I had an amazing time with JOHN WICK. I saw it upon its second screening during FANTASTIC FEST. I hated missing the premiere, but that’s FANTASTIC FEST, a series of Sophie Choices. But the good side of it is that no matter what you picked, you had a great time with a film that gets to you.
I skipped JOHN WICK initially, figuring that it was going to be a big release… I’d see it eventually. I mean, Keanu Reeves driving like a badass with a Puppy in the car… at least that’s what the trailer told me. I just didn’t know. The trailer kind of made it seem a bit hokey. FUCK PRECONCEPTIONS IN THE ASS!
This is Keanu Reeves in a PARKER story. Except, it isn’t a Richard Stark (aka Donald Westlake) novel adaptation… instead… Keanu plays JOHN WICK, he seems like a troubled man when we see him. His wife, whom he seems devoted to… well, she’s not doing so well. If there’s one thing you know about Stark’s PARKER character… you never want to owe Parker anything and you never ever ever steal from Parker or do Parker wrong. Add to the list of badass mutherfuckers not to piss off… JOHN WICK.
Invest in Keanu Reeves ever moment of badassness that he has ever been a part of… Distill it all… Let it age… Forget all that badassness even fucking ever existed. Then… go see JOHN WICK. Just let it explode in your face! Prepare to clap, cheer and laugh… This is that kind of film. A movie to get a wicked case of the laughs.
Now… Keanu Reeves is not alone in this film.
I hadn’t seen a whole lot on JOHN WICK in advance, so almost the entire cast came as a complete fucking delight. None, more so than Alfie Allen… You know him from GAME OF THRONES as Theon Greyjoy… I love that character and I love watching him suffer, because Theon Greyjoy was an excellent weasel-rat bastard. This time he plays a spoiled dumbfucking brat that seriously fucks up.
Part of the joy of this movie is just how complete this film’s specific universe has been set up. John Wick is essentially the Achilles of the Mafia Hit world. He’s fucking Legend. Sure, it’s easy to kill, but he kills in manners that makes LeBron James go, “DAMN!”
He’s singular in purpose, and it is a beautiful thing. The fun is in watching it all play out. It is an action film for action film lovers. Keanu is at his best in quite some time. He’s got a lovely swagger and sense of no-nonsense fun that is in fact wicked wicked fun!
I didn’t see the film with Keanu Reeves in the audience, but you’d have thought he was there. The audience cheered and made those awesome body blow noises at all the particularly best parts! Seriously. Keanu is killing like Fred Astaire dances. It’s a beautiful thing.
The film has so many great moments, especially between the characters with history. I mean… like when John Leguizamo tells Michael Nyqvist what Alfie Allen has done… it’s one thing. But when “JOHN WICK” is uttered… It’s like… the best response in a film to a name in a very very very long time. Perfect. Everyone is just being awesome in this very Donald Westlake-ish universe.
Keanu seriously knocked this film out of the park. It’s directed by Achilles’ Stunt Double on TROY & Brandon Lee’s Stunt Double on THE CROW. Since then, they’ve been doing the stunt coordinating & fight choreographers on films like V FOR VENDETTA, 300, RAMBO, FIGHT CLUB, SPEED RACER, THE MATRIX films and so so much more. The action is dynamic and impactful in a way rarely seen in film.
This movie kicks a massive amount of ass in wonderful wonderful ways. Keanu may have found his best character here. I would love to see more from JOHN WICK. He’s a man the world never forgets. If you’ve read the review, I haven’t given you a terrible lot. I will say that Alfie Allen commits an unforgivable act and that JOHN WICK is completely justified in his every action. His character is set up in such a fashion that you just can’t wait to see what he does – and he does it… A LOT! I can’t wait to hear exactly how many bodies Wick is ultimately putting up on the score board, but it’s brutal folks. JASON would go back for his hockey pads.
There’s a couple of great things that you come away from JOHN WICK with. First, Keanu Reeves is just awesome in this film… and Secondly, most importantly, David Leitch and Chad Stahelski are the real fucking deal. These two stunties have done something on the year where Hal Needham passed away… They’ve gone and directed an action masterpiece of badass American cinema done old school. And it is something to celebrate! Also, we may want to keep our eyes on Derek Kolstad, he wrote JOHN WICK and this movie is wickedly clever in how it is written. This film defies expectations mightily. And remember, respect people’s property you fucking savages!
