Chad Stahelski's direction shines in masterclass in action filmmaking

Rating: 9/10 (1 March 2017)

I want to talk about Keanu here. I really do, but I didn't think I could pass up the chance to expand upon Stahelski's direction, because it was wonderful in this film. The film opens up the world of John Wick more than the first film did, and Stahelski gets really creative with how and what stunts he films.
From the scene on the train with Common's character Cassian to the finale in the hall of mirrors, Stahelski draws on previous films and filmmakers to create something all his own here. The first film in the series established that the direction was about actual fighting and how grueling it can be. The second film continues that trend. The first time Cassian and John Wick meet up, they get into a brutal hand-to-hand fight that lasts far longer than most directors would allow in action films and certainly with far fewer cuts. It's near exhausting to watch, but that's the point. Fighting isn't always fast and quick and clean (sometimes it is, and for that, we get the gun fu that John Wick does so beautifully), sometimes it's long, with no clear winner, and with no real outcome except pain. Stahelski's direction brings together wonderful performances from Keanu, Common, Ruby Rose, and more. This film is absolutely worth your time, and I cannot wait to see where Stahelski takes us next in the series.