BALLERINA

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Len Wiseman, Thunder Road and Lionsgate is the story intwined with the John Wick franchise with BALLERINA.

Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) is a young woman who lost her father as a child and was taken in by Winston Scott (Ian McShane), owner of the Continental Hotel. Wanting to keep her safe, he entrusts Eve to the Director (Angelica Houston) who oversees the Ruska Roma and takes care of the ballet school and Nogi (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) who will train her. Finally ready for her first assignment, during a scuffle she notices a mark that reminds her of something she saw as a child.

When the Director refuses to answer her question, Eve turns to Winston and it takes her to Prague and Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus). In a matter of minutes, she realizes that Pine is dealing with a repeat situation when his daughter Ella (Ava McCarthy) is being taken from him. Now the chase is on when Eve learns that the man she seeks is the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). Eve must decide if the answers she seeks is worth breaking all the rules because choices can come with consequences.

De Armas as Eve has the quietness of the franchise and the intensity needed to make this offshoot work – and it does. Taking on a role in this cinematic universe, de Armas has cemented her place in it. As Eve, she is in a solid storyline and shows how it is entwined in the world of assassins and exact rules that, like John Wick, are made to be broken. The tension oozes on the screen and the action is well done by de Armas.

McShane returns as Winston and knows exactly what to do for the young Eve. As the owner of the Continental, it allows him to skirt certain rules and McShane does it with the swagger this character has been known for. Byrne as the Chancellor is a leader and with that comes a control that is part of the problem. It must be said that Byrne has always been able to play a bad guy so damn well. In this film, he is just as much a stickler for the rules when they work to his favor but also seems to control people with ease. Both these actors are fantastic in this film.

Houston as the Director falls into this role again without missing a beat. Training her “ballerinas” comes with a long history and keeping the peace with the Chancellor comes with its own set of choices. Having Houston on the screen in this larger role is a long time in the making now that her role is more powerful than anyone might have realizes. Watching her bob and weave through the film is so cool. Duncan-Brewster as Nogi knows Eve from the beginning and is part of her training. The role is a smaller one but still is impactful on Eve.

Reedus as Pine is holding up in a hotel room but that isn’t going to stop Eve. I was absolutely thrilled to see Reedus on the screen again and taking on what he calls “a bottle of Advil all day long type of job”. He gets the chance to put his hands on fight scenes that are intense which is probably an awesome change from zombies. McCarthy as Ella is a charming little girl who is in the middle of a battle not of her own making.

The audience gave heartfelt love to Lance Reddick as Charon, memorable concierge at the Continental Hotel. There was verbal cheering for him and I was all for it.

Other cast include Choi Soo-young, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Jung Doo-hong, David Castaneda, Robert Maaser, Marc Cram and Victoria Comte as child Eve.  

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000-motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

BALLERINA is a two hour and five-minute ass whuppin’ from start to finish. There isn’t a moment where the audience will be able to sit back and take a breath. The story comes in line taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum so everyone understands the time line. The film offers twists, turns (not just the body either), a deeper look into of the story that falls in line with the John Wick narrative.

Of course, I am being vague about the details as I wouldn’t even, for a minute, want to spoil it for anyone. Just know that the action is absolutely amazing and the reaction of the audience never stopped for a moment. There were cheers, a few omg’s, creation to the fight scenes so the entire film is a shared experience and that’s what makes it so much fun. Following the JOHN WICK formula, BALLERINA doesn’t miss a beat and is a fantastic time of a two-hour ride.

Each character feels seamless as they enter into the story and I just loved how it was done and to see faces that are part of the franchise return to tell more of their story. Director Wiseman had a vision and put it on film giving the audiences exactly what they expect from this franchise. The ending is left just as open as John Wick’s story which means if de Armas can handle more of the same (which is absolutely a lot!), a BALLERINA 2 will be well received. The creation of another assassin that sees the rules slightly different than those who control the frightening underworld is done so well and it fits the timeline    

In the end – the past can be a trigger!

 

 

 

Two Hours in the Dark with JOHN WICK: Chapter Three - Parabellum!

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Chad Stahelski and Lionsgate Is the next installment on the journey of JOHN WICK: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.

Wick (Keanu Reeves) is still on the run especially now since it has been declared that he is 'excommunicado' for killing a man at the Continental - major boo-boo. Basically it means that all the dogs are off their leashes with a W$14 million dollar bounty and no rest anytime soon for him.

Those he has relied on now tread carefully because the Table has sent The Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) to punish anyone who has helped Wick to this point. Her first task is to sentence Winston (Ian McShane), Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) and The Director (Angelica Huston).

