Does for Keanu Reeves what Taken and Harry Brown did for Liam Neeson and Michael Caine, respectively

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2017)

John Wick is a 2014 action thriller directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch. Starring Keanu Reeves in the title role, the film successfully revitalises Keanu Reeves' career and brings him back into the spotlight as an action hero.
In New York City, retired assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves), mourns the death of his wife Helen to a terminal illness. Shortly after, John receives a puppy as per request of Helen to help him come to terms with her passing. One night, a trio of Russian gangsters break into John's home, beat him up badly, kill the puppy, and steal his car, after John refused to sell the car to their leader Iosef (Alfie Allen) earlier that day. Now with nothing left to lose, John vows revenge on the gangsters and comes out of retirement to settle the score once and for all.
With a good amount of action, drama, and some cleverly choreographed shoot-outs, John Wick does for Keanu Reeves what Taken and Harry Brown did for Liam Neeson and Michael Caine, respectively. The filmmakers do a good job showcasing why the John Wick character is so feared, yet respected within the crime underworld of New York thanks mainly to Keanu Reeves' nuanced performance as the "one man army" title character. Often times, I feel that Reeves' approach to his acting is very hit-and-miss, however here, it is most certainly a hit. The film's creative use of colour and lighting gives an almost anime and noir feel. There were many times where I could tell the directors must have watched several anime and kung fu films to serve as inspiration for the overall tone.
I rate it 7.5/10