Josh Wick Is Back, Ready for Parabellum

Kaleidoscope returns with its newest: Lionsgate's & Summit Entertainment's production of "John Wick: Chapter 3--Parabellum".  Directed by Chad Stahelski, the movie stars Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacascos, & Asia Kate Dillon.  Rated 'R', it has a running time of 2 hrs, 10 min.

The latest picks up right where chapoter 2 ended: after killing Santino in the 'sacred' confines of the N.Y. Continental hotel's lounge--ignoring the objections of Winston (McShane), the hotel's manager, Wick (Reeves) is now a marked man for committing this offense since the Continental is considered a safe haven for assassins.  He is now ruled 'excommunicado' by the handlers at the High Table; they have placed a $14 million bounty on his head which will be available to any assassin in the world after 1 hour.  After disposing of several 'bounty hunters' along the way, Wick heads to the NY Public Library.  Here he locates a book that contains a 'marker medallion' & a crucifix necklace.  From here he heads to a Russian opera/ballet house to find The Director (Huston); after accepting the crucifix necklace, she provides him safe travel to Casablanca.   Meanwhile, an Adjudicator (Dillon) sent by the High Table arrives at The Continental.  She meets with Winston & the Bowery King (Fishburne); she berates both of them for aiding Wick after his excommunication.  Under orders from the High Table, she advises both men that they have 7 days to give up their positions or face serious punishment.  In the interim, and after fighting off numerous assasins who are bent on collecting the bounty on Wick's head, Wick encounters Sofia (Berry), the manager of the Casablanca Hotel & former friend.  He gives his marker medallion to her; this represents an unbreakable & hallowed promise between assassins.  Sofia acquiesces since she owes him this favor.  Wick asks her to get him to the Elder, a high-ranking member of the High Table.  He desires to ask him to have the bounty removed.  From here, the film kicks into a higher gear, a higher body count, a higher number of fights, & a recurring assassin, Zero (Dacascos), who both reveres & wants to kill Wick who is encountered throughout the movie.

Stahelski, a martial arts instructor turned movie stuntman turned film director, has helmed the 3 'Wick' films.  His flair for staging the innumerable fight scenes is without question.  They are extremely well-staged; the action is clear; & there are times when they are almost balletically poetic.  The creativity and sheer amount of them has increased through each iteration.  The fewer sections of dialogue are more statically staged.  However, one notices that Stahelski seems to have to greatly control himself so that he does not turn these scenes into blurs of action & obfuscate the words being spoken.  It is amazing that it took 4 writers--Derek Kolstad, Shay Hattan, Chris Collins, & Marc Abrams--to compose a screenplay with a dearth of dialogue & where half of the words spoken are emitted as aphorisms.  But, they sure can write fight scenes.  Reeves has found his 3rd franchise character (after Ted & Neo), & it is probably his best since it completely suits his persona.  Wick's one-dimensional character is perfectly matched to Reeves's screen persona.  His ability, at age 54, to capably handle the never-ending fight sequences is amazing & something to behold.  McShane is superb as Winston, the hotel manager who is always perfectly controlled--yet, has a wink in his eye that lets the audience know that he is 'in' on the hyperbole demonstrated in almost every scene.  There is also a bit of his Al Swearengen character from HBO's 'Deadwood' series on dislay, as well.  Fishburne channels his inner Morpheus in his few brief scenes.  The audience believes that he could withstand the 7 slashes that he is forced to undergo during the movie & energe just as strong.  Berry is a bit bland in her role as Sofia which is acceptable since her part serves merely as a plot device.  Dillon's role as The Adjudicator is effectively chilling, frightening, & believeable.  Her no-nonsense approach works very nicely in the film's world.  Lance Reddick's Charon is nicely played & serves as a counterpoint to his Chief of Police character in Amazon Prime's "Bosch" series.  Dacascos is a hoot as the ambiguous Zero who both adores & hates all that Wick represents.  He provides what little comic relief (other than some on the interminable fight sequences) that is present in the movie.  Dan Laustsen's cinematography is excellent.  Although filmed almost entirely at night or within the dark confines of buildings, there is never a time at which the audience cannot comprehend the presented action.  Although I do not watch 'Game of Thrones', from what I hear of the muddied darkness of the episodes, the cameramen & creators of 'GoT' could take useful lessons from Lausten's clear & concise camerawork.  The stunts & choreography, handled by many, is well-composed throughout the film.  

I give "John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum" 8 out of 10 nuggets.  (Notice that I have changed my rating scale)  This is a well-produced & well-staged action film that is a worthy sequel to the first 2.   Although some of the fight scenes go on ad nauseum, at times, they are an integral part of the 'Wick' landscape.  If you like action & stalwart characters and really like puppies, head to your local multiplex.  It is a roller coaster ride that will leave you satisfied at the ride's conclusion.