Sean Marshall Lionsgate’s John Wick film grounded itself on the big screens in 2014 and has spawned four films that have brought home some great numbers at the global box office.
John Wick 4, the latest film in the franchise, has the Baba Yaga, John Wick, trying to claim his freedom from Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), an influential member of the High Table, but as usual, things aren’t that easy. Marquis has some of the best, Caine (Donnie Yen), an old acquaintance of John, and Shamier Anderson (Mr. Nobody/The Tracker), a bounty hunter who has set his eyes on John.
What keeps this franchise alive is its edge-of-the-seat action and fantastic cast. Bringing in Donnie Yen was a perfect choice. Martial arts is the core of this franchise, so having one of the greatest and one of the most well-beloved martial artists appear in a John Wick film was overdue. Some of the best moments in the movie were when Yen and Reeves shared the screen. Shamier Anderson was also a great addition to the film. If the door was left open for him to appear in future films, I hope Chad Stahelski welcomes him back with open arms. He had some solid moments in the film’s final act that included a dog, and they were intense.
Skarsgård’s character didn’t feel as imposing as the script made him. The previous main antagonists were more hands-on than the one here, and they weren’t as high up on the list. It also didn’t help that his character didn’t participate in any action. Scott Adkins’ character, Killa Harkan, was a better villain than Skarsgård. I would’ve liked to have seen more from Adkin.
The cinematography was beautiful. Several scenes shine because of how and where they were shot, but one, in particular, made the action in that scene feel like a video game.
The story in John Wick 4 was well-paced. Unlike the previous films, the action in this film didn’t feel out of place or forced. Shay Hatten, the writer of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, did a great job here, much better than his script for the third entry.
John Wick 4 is the best film in the franchise, hands down. The action, cinematography, and cast made this entry shine.
