'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina' Action Tops Its Bland Plot
The John Wick films are not known for their story. What do people remember about John Wick? It's a plot about a guy who goes on a rampage because his dog was killed. For those who have seen the film, the audience would know that the dog holds sentimental value for his late wife. When binge-watching the entire series, details about the Continental (also known as The High Table) become a blur. However, I do remember the overhead hallway shootout sequence from John Wick Chapter 4. That's great for short, cool moments, but the films, otherwise, are not very memorable.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina continues the tradition of a forgettable story that offers plenty of amazing action. Despite my complaints about the John Wick series having a hollow plot, it's essential to note that this isn't the point. The point is for the audience to suspend their critical thinking and enjoy the top-tier action, which remains the gold standard for hand-to-hand and gunfighting combat. Yet, that still doesn't excuse the film for having a lame plot.
Ballerina continues in the tradition of the first movie being a revenge story. After seeing so many vengeance-driven flicks, can't we just have a narrative about someone who kills for reasons other than avenging someone? The movie I saw right before this, Predator: Killer of Killers, had a revenge plot. There’s even a revenge aspect in The Phoenician Scheme. Within the last few years, there's been a plethora of action films about revenge.
Understandably, it's a storytelling device that has proven effective in many classic films. However, in this case, it simply repeats the same motivation as the first movie. John Wick's dog dies, so he wants revenge. Eve's father is killed, so she wants revenge. There has to be something more creative that Hollywood writers can think of beyond this tired element. How does the action measure up, though? Pretty well.
Ballerina is loaded with skirmishes from start to finish. The first action sequence features a nice, long take of Eve Macarro's (Ana de Armas) father taking on a gang of henchmen. The movie maintains a wide camera angle during the action, allowing us to see all the impressive stunt choreography unfold. The John Wick flicks are the best of the best in action because they demand that the actors put in more than they usually do.
Actors get hurt making these films. Since The Matrix, Keanu Reeves has a laundry list of injuries. With a new protagonist, a lot is asked of Ana de Armas. Luckily, she delivers. Armas puts her body through a lot, as the effort is evident on the screen. For an actress who's been nominated for an Oscar, it's refreshing to see someone as high as her acting caliber put everything into a blockbuster.
Aside from some awesome kills, the action can go on for a bit too long. There is one sequence involving flamethrowers that could be significantly cut. Also, despite the encounters being great, they still pale in comparison to the action in the last film. Still, it's top-tier quality.
There's a talented cast to be had here. As a Deadwood fan, I enjoy seeing Ian McShane in anything. His character in the John Wick series is an approachable bad guy with class and style. As much as I love Gabriel Byrne, he's not very good at accents. I can't tell what accent he was trying to do in this movie. But he makes a great villainous scowl. Whatever Anjelica Huston is doing with her voice, she's clearly just phoning it in. Ballerina may not be the best John Wick film; it may even have predictable plot twists. But it doesn't stop it from being the master of modern Western action cinema.
