The raw, action-packed thriller John Wick Chapter 3 - Parabellum is a refreshing change of pace. The John Wick franchise is acclaimed for its blistering fights and suave, high-stakes situations. This latest chapter doesn’t disappoint.
The script, the lighting, the pacing, the shots - it’s a natural fit for the genre. Action films this pure don’t normally get made.
Chapter 3 picks up moments after the last, with clean-cut assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) excommunicated from his guild. He quickly escapes the sleek streets of New York to find his mysterious boss and win a chance to save his life.
Reeves is a great actor. His tenacity and confidence exposes John Wick's fascinating vulnerability. A dynamite supporting cast helps. They include the sharp Ian McShane, who returns as Winston, the hotel's manager, along with Asia Kate Dillon, the terrifying adjudicator threatening Wick’s quest.
(Foodies find a string of surprising gastronomical delights. Mark Dacascos plays John’s principal rival Zero. Mr. Dacascos hosts Iron Chef America. Not only that, the score to one fights is the Chef’s Table's theme song.)
Sensational moments supplement the story, even coming from a franchise known for the fist-throwing. An early scene takes place in a museum. Watching knives whizzing expertly through the air is particularly satisfying.
The fight choreography is by far the film’s most impressive element. Director Chad Stahelski started his career as Reeves’ stunt double. That training heavy influences in his work. His expert knowledge of creating fights on camera pays off.
The violence comes at a cost. The brutality reaches Tarantino heights that earn the movie an 18A rating. The gore purposely tells the story with effective morals; however, it is not for the young or faint of heart.
What is the moral? It’s hard to say.
John’s travels and constant running speaks to the ethics of the business and the management of human dignity. The movie never explores just one clear idea, but rather the mosaic that makes up the integrity of life.
The most dynamic and pulse-pounding moments come early in the movie, but are merely standouts in this consistently sharp movie.
I doubt he’s finished yet.
John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum
3 out of 4 stars
18A, 2hrs 11mins. Crime Action.
Directed by Chad Stahelski.
Starring Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Halle Berry and Laurence Fishburne.
Now Playing at Film.Ca Cinemas, Cineplex Winston Churchill and Cineplex Oakville & VIP.
