Fans of the John Wick movies starring Keanu Reeves should absolutely read this new oral history of the films and their cinematic inspirations (so, for that matter, should anyone interested in filmmaking). Screenwriter Derek Kolstad was inspired by a lot of different things, but it was the Chinese action movies of the 1980s and '90s that led him--and, later, the directors of the Wick movies, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch--to base the numerous action scenes on a style known as "gun fu": using guns as extensions of the body, as fists that shoot bullets. The book features interviews from a fascinating group of people: not only Kolstad, Stahelski, Leitch, Reeves, and others connected with the films but also non-Wick actors Daniel Craig and Charlize Theron, directors Richard Donner and John McTiernan, Fangoria magazine editor Phil Nobile Jr., Roderick Thorp (author of the novel on which Die Hard was based), and many more. This is no run-of-the-mill "making of" book; rather, it's an insightful and sometimes surprising appreciation of a popular series and the genres and filmmakers that inspired its creators.

A collection of interviews, compiled, organized, and contextualized by two Hollywood insiders, on the John Wick series. According to some critics and observers, the John Wick movies helped reinvigorate the action genre, with a unique blend of kinetic action, dark humor, and textured characters. In the latest collaboration by Gross and Altman, similarly structured to their books on Star Wars, Star Trek, and other franchises, many contributors refer to Wick's forebears within the genre while acknowledging its innovative approach in narrative and visuals. Significantly, the movie was made with an indie sensibility even though Keanu Reeves is one of Hollywood's biggest stars. He had previously worked with Chad Stahelski, who co-directed the films: Stahelski had been Reeves' stunt double in the Matrix franchise before opting for a different role. The trigger event of the story was the element that set the first installment apart from the usual revenge-driven fare. The spoiled son of a crime boss, wanting to steal Wick's car, callously kills a puppy given to Wick by his wife, who had recently died. Wick, a former assassin, digs up his guns to even the score, a journey that entails balletic fight scenes and a long trail of bodies. But this means Wick is drawn back into the world of blood, debts, and secrets, which plays out over the next two movies (at least one more is on the way). The writers, directors, and actors explain how the extended narrative came together and how the astonishing action sequences were designed and executed. Even after the success of the first movie, Stahelski was aware that they were traveling in dangerous, uncharted territory, but they were willing to take some risky turns that, fortunately, led to the right place. Nevertheless, it would not have succeeded without Reeves' capacity to give Wick depth and meaning. A layered closeup look at an explosive series from the people involved in the creation. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

With this extensive and entertaining look at the John Wick franchise, Gross and Altman continue their wildly successful series of "complete, uncensored," and unauthorized oral histories of action film franchises. Starring Keanu Reeves, the John Wick trilogy (soon to be a quartet) began in 2014 and was an instant success due to its highly stylized action and violence and its fully realized underworld mythology. What makes Gross and Altman's oral histories so successful is that they're unauthorized in name only--here the authors speak with all the major players from the John Wick films: directors, writers, producers, stunt coordinators, and many cast members, including Reeves. Their interviews cover every aspect of the John Wick films, including the inspiration drawn from movies like Seven Samurai and Die Hard, and the way Wick's brand of "gun fu" has influenced films like Atomic Blonde. The only possible criticism of this volume would be that John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to be released in 2023 after several COVID-related delays, so the book feels premature, especially when compared to the other decades-long series the authors have covered, including Star Trek, Star Wars, and James Bond. VERDICT A must-read for John Wick fans, and a great behind-the-scenes look at contemporary action films.--Peter Thornell