John Wick: Chapter 4

Official Australian release date: 23/3/23. Viewed: 30/3/23.
Director: Chad Stahelski
Actors: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Ian McShane
Genre: Action
Rating: MA

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is perhaps an unexpected fourth film in this franchise, which seems to be getting increasingly longer (2 hours 45min this time), but this film ups the ante on everything. The plot is pretty simple – John (Reeves) wants to stop being hunted by assassins from the “High Table”, so sets out to kill the Marquis (Skarsgard, dodgy French accent), with some help from Winston (McShane) & Bowery King (Fishburne) as in previous films. Then there’s the ambiguous presence of fellow assassins Caine (Yen, great as always) and Nobody (Anderson, good newcomer) who have solid arcs.

It’s pretty impressive they’ve made four of these films in 10 years, when you take covid into account. The film sets the scene a little, then gets right down to business – Wick & his bulletproof suit killing plenty of “bad guys”. I lost count, but would guess it’s over 250 in the entire film, with over 100 to Wick! You pay to see action, and this film certainly delivers. The series now seems to be in a comfortable place with reality suspended – especially the Arc de Triomphe scene. There’s a lack of police, the “magic” suits, no one shooting Wick in the head for some reason – where he’s become a mix of The Punisher (shoots lots & lots of people, revenge in key driver), Wolverine (doesn’t seem to ever die, can use a sword) & James Bond (the suit, good at all forms of combat).

While long, the pacing is good, with enough breathers to keep it interesting. The whole assassin underworld thing is tenuous at best, but doesn’t weigh it down too much. There’s plenty of visually stunning shots and great use of colour, a good score and some exceptional fight scenes, including a long aerial shot in an abandoned building. There’s plenty of great moments where you either chuckle, groan or cheer.

Overall: Really delivers on the action and kill-count

Gav's Rating: 4 stars

65

Official Australian release date: 9/3/23. Viewed: 10/3/23.
Directors: Scott Beck & Bryan Woods
Actors: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt, Chloe Coleman, Nika King
Genre: Sci-Fi / Action
Rating: M

 

‘65’ is a dinosaur film with a twist. It’s just a shame the twist doesn’t really add much to the overall film. Mills (Driver) is essentially the only actor, with his daughter Nevine (Coleman) and wife (King) appearing at the start – and Nevine in a few holograms/flashbacks – but then the only other actor being Koa (Greenblatt) who becomes almost a surrogate daughter when they’re stranded.

Not sure if it’s a spoiler or not, but Mills is piloting a spaceship from some other galaxy and crash-lands on Earth – it just so happens to be 65 million years ago and just as the asteroid is approaching Earth. This sets up a situation with one man + futuristic tech vs dinosaurs. You just have to go with it. Instead of making it more a ‘Prey’ or ‘Predator’ situation, the film instead focuses on what’s happened to Mills’ daughter and Koa and trying to establish a human connection, when we really don’t care. Was a bit disappointed there were only 3 dinosaur sightings/interactions in the first 45min.

Some good cinematography, filmed mostly in the forests of Oregon & swamps of Louisiana. There’s some tension occasionally built, but for a short 90min film, there’s far too much time with nothing really happening. Driver’s fine, but I’m not sure having a young child speaking a foreign language as his only co-star helped him. The ending is a bit ridiculous, but at least we see a few more dinos in the 2^nd half, but not enough to make this rewatchable.

Overall: Lots of potential, not enough dinosaurs

Gav's Rating: 2.5 stars. 

Living

Official Australian release date: 16/3/23. Viewed: 5/3/23.
Director: Oliver Hermanus
Actors: Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, Alex Sharp, Adrian Rawlins
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG

 

 

‘Living’ is a quick, uncomplicated little time capsule of a film. Set in 1953, it follows Mr Williams (Nighy) and his team of bureaucrats working for London Council – new recruit Peter Wakeling (Sharp), Mr Middleton (Rawlins), Mr Hart (Chris), Mr Rusbridger (Burton) and Ms Harris (Lou Wood). There we see the uprightness, formality and disguised politeness that is hard to fathom nowadays.

When Williams learns he has cancer, he struggles with how to respond and how to tell his son, Michael (Fishwick). Instead, he confides in Ms Harris and Mr Wakeling as he tries to find purpose. There’s no debauchery or anything sinister – just a good, boring man, realising that he is a boring old man and trying to make something of what time he has left.

Minimal score, great set/costume design – very authentic 1950s feel – and all wrapped up in under 100min, this is a very refined and assured film, with nothing spectacular happening, but a well-told story nonetheless (noting I haven’t seen Kurosawa’s ‘Ikiru’ yet). Nighy is understated and a pleasure to watch (and listen to) and the rest of the cast lend able support.

Overall: Finding dignity in the mundane

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.