John Wick (2014)

Warning: Spoilers Below. 

John Wick is the epitome of what action films should be like. I know its strange to start off a blog post with such a bold statement, but I truly can't remember the last action film I watched that was as stylish and rich in choreography and story telling as John Wick was. Allow me to explain, just as it seemed like Keanu Reeves was beginning to fade away into obscurity, he approached his former stunt collaborators from The Matrix trilogy (Chad Stahelski and David Leitch) with a script about a recently widowed anti-hero seeking revenge for his murdered puppy. Thats right, murdered puppy. Sounds ridiculous right? Wrong. By killing a fictitious dog, Keanu Reeves (& company) managed to turn a cult hit into a sprawling franchise, hoping to start its own cinematic universe one day (a la Disney's Marvel franchise). So... what exactly sets this particular action film apart from the rest, and what does Keanu Reeves have that Jason Statham and Liam Neeson quite simply don't? Well, to find that answer we'll first have to analyze the visual effects and stunt choreography utilized in this brilliantly bloody film. 

As mentioned earlier, John Wick reunited stunt experts Chad Stahelski and David Leitch with Keanu Reeves, this time placing his frequent collaborators in the directors chair. The realism and simplicity behind John Wick's fighting style is largely attributed to Stahelski and Leitch's pre-existing knowledge in various forms of martial arts; ultimately allowing them to set Reeves apart from other actors who try to emulate similar action scenes. Therefore the effectiveness behind the stunt work in John Wick is largely due to the use of practical effects rather than computer generated images. As stated by the directors, Reeves insisted upon undergoing the most brutal training procedure led by the industry's leading experts in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu; adding major credibility to the majority of his fight scenes. One of the best action sequences occurs during the beginning of the movie when Russian mobsters break into John Wick's house (once again) with intentions of killing him. What was supposed to be a quick "hit" backfired tremendously as Wick anticipated their arrival and finally introduced his deadly fighting style to the audience. I think what makes this particular scene so effective is the realism displayed through Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, yet it's also borderline cartoonish, evident through the numerous head shots (accompanied by awesome blood squirts) John Wick unleashes upon his enemies. The cartoonish blood juxtaposed with realistic fight sequences is unapologetically stylish that allows audiences to unwind through a form of cinematic escapism.

Keanu Reeves filming John Wick

According to Leitch, "Choreographing a fight scene is a lot like telling a story... you learn a lot about the characters involved". This is particularly true because violence in movies tells the audience a lot about the story that can't aways be communicated through speech. One example of this is when a fellow assassin portrayed by Willem Dafoe manages to warn Wick about a deadly intruder by firing sniper shots from across the street into his hotel room. Up until this point, it was assumed Dafoe was working for the Russian mob as he took a contract against Wick, but as soon as he saved him, we immediately knew Dafoe was on the right side. John Wick excels on a narrative stand point as well; masterfully engaging audiences within a world of multidimensional characters set against a backdrop of ultra violent assassins. One aspect I really found interesting about the plot was the use of unique locations to showcase where (and how) the criminal underworld operates within this cinematic universe. The Continental is a name given to the hotel where John Wick finds himself during the course of the film. Managed by Winston (an enigmatic figure portrayed by Ian Mcshane), The Continental is an ideal place for criminals to find refuge when looking to take a break from their dangerously diabolical line of work. However, there is a strict "no violence" rule enforced to anyone on the hotel premises or else they could face a deadly consequence for betraying "the code".

I think the story about John Wick is especially rich and compelling mostly because the writers allow audiences to fully immerse themselves not only with our titular heroes, but also within the intimate operations of other side characters presented through the puzzling criminal underworld. An example of this is presented through a group of characters who work as "cleaners" for a specialized waste disposal unit. Except of course they aren't your typical garbage men... These guys are essentially a collective of cleaners who help dispose dead bodies left behind by assassins who are willing to pay a pretty penny. Or in this case, a gold coin (a form of currency assassins use in exchange for goods and services). I remember the first time I watched John Wick, the moment these cleaners appeared on screen I became immediately invested in their group, but I couldn't exactly understand why. Was it because they were helping John Wick on a very basic level, or was it perhaps something even deeper than that? After repeated viewings I realized that not only did they help John Wick remove trash from his life in terms of deceased Russian mobsters, but they also helped remove any psychological turbulence represented within him. After everything Wick's been through (wife dying from cancer, puppy murdered by russian mobsters, stolen car, etc) the removal of waste from his house metaphorically represents the stress being removed from his mind as well.

All in all, If the sharp choreography or compelling narrative isn't enough to convince you to watch John Wick, just know that you're missing out on Keanu Reeves going on a killing spree because Theon Greyjoy from Game of Thrones killed his puppy. 

Questions to reflect: Do you think practical effects are a dying art form within modern cinema? Is having a narrative structure important for action films to be successful?