Logan Sork Film Reviews
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
The first John Wick film was about a former assassin who comes out of retirement to get revenge on the people who murdered his puppy… wow has this franchise grown. The original film was nothing more than a small sleeper hit that took the world by storm with its emphasis on highly stylized action over a meaningful story. The second film doubled down on that formula and mostly succeeded. This recent installment however is a whole different story entirely. With breathtaking action sequences, fun characters and beautiful imagery, this film not only elevates the franchise but stands as what I think is one of the best action films ever made.
John Wick – Chapter 3: Parabellum is directed by Chad Stahelski and is the third installment of the John Wick franchise. It stars Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Decascos, Lance Reddick, Anjelica Houston and Ian McShane. The film opens just minutes after the previous film, with John Wick (Keanu Reeves) on the run from multiple assassins after being excommunicated from the secret assassin society for killing a high-ranking member of said organization. With a rising bounty on his head, Wick must navigate his way through this dangerous underworld and find a way to regain his honor before he is taken out by one of the various foes looking to claim the reward.
As with the previous John Wick films, the filmmakers behind it have one clear goal in mind and that is to create glorious action sequences that will stick with you long after the film ends. On that front, this film exceeds any possible expectations one could have by this point of the franchise. The director and the fantastic stunt team find so many new ways to create well-choreographed, thrilling action sequences that will have you on the edge of your seat for most of the run time. The action scenes in this film are so bombastic and fun that just when you think they can’t possibly top it, they manage to do so. The first 30 minutes of the film in particular are nothing but a series of escalating action sequences that are so entertaining to watch, it’s almost impossible to take your eyes off screen.
What sets this film apart from the other films of the franchise, and even action films in general, is the variety of the situations in which the action sequences occur. A gun fight will be followed by a knife fight, then a chase, then another gun fight but on top of a horse etc. It’s in this wide variety that this film franchise finally hits its stride and becomes a modern-day staple of action filmmaking. One problem you will encounter when you focus on the action sequences however is that your story will begin to fall by the wayside. This film does fall victim to this problem as the story, while not terrible, just feels like a series of events that are constructed to piece together the various action scenes. But by this point, I’m not surprised that these films have a weak story, as the filmmakers more than make up for it with those incredible action scenes.
These action scenes however would not be as entertaining as they are without fun characters to populate them, and this film has no shortage of fun characters and actors. Keanu Reeves once again shines as John Wick and while he may botch most of the few lines he’s given with some interesting reading choices, he brings enough physical presence to the role to more than make up for it. Lance Riddick is excellent once again as the concierge of the Continental Hotel and even gets a chance to get in on the action. Ian McShane and Laurence Fishbourne play their usual character tropes, but they do it in such an entertaining fashion and own every second of screen time that I’m willing to overlook it. The newcomers are all good enough in their perspective roles, with Halle Berry turning in a cheesy but appropriate performance (though she is made a little cooler by the accompaniment of two badass canines). The only performance that I really didn’t like in the film was Anjelica Houston as a representative of the assassin organization. Her voice and mannerisms did nothing to counterbalance the unlikability of the character, resulting in a performance and character that is a little grating. In the end though, all of the actors turn in great performances and have fun playing interesting characters, making the film all the more enjoyable.
And on top of all of that the film is just so visually stunning. The fight scenes in this film don’t feel like fight scenes at all but rather carefully constructed dances designed to thrill an audience. While that may hinder the realism qualities of the film a little bit, it’s still super entertaining to watch. Then there’s the overall look of the film itself. Its jam packed with stunning locations ranging from the neon glow of nighttime New York city to the arid yet beautiful Moroccan desert. These varying landscapes make the film much more interesting from a visual standpoint, as it allows for some variety to make the film more interesting. The use of light in this film is also fantastic, with a variety of spectrums being used to give the film a little extra pop in terms of a visual standpoint. It is this great imagery that helps elevate the film beyond your standard action film and transforms it into an almost artistic depiction of action.
It’s simply amazing to see how far this franchise has come. What started out as a small revenge flick has turned into one of the most exciting action film franchises in recent memory, and this film exemplifies that transformation perfectly. Not only are the action sequences in this film the best of the franchise, but they are some the best in recent film memory. Add to it the fun cast and characters and the beautiful imagery this film has to offer, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a fun time.
9/10