John Wick

                                                         

John Wick – movie review by Tony Baksa 11/13/2014
Hamburg Sun

Rating – 4 Suns

Take one part Quentin Tarantino, one part Kung Fu and one part Clint Eastwood and you will have “John Wick”.  On their own, each is entertaining to their target audience. Mixed thoroughly and you have a superior entertainment for everyone.

Keanu Reeves stars as a retired high level hit man who encounters a trio of thugs hell bent on stealing his snazzy car. In the process they beat him violently and to top it off kill his adorable dog before they speed off with his Mustang. Their big mistake was not knowing who he is. He’s John Wick famous assassin – formerly known as “The Boogeyman” – an unstoppable force. Their bigger mistake was not knowing that Wick was a “colleague” of the father of the trio’s leader. Their biggest mistake was killing John Wick’s dog. You see, our beloved hit man recently lost his beautiful wife to a terminal illness. The dog was her parting gift to him. We are treated to scenes of Wick lavishing affection on the dog as he grieves.  With brief flashbacks of his deceased wife, there is a sense that he gave up his life of crime for her and the decency she represented. Therefore, this dog is everything to him – EVERYTHING.

Well, that is all you need to know of the movie’s plot. The remainder of the movie is all revenge played out in some of the most exciting action you will encounter. This is not an overstatement. Directed by David Leitch and Chad Stahelski we are treated to wildly enthralling fights and shoot outs that are brilliant in their execution. The directors know their material all too well. They are former stunt doubles for the film’s star, Keanu Reeves. What is even more interesting and, frankly astonishing, is that “John Wick” is the first film directed by Leitch and Stahelski. They must have been paying attention as stunt men on the many movies they worked. I am guessing they have also watched a lot of Kung Fu movies as well. “John Wick” plays like Kung Fu with guns instead of flying feet and fists.

The amazing fight choreography especially the shoot outs are unequalled in recent memory. Inspired by martial arts movies, it is fast and furious like a runaway train. The all-important editing in such a film cannot be denied. I am predicting an Oscar nomination for film editing.

As for the cast, they are fine especially John Leguizamo in a tiny cameo that is, nevertheless memorable. But it is all Reeves. He is so strong in presence. As a loner of few words - relentless for vengeance, he will surely bring to mind the revenge seeking Clint Eastwood in his younger days. Keanu Reeves has had a string of bombs in the last few years. As the title character he states in a confrontational prelude to his rampage, “I’m thinking I’m back!” Yes, Keanu, you are and welcome back.

The look of the film is strangely beautiful for this genre. With New York City as the backdrop, the choreographed violence is mesmerizing and, above all, exciting. It’s not real and we know it. It’s fun. It’s iconic movie making. It’s cowboys and gangsters – good guys and bad guys - Gary Cooper in “High Noon”, Spencer Tracy in “Bad Day at Black Rock”.  It’s classic. It’s movie time – popcorn and candy.  We leave the theater exhilarated and satisfied.

“John Wick” is currently in theaters.