John Wick
Overview
John Wick is a 2014 action thriller directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, marking the directorial debut of two veteran stunt coordinators. The film introduces the titular character, John Wick (Keanu Reeves), a legendary hitman who has retired from his violent life to live in peace with his beloved wife Helen. Tragically, Helen dies of an unspecified illness, leaving John devastated and alone. To help him cope with his grief, Helen had arranged for a puppy, Daisy, to be delivered to John after her death — a small, sweet beagle who gives John a reason to live again. However, a group of Russian gangsters led by Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen), the spoiled son of John's former employer Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist), breaks into John's home, steals his classic 1969 Ford Mustang, and kills Daisy. This act of senseless violence reignites the killer that John had tried to bury, and he returns to the criminal underworld with terrifying purpose. The film is a masterclass in world-building, creating a hidden society of assassins with its own rules, currencies (gold coins), neutral zones (the Continental Hotel), and codes of honor. The Continental is a safe haven for assassins where no "business" is allowed on the premises, and its manager Winston (Ian McShane) enforces the rules with gentlemanly authority. The action sequences are among the best ever filmed — long, unbroken takes with realistic fight choreography that blends judo, jiu-jitsu, and gun-fu. Keanu Reeves performed most of his own stunts and trained extensively in tactical shooting and martial arts. The film's signature scene involves a nightclub shootout where John systematically eliminates dozens of guards set to a pulsing electronic score. John Wick revitalized Keanu Reeves' career and spawned a successful franchise, including two sequels with more on the way. The film earned over $86 million worldwide on a modest $20 million budget and received widespread critical acclaim for its stylish direction, tight storytelling, and exceptional action choreography. John Wick is a pure, distilled action film that understands exactly what it is and executes it perfectly.
