action thriller that combines a quiet tongue in cheek quality to the story as well as populating the story with good guys pretending to be bad guys and bad guys pretending to be good. It was such fun seeing a story like this where the bad guy is aware of what he's up against from jump and not being terribly thrilled about it. This slimy Russian is so fearful of this guy Wick that he is willing to throw his own son under the bus and once you see this guy in action, you'll know why.
Keanu Reeves showed he had the chops to be a viable action hero in Speed and in The Matrix franchise, but anyone who still has any doubts need look no further than his work here...Reeves has never commanded the screen the way he does here, bringing a warm emotional center to this assassin who can kill with his bare hands, but only utilizes this skill when he absolutely has to. Reeves is aided by the strong direction of Chad Stahelski, who displays a flair for mounting an edge-of-your-seat action thriller. Art direction, film editing, and a pulse-pounding music score help bring this classy action thriller home.