Finally a decent Keanu Reeves movie

Rating: 8/10 (13 January 2015)

Before I decided to give this movie a go, I was doubtful if Reeves could entertain me for (almost) two hours. Certainly did not like his last string of movies. I decided to give John Wick (and more: Keanu Reeves) a try. I was pleasantly surprised.
Though director Chad Stahelski sure knows his action flick clichés, the film doesn't fall for the trap of one dimensional characters and tries original takes on standard action movie situations. Well done.
Furthermore, the movie is also saved by a carefully chosen cast and great supporting roles: small but humble roles played by former The Wire actors (Lance Reddick, Clarke Peters) and Willem Dafoe for once as a good guy makes sense. Michael Nyqvist does a great performance as sympathetic but evil bad guy boss Viggo Tarasov and Alfie Allen (singer Lilly Allen's brother and well known for his role as Theon Greyjoy) is the guy you love to hate Ioseph Tarasov.
This stylish, cool movie is a perfect fit for Keanu Reeves, who's style of acting works best in movies where he doesn't have to show too much emotions. Didn't even notice his Californian 'Bill & Ted accent' this time around that ruined some movies for me in which he played (Much ado about Nothing for example: a surfer dude playing in a Shakespeare play)