John Wick Chapter 2
Released: 2017
Rated: R
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Ruby Rose, Riccardo Scamarcio, Laurence Fishburne
Runtime: 122 Minutes
After winning back his desired retirement, John Wick is forced to pay back a blood debt he owes in order to aid an old colleague who seeks to use John’s legendary skills to win himself a seat at The High Table, the shadowy organization which John has been trying to get away from. The Babayaga is begrudgingly dragged back into the sophisticated underground world of assassins as he fights his way through hordes of henchmen and double crossings from both old enemies and friends.
Directing 5/5
With a sleeper hit like 2014’s John Wick, it would be easy to imagine that the sequel to a film with such surprising success would be underwhelming compared to its predecessor. Fortunately, returning director Chad Stahelski takes the artful combat sequences, enigmatic characters, and brilliant world building to new heights in this second outing.
First and foremost, Stahelski certainly knows how to make an action movie that delivers in both brain and brawn. The camerawork by Dan Laustsen for most of the fight scenes is intriguing because the bullet and blood ridden battles are filmed as though it was an ordinary scene. While most other movies use quick, shaky shots and cuts to create an adrenaline rush, Stahelski uses the expertly intricate fight choreography to generate the tension that drives the audience to the edge of their seats.
The combination of this fluid violence and the masterful use of camerawork makes John Wick into a visual art form all its own. It’s everything and more of what the first movie delivered and perfected.
The final ingredient that makes John Wick films such a great watch is its self- awareness of how dead pan funny, violent and over the top it is. It’s tongue in cheek, but also never ridiculous to the point of parody.
Writing 5/5
Writer Derek Kolstad returns to expand up on the lore of the assassin underworld that was introduced in the first Wick film. We get a better glimpse of the intricacies of the organization as well as building upon the formidable legacy of John Wick himself. Even characters that make an appearance from the first film are shown in a new light as more and more of the world of John Wick is unveiled to the audience. The story is simple, but engagingly so, allowing more focus to be put into developing the rules and society of this mysterious organization.
And what a refined society it is. There is a charming sophistication to this world wide community of assassins that is brought out not just in the visually striking locales, but in the script as well. Even though they may be talented killers and criminals, they abide by strict laws that always manage to make sense and are logically sound even if it’s a new law that is revealed to the audience. The world building of John Wick is so precise and thought out that every new detail is completely satisfying, even if we don’t know everything. Such is the incredible talent of Derek Kolstad.
And not only is the world expanded upon, but we learn more about the titular character. While his past as an assassin is mystifying in his own right, the more human part of the character, the lonely man that wants to get away from it all, is the most touching part of this movie.
Acting 5/5
Continuing his role as the legendary assassin John Wick, Keanu Reeves is perfect for the role with his wooden acting style and commanding presence. Ian McShane as Winston, the hotel manager of the assassin base in New York, is absolutely a charismatic delight to watch as he powerfully chews the scenery even with a small amount of screen time. Common gives an entertaining turn as Cassian, an acquaintance-turned-enemy of Wick’s. Laurence Fishburne is large and in charge as the electrifying Bowery King, whose boisterous character is one of the highlights on the film. Riccardo Scamarcio plays the enigmatic Santino D’Antonio, a character from Wick’s past.
Overall
If you liked the fluidly fun fight choreography, genius world building and blatant self-awareness of John Wick, you’ll love Chapter 2. As the 2 suggests, all of the elements from the first movie are doubled to make a thoroughly satisfying and visually invigorating film that knows how to have fun itself while dishing it out in dump truck loads to the audience.
5/5
TL;DR
+Satisfying sequel that improves on the first.
+Laurence Fishburne chews the scenery
+Dan Laustsen’s cinematography adds a slick look to the neon-soaked locales.