By SETH HYNES
John Wick (MA15+)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyquist, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki
SURPASSED only by the smarter, more psychological A Walk Among the Tombstones, John Wick may be the best purely action-based thriller of the year.
John Wick is a retired hitman grieving for his recently-deceased wife, and receives a puppy as a posthumous gift from her. But when a group of Russian mobsters steal his car and kill the puppy, John swears vengeance.
Keanu Reeves brings his trademark blend of badass stoicism and deadpan comedy to the film, and is assisted by a great supporting cast. The action scenes are brutal, energetic and superbly-choreographed, and the film is teeming with visual style.
What also stands out about John Wick is the sense of humour it has about itself. Amusing riffs on the hitman and revenge formulas include clandestine clean-up crews, weird codes of conduct and a posh hotel devoted entirely to assassins.
The way the film acknowledges the absurdity of a puppy inciting such a bloodbath, and how John’s targets implicitly know they’re screwed when he comes after them, both give John Wick a fun self-aware feel amid the darkness.
The film is a violent revenge movie while also effectively satirising its own genre.
Savagely satisfying but also funny and strongly-directed, John Wick is a great mainstream comeback into the action genre for Keanu Reeves, especially after the lacklustre 47 Ronin early this year.
