John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
2014's John Wick looked as though it was just a smarter revenge action film. Light on plot, heavy on the action. Little did we know, the series had big plans. John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum wants to deliver much more than superbly choreographed and creative action scenes. The way it sets up for a fourth chapter, however, may make it ambitious to a fault.
Excommunicated from the secret society of assassins whose operatives seem to be everywhere, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is now on the run with a $14 million bounty on his head. Seeking to escape the innumerable mercenaries on his tail, he begins cashing in favors from his former allies but even those only take him so far.
Director Chad Stahelski delivers one wonderfully grisly demise after another. Whether someone’s getting a bullet to the head, a knife to the throat or has their skull caved in thanks to a well-placed book (you read that right), not much can prepare you for the glorious violence of Parabellum (whose meaning is revealed in a great moment courtesy of Ian McShane). The theater is the best place to see it, as you’ll be surrounded by dozens of groans and sadistic laughs. Best of all, this is meticulously choreographed and mapped action. You can always tell where John Wick is, how many opponents he’s fighting, where each weapon they’ve been throwing is now located, and what significant damage has been done to the environment. This is a movie where the bullet holes in the glass ceiling matter. I cannot overemphasize how satisfying it is to be able to anticipate and be surprised to see every action pay off. You admire the film for the artistry of its combat alone.
John Wick Chapter 3 is at a bit of a disadvantage right now. I’ve no doubt we’ll see a fourth and that all of the elements introduced here will pay off eventually. They better, as this film lasts 131 minutes. You could easily chop at least a quarter of an hour from it by eliminating Halle Berry’s character, Sofia, who specializes in supplementing her marksman skills with a pair of attack dogs. She's plenty cool… but again, over 2 hours? I’ll gladly re-review the film down the line but for now, I’m letting you know the conclusion is somewhat unsatisfying because it’s just another setup for more.
A film like John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum shows Keanu Reeves at his best. His physical performance is incredible and when the story calls for him to just act, he’s excellent too. While the picture may overindulge in its storytelling, the world it sets up keeps getting more interesting and the action scenes are so good you can’t wait to see more. (Theatrical version on the big screen, May 20, 2019)
