John Wick 2: Contemporary Film and Violence

John Wick 2 (2017) directed by former stuntman Chad Stahelski is one of the best action movies ever produced, with its style of martial arts and gunplay or “gun-fu” changed the landscape of the action movie scene. One of the film’s most defining action sequences is the subway shootout scene involving John Wick pictured above. Before getting into a subtle shootout with a fellow assassin named Cassian. John was having a very tense drink with him after Cassian found his boss dead after John killed them. Vowing revenge for his boss’s death Cassian, played by famous rapper Common, follows John back to New York attempting to kill him.

This scene like many others in the John Wick movies takes place in a public space with a large crowd; John wearing his iconic black suit and tie combo contrasting with the people walking along in the subway. The artificial light from the subway creates an uneasy atmosphere. Cassian being on the upper walkway and John being on the bottom floor as both assassins pulled their pistols to take shots at each other discreetly. As both assassins take shots the camera uses alternating angles of wide and over the shoulder shots between the two as they walk while shooting at each other. The scene is known for using no cuts to show the intensity building with each shot fired. Both of them use a lots of nonverbal language glaring at each other with no words being said only action speaks to the mindset of the assassins to shoot first, talk later. The subtle detail of them being so skilled in do or die situations that they account for the people around them, by taking precise volleys of shots while using what cover they can find.

Analyzing the stylized violence, masculinity and honor along with the aesthetical innovation in the contemporary action genre. For stylized violence Yvonne Tasker made a lot of key points saying that films often glorify violence through spectacle (Tasker, 2004). She also argues that action films are consistently dismissed as “brash” or “politically reactionary” due to their intense focus on visuals over actual depth. The focus on spectacle, including intense, stylized violence is central to their significance. Tasker again states that action cinema often prioritizes the physicality of characters and the visual impact of scenes, as seen in “John Wick 2,” where Keanu Reeves’ precise choreography and dynamic camera work heighten the visual spectacle for people watching. Tasker then implies these films use violence as a thematic tool, appealing to audiences through what she describes as a “compelling cinematic phenomenon”. Referring back to the subway shootout in “John Wick 2” reflects the observation that contemporary action films rely heavily on precise choreography and editing to create rhythm and momentum. The scene’s quick edits and close framework immerse viewers in the chaos while showcasing the protagonist’s lethal skill with a weapon. The notion of how contemporary action films blur the line between violence as a necessary means to a story and violence as pure spectacle in film. Next, establishing honor and masculinity in action films through means of resiliency, control, and vengeance. Steve Neale writes: “The hero is defined by his ability to endure physical punishment and overcome the impossible odds embodying a form of stoic heroism” (Neale, 2004). John Wicks’ cold calculating attitude and endless pursuit of his end goal portray him as the typical hero who faces challenges with skill and determination despite the unrelenting resistance. Lining up with socio cultural expectations of male strength that no matter the issue you must continue to work through it. Lastly for aesthetics David Bordwell adds that contemporary action films use what he calls “intensified continuity”, this is the combination of traditional techniques with modern pacing. Bordwell states “spatial clarity and precise editing are essential to effective action sequences” (Bordwell, 2002).

The movie itself was a hit in the box office when it released in 2017, grossing $30,436,123 in 3,113 theaters at its opening debut. It followed up by grossing $92,029,184 domestic and $79,510,703 international making a total of $171,539,887 worldwide (Box Office Mojo). Outperforming its prequel, what is rarely seen in the film industry and doing so by a very large margin.

Real life consequences are always present in this genre of film. Various psychological consequences arise, exposure to on-screen violence is prone to a lot of long and short-term harmful effects. The Pediatrics study specifically states that “Experimental studies have revealed that violent media exposure causes increased aggressive thoughts, angry feelings, physiologic arousal, hostility, aggressive behavior, and desensitization to violence and decreases social behavior and empathy”. The evidence that violent media is a huge risk factor for aggression is vast and has been studied to the tee thanks to the modern theories to make the framework for the studies.

Bibliography
Tasker, Yvonne. “YVONNE TASKER INTRODUCTION Action and adventure cinema.” In The Action and Adventure Cinema, pp. 17-30. Routledge, 2004.

Neale, Steve. “Action-adventure as Hollywood genre.” Action and Adventure Cinema (2004): 71-83.

Bordwell, David. “Intensified continuity visual style in contemporary American film.” Film quarterly 55, no. 3 (2002): 16-28.

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/140/Supplement_2/S142/34161/Screen-Violence-and-Youth-Behavior?autologincheck=redirected