Wick knows he has only one chance, to find The Elder (Said Taghmaoul) to ask how he can make this all stop. The one person who can make the meeting happen is Sophia (Halle Berry) who isn't actually thrilled to see him at the door. Watching his every move is Zero (Mark Dacascos), an assassin who is quick and deadly. 

Making a deal with the devil, as it were, Wick returns to The Continental where an all out war is declared. 

Reeves as Wick has most definitely made sure no one else could possible take his place. He is still broody, still soft spoken and can still give a killer glare that gives nothing away. Oh, and one more thing, he can still make my heart flip-flop in that funny exciting way. What he also does is bring sympathy to a character we should all probably be afraid of!

McShane returns as Winston, the manager of The Continental who has a flare for words, for the finer things in life and has an elegant way of letting who ever know that he is going no where. His affinity for Wick is obvious but there is also a sneakiness about him that makes me give him side eye constantly. Well done!

Berry as Sophia has a history with Wick that is filled with a little rage yet she has no problem wielding a gun when wrong comes her way. Reddick as Charon keeps his concierge desk refined and run like a well oiled machine. I just love his calm demeanor, even when bullets are flying past his face.

Fishburne as the Bowery King is a rougher version of Winston running his bowery as he sees fit. He regrets nothing and is always looking at the bigger picture - that is his saving grace. Fishburne still has it and Wick should be glad he does.

Huston as The Director knows that even though there is an excommunicado order, there is one thing higher than that even if The Table doesn't want to acknowledge it. I just love when Huston plays roles like this because she is a tough broad and I love it. 

Dacascos as Zero, aka the Iron Chef Chairman, is fantastic! From the moment his character hits the screen to the very last frame he brings martial arts and twisted humor to the film. Taghmaoul as The Elder brings his own brand of justice and a plan for Wick to stop all the madness. 

A serious shout out to Dillion as The Adjudicator and let me tell you why. I have NEVER heard outcries throughout a film when one character shows up on a screen. I'll admit I was one of them yelling at the screen toward this cold hearted character who felt she was above everything and untouchable. When a room full of people react the same way to a character then listen because 1,000 people can't be wrong!

Thumbs up to Yayan Ruhian as Mad Dog, Cecep Arif Rahman as The Assassin and Man of Tai Chi as Tiger Hu Chen for taking on the Baba Yaga with admiration and humor and, of course, sweeping martial arts moves and guts for taking on the boogeyman!

Other cast include Jerome Flynn as Berrada, Randall Duk Kim as Doctor, Margaret Daley as Operator, Tobias Segal as Earl, Obin Lord Taylor as Administrator, Susan Blommaert as Librarian, Jason Mantzoukas as Tick Tock Man, Sergio Delavicci as Ruska Roma, and Boban Marjanovic as Ernest.

Lets be honest here, anyone who loves the JOHN WICK franchise won't need me to say anything to convince them to see the film. But let’s pretend there are those who haven't seen any of the films or even know who John Wick is, wait, what?

Sorry, had to shake off that thought because seriously it is almost incomprehensible to the Keanu Reeves warm and fuzzy side of my brain. Moving onward!

From the first five seconds of the film until the last five seconds of the film I think blinking didn't much happen for me. There is little downtime and since John Wick doesn't get any, then WE don't get any either. This is a ride we take with him and the filmmaker made damn sure we are exhausted by the end - or are we?

Audience participation in films can go between being a good or irritating thing. Let me tell you in the case of JOHN WICK it is almost an involuntary reflex. The gasps, the shock, the wicked (pardon the semi-pun) humor, the action, the story, the cinematography that are happening on screen create the shouting at the screen from the audience.

During this screening I heard shouting, applause, cheering, guttural reactions of groaning, hostility, actual hissing and a theatre full of people rooting for a different kind of super-hero. I can not even count how many times The Adjudicator was a target of audience wanna-be verbal assassins. People in front of me were jumping, the gentleman beside me was constantly fist pumping with a 'yesssssssssssss' and comments behind me ranged from 'they don't know who they're dealing with' to 'ouch - that's gonna leave a mark'.

We were in unison with cheering, applause and groans which makes JOHN WICK: Chapter 3 - Parabellum a group experience. This is the reason we go to the movies (at least a lot of us anyway), to be transported, entertained and walk out of the theatre alive and full of conversation that is going to last for days. 

Personally, I was completely exhausted not even realizing how much this film was slowly draining me. Yes, yes, I realize it is Reeves and the cast who worked their collective asses off to bring the story to the screen so let it be known that they drained every bit of everything out of this viewer. 

That being said it should also be stated that I may be personally exhausted but after spending two glorious hours in the dark with John Wick aka Keanu Reeves, I'd gladly do it again, and again….and again.

In the end - if you want peace then prepare for war!