John Wick: Chapter 4 is a Pleasure to Watch

Remember the quote that Charon (played by the late Lance Reddick), the concierge of the New York Continental Hotel said to John Wick in the original John Wick movie? “It truly is a pleasure having you with us agin, Mr. Wick,” Charon said.

Nothing could sum up my feelings about John Wick 4 more. If you want to watch a fast-paced, brilliant, neo-noir movie, then you are in the right place. After being delayed due to the pandemic, John Wick: Chapter 4 follows legendary assassin and reluctant but principled hero John Wick as he once again tries to survive hitmen from all over the world. This is one franchise that I will continue loving until the day I die.

The plot revolves around Wick exacting his revenge against the High Table, 12 crime lords that govern the assassin world. Winston, the owner of the Continental Hotel (a home away from home for assassins) Winston, the owner of the Continental, suffers two major losses at the hands of a character called The Marquis (played with relish by Bill Skarsgard), and subsequently joins Wick in his pursuit of vengeance. Wick travels all over the world to try and get help in his quest, then challenges Marquis to a duel at dawn outside Paris’ Sacre-Coeur (which is strangely but conveniently empty of police and homeless people). Of course, there is a catch which results in a countdown, a lengthy fight scene involving steps, and an unexpected foe.

Will Wick win the duel, and if so, will that finally make him a free man?

This movie follows the previous three John Wick movies in expanding the assassins’ world which more than ever appears to have tentacles everywhere on the globe, lots of disposable cash, and unlimited guns, ammunition, and ballistic-defying tailoring. This world-building involving exotic locations is one of the things that makes me love the John Wick series.

Let’s talk about acting. Keanu Reeves once again does a remarkable job as Wick, a legendary hitman who was reluctantly brought back into the assassin world in the original John Wick after losing his wife, his car, and his puppy (in that order). I have always enjoyed him as Wick, and he continues playing the role to perfection in this movie. Reeves is Wick. Donnie Yen does a fantastic job as Caine, a blind assassin who is pulled back into the assassin world. Yen has always been a standout performer (notably in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and he does not disappoing here.

Meanwhile, Skarsgård, who you might know as Pennywise from the IT series, is an amazing actor and a brilliant choice for Marquis Vincent de Gramont. Skarsgård plays the arrogance of the Marquis to perfection, even as he (like all the villains in the Wick series) seriously underestimates Wick. Shamier Anderson does a pretty good job as Mr. Nobody, a homeless assassin who is waiting to cash in on Wick’s bounty until it is high enough for his taste. All of the Wick movies involve a dog character, and Mr. Nobody’s dog is the one who steals the scene in this movie.

Ian McShane is as fantastic as ever as Winston; same for Laurence Fishburne who returns as The Bowrey King (although I was disappointed in his amount of screen time). Finally, Lance Reddick, in what was unfortunately one of his final roles, has a shocking and emotional scene as Charon, Winston’s right hand man. Since Reddick passed away a week before the film’s release, I was wondering if they would include a dedication, and I’m glad that they did.

The music is really fitting for the action, with two standout songs being “Nowhere To Run” and “Marie Doucer,” Marie Colere, which has the same theme as the Rolling Stones’ Paint It, “Black,” but with French lyrics. Once again, the cinematography is fantastic. Seeing Wick sit on the steps of Sacre-Coeur as the sun rises is especially beautiful.

Finally, the choreography of the action scenes is outstanding. It’s like watching ballet, with each step, stab, and shot gracefully building towards the next. Reeves, a master of his craft, actually trained to handle and use firearms, which makes each scene with Wick and a gun that much more realistic.

Overall, this is a great movie, just like the last three in the series. I give it a 9/10 for making me feel like I’ve just seen an old friend who is just as fun as you remember him.