Guns, axes, bows and even sabers, Keanu Reeves is at ease with all types of weapons, and proves it once again in John Wick: Chapter 4. The actor, known for his roles in Matrix, Dracula and Point Break, is back in the role of the character who most marked his career (along with Neo), and it's no laughing matter! Big confrontations are on the agenda, and an impressive cast is deployed for this new chapter, just as intense as the previous ones. The film is broadcast for the first time on television this Friday, November 24, at 9.10pm on Canal+.
John Wick 4: in which districts of Paris was the film shot?
In "John Wick: Chapter 4", a large part of the plot takes place in the French capital. Several photos have been revealed of the sets used in the film, from the Louvre to the Trocadero, through the metro stations. And since we saw it, we reveal you all the places visible in the film. [Read more]
Alongside Keanu Reeves are old hands Laurence Fishburne(Matrix, Ant-Man and the Wasp) and Ian McShane, as well as newcomers Donnie Yen(Rogue One: a Star Wars story, Ip Man), Shamier Anderson and Bill Skarsgård(Ça, chapitre 1 & 2) as the big bad. What's more, most of the film's scenes were shot in Paris!
Our verdict
The indestructible John Wick is back, and he's got nothing left to lose. Eager for revenge, he's fighting for his freedom, and the only way to get it is to get rid of the Marquis, the big bad of this fourth opus, played by Bill"Pennywise" Skarsgård. At 2 hours 49 minutes, this is the longest film in the saga, so unlike its predecessors, it takes its time to set up the stakes and characters.
With Chapter 4, director Chad Stahelski masters the recipe and shows it. Although the battles are fought with new weapons (bows, axes, swords, nunchucks), the choreography doesn't vary much from previous films, and a feeling of déjà-vu sets in. At least in the first big fight sequences, but in reality, the filmmaker is keeping a few things under wraps for his grand finale.
Above all, he no longer cares about the credibility of his action scenes, as long as they're impressive! Wick's rival is a blind killer (played by Donnie Yen), who always hits the bull's-eye with his weapons, while our hero, played by Keanu Reeves, takes more and more hits, to the point of wondering how he can possibly survive it all. But we'll forgive these few excesses, since the result is there.
As in every opus, we travel a lot, and this new episode takes us to Osaka, Japan, Berlin, Germany, but above all, our capital, Paris. The second half of John Wick 4 takes place in France, home to the famous Marquis de Gramont. It's a shame that the Marquis de Gramont isn't played by a true Frenchman, like the Italian antagonist in the second film, played by Riccardo Scamarcio. We'd have liked to see Tahar Rahim in this role, for example.
But all our doubts about the film evaporate when Baba Yaga arrives in Paris. It's clear that this city inspires the director, so virtuoso is his mise-en-scène when the camera wanders the streets of the French capital. Two absolutely masterful sequences stand out in particular: on the Etoile traffic circle and on the steps of Montmartre, in the direction of the Sacré-Coeur. These scenes are undoubtedly the saga's best in terms of action sequences. It's a pity that the first half is so long and underwhelming; this fourth chapter could well have been the best if it had given its all from the start.
And if you still want more after John Wick 4, don't worry! Even if there's no confirmation of a fifth installment at present, you can still enjoy two spin-offs with the Continental series, which will tell the story of Winston's youth, the owner of the famous hotel where the assassins take refuge, and the film Ballerina, with a new killer, played by Ana de Armas.
Fellow cinema-goers, we look forward to seeing you at the cinema in March 2024 to discover a whole new range of films! Not sure what to see? We've got the perfect selection for you! [Read more]
Not sure which film to see today? Well, we've got plenty of films to show near you. [Read more]
John Wick 4: in which districts of Paris was the film shot?
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