John Wick (2014)

Score: A- (9/10)

John Wick balances witty character dialogue with an easily digestible story with well-presented action sequences to create a refreshing reality check on modern-day moviemaking.

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From his breakout acting roles in Speed and The Matrix to his well-advertised appearance in Cyberpunk 2077, Keanu Reeves is one of the most popular stars in Hollywood. However, there was a time when Keanu wasn’t in the spotlight, especially once The Matrix Trilogy ended in 2003. Luckily for him, his stunt double reached out to Keanu’s agent in search of an actor to play the lead role in his upcoming action movie. That movie became known as 2014’s John Wick. The result? An iconic film sent into the upper stratosphere of pop culture.

John Wick follows a simple premise: after losing his wife, a dormant assassin hunts down the thugs that killed his dog by any means necessary. It sounds like it would never work, but it does. John Wick is the greatest assassin in the world, letting audience members witness one man take down entire legions of enemies. It’s how each interaction with John Wick often results in witty exchanges. The film’s strength lies in those moments where the film flips between high-octane action and witty dialog. It’s pure entertainment.

John Wick also reinvents movie action sequences. There are no slow-motion shots, no after-death one-liners, and no brief stints. John Wick often walks into a building simply to fight and shoot people before leaving a trail of dead bodies. There’s little substance to how much action it includes, making it a strange yet refreshing take on modern-day cinema. Why else would they make three sequels that broaden their scope and purpose in the film industry?

Here’s the bottom line: Keanu Reeves is an action legend, John Wick is a massively entertaining film, and both will stay in pop culture for years to come. That’s how it is, and that’s how it should be.