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Keanu Reeves’ reluctant murderer is rather less reluctant in his newest outing, John Wick Chapter 4.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
The “John Wick” films began with a easy premise, simply Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman making an attempt to avenge the dying of his spouse and canine. Then the worldbuilding began. And with every new installment, the movies acquired extra elaborate. “Chapter 4” clocks in at shut to a few hours of globetrotting, gunshot-riddled mayhem, and critic Bob Mondello doesn’t sound in any respect sad about that.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
KEANU REEVES: (As John Wick) I will want a gun.
BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: Carnage and Keanu. What’s to not like? Usually, I would say the carnage, however within the “John Wick” sequence, when one thing depraved this fashion comes, it comes like dance, like mime, like motion so curated and chic, it barely even registers as unsettling.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
MONDELLO: (As John Wick) Amen.
MONDELLO: Reviewing the sooner “Wick” movies, I’ve talked about ballet. For this one, I am struck by structure. One villain…
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
REEVES: (As John Wick) Who is that this?
BILL SKARSGARD: (As Marquis) Marquis de Gramont.
MONDELLO: …Performed by a louche Invoice Skarsgard has an workplace in Manhattan grand sufficient to be an airport terminal. However for extra necessary conferences, he additionally has personal entry to the Paris Opera and the Louvre.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
SKARSGARD: (As Marquis) You come right here considering there’s a manner out of this world for you, Mr. Wick, or is just not?
MONDELLO: Wick lives in a world the place discos do not simply have waterfalls, they’re waterfalls, the higher to scrub away blood from mayhem with axes. Wick world resorts are fully made up of grand public areas. Crime households have layers that will do a Bond villain proud. And each gun fu battle – there are 14, in response to the filmmakers – is backlit and shade coded – inexperienced for fists, weapons and swords, purple for knives, weapons and bows and arrows, blue for kicks, weapons and nunchucks and a golden glow for a demolition derby Wick leads the mistaken manner around the Arc de Triomphe.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
MONDELLO: Stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski ensures that every cataclysm befalling Wick is spectacularly choreographed. And a gratifyingly human, empathetic and susceptible Keanu Reeves, at 58, has the grace to look, not less than momentarily, slowed when struck by a automotive, dropped from a fourth-floor window or physique slammed by Scott Adkins in a fats go well with. He is additionally slowed a bit much less momentarily by friendship. Wick has caring buddies in Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King, who retains him trying good…
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
LAURENCE FISHBURNE: (As Bowery King) Forty-two common, wasn’t it?
MONDELLO: …Whereas armored.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
FISHBURNE: (As Bowery King) It is kevlar entrance to again, the newest in ballistic stylish.
MONDELLO: Additionally, Ian McShane’s lodge supervisor…
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
REEVES: (As John Wick) Final phrases, Winston?
IAN MCSHANE: (As Winston) Simply have enjoyable on the market.
MONDELLO: …And the late Lance Reddick as his concierge. However the Excessive Desk, the nefarious group that is positioned a worth on Wick’s head to draw platoons of thugs he has comparatively little hassle dispatching, can be putting his buddies in his manner this time, a blind murderer performed by martial arts nice Donnie Yen.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
DONNIE YEN: (As Caine) You are going to die.
REEVES: (As John Wick) Possibly not.
MONDELLO: The daughter of one other pal, performed by singing sensation Rina Sawayama.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
RINA SAWAYAMA: (As Akira) You armed?
CHANG: And for emotional resonance, a canine proprietor who calls himself No one, performed by Shamier Anderson, all resulting in a Parisian showdown in entrance of the Basilique at Sacre Coeur, which sits atop a staircase, we’re advised, of 222 steps. Relaxation assured that Wick, having arrived on the backside, bone weary…
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4”)
FISHBURNE: (As Bowery King) You prepared, John?
REEVES: (As John Wick) Yeah.
MONDELLO: …Will arrive on the high, having felt each a kind of steps not less than as soon as on some a part of his physique, his ache, as ever on this outstanding sequence, the movies acquire. I am Bob Mondello.
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