THE STORY – Taking place between the events of “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and “Chapter 4,” Eve Macarro, a ballerina-assassin, begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma and sets out to exact revenge for her father’s death
THE CAST – Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane & Keanu Reeves
THE TEAM – Len Wiseman (Director) & Shay Hatten (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 125 Minutes
Many can say that the “John Wick” franchise is an accidental franchise. The directorial debut of former stunt performers turned stunt coordinators and second unit directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, starring Keanu Reeves as the titular former assassin who gets back into the field to take revenge on the people who killed his dog, was the unexpected hit of 2014. Fast forward several years later, with the addition of three more installments (and a short-lived television show), “John Wick” is officially a successful franchise. So, as with many established franchises, the next logical step is to expand the universe beyond its star. So when Anjelica Huston made her debut in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” as The Director, the leader of the Ruska Roma who trains male and female assassins where John Wick originated, that seemed like the perfect next step.
“Ballerina,” or “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina,” takes place during “Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and in between “John Wick: Chapter 4.” It follows Eve (Ana de Armas), a young trainee in the Ruska Roma. As a child, her father was mysteriously killed by the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) while protecting her in a failed kidnap attempt. Now, all alone with only her father’s “connections,” a young Eve is placed in the Ruska Roma, where The Director agrees to train her. But ever since that night, there have been two objectives in her mind: to be an assassin and to get her revenge on the people who killed her father.
Director Len Wisemen (“Underworld”) takes his time establishing the character of Eve, much like how Stahelski and Leitch did with Wick in the first installment. Audiences watch her life-defining event and subsequent training upon graduation. From the very start, it’s apparent that Eve is the one who pushes herself the hardest. This area of the film also offers another insight into the world of John Wick that the previous films never revealed: the intense drills, cut-throat competition, and the brutal curriculum required to create a John Wick-level assassin. While there is an element of “safety” to these action sequences, the intensity and viciousness are still there.
Thankfully, Wisemen and writer Shay Hatten don’t create a female version of John Wick with Eve. Sure, they share similar characteristics, such as a need to seek vengeance from the people who wronged them, but that is about it. Eve is a distinctly unique character with her own goals and weaknesses, and Armas plays her perfectly. Even during her training, there is a stoic and committed intensity to Eve. She not only wants to complete her mission, she wants to be the best in a world ruled predominantly by men. Her anger fuels this intensity as she begins her manhunt. This very dangerous combination will bring her to unexpected parts of the world and meet many threatening characters. She is only similar to John Wick in her core themes and training; she wants revenge and will not stop until she gets it, but she is much less experienced than Wick, which is reflected in the story and action set pieces. Armas can convey this desperation and rage both within her dialogue and action sequences. Like every other cast member of the franchise, she rises to the occasion of what’s expected of a “John Wick”-level fight; from material arts to weaponry, she excels in every category and has the audience rooting for her at every turn. It is a significant step up from her turn as the scene stealer Paloma in “No Time to Die“ and is a powerhouse of a performance that will make Eve a much-welcomed character to this world. If there is one thing for sure, “Ballerina“ is the birth of a new age for action star Ana de Armas.
Additionally, Reeves isn’t used as a cameo as most franchises have done (and continue to do). Nor does he pass the mantle to Arams or take her under his wing. She’s a low-ranking assassin, a rookie, an inexperienced killer who is, at times, way over her head. She doesn’t understand the concept of “rules and consequences,” as the audience and Wick know and respect. “Ballerina“ is not John Wick’s movie at all; it’s Eve’s. So don’t expect too much of Reeves, but there is a reason for the Baba Yaga to be present when he does appear. This can be said for other John Wick favorites like the late Lance Reddick as Charon and Ian McShane as Winston. Anjelica Huston gets much more to work with here and plays the matriarch of the Ruska Roma, who is incredibly stern and lethal, demanding respect at every turn. Norman Reedus is also a great addition as a man on the run from the tribe that killed Eve’s father but quickly leaves the film once his sequence is up and sadly doesn’t return.
As with any John Wick film and 87-Eleven production, the stunts and action in “Ballerina“ are astounding, ferocious, and incredibly effective. One would think that every idea for entertaining action sequences has been used within the franchise. Still, stunt coordinators Jeremy Marinas and Jan Petrina (with supervision by Stephen Dunley, who was the stunt coordinator of “John Wick: Chapter 4“ and “The Matrix Resurrections“) have managed to find several new ways. Each sequence is more entertaining than the next. Similar “John Wick“ beats are kept – such as a scene at a nightclub – but the sequences here are a potent mix of material arts-based action (glass plates!), weaponry (flamethrowers!), and brutal hand-to-hand combat (so many broken bones!). Some sequences may even be considered some of the best of an already impressive franchise. All are paired with “John Wick”-esq cinematography (despite the lack of Dan Laustsen behind the camera), including neon-bright colors and piercing sound work that makes every sequence nail-biting. It is evident that the Japanese martial arts films, Hong Kong cinema, American comic books, Westerns, and noir that inspired the original films are very much alive here.
What makes “Ballerina“ a great “John Wick” film is that it both expands the world’s mythology while showcasing exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping action sequences. It is creatively on par with its predecessor but also holds its own incredibly well. “Ballerina“ is a great origin story of a soon-to-be beloved character, a great side-quest of a franchise, and a badass time at the movies. This not only makes it a successful spin-off but a great movie deserving of its own sequel.
