Lance Reddick has made everything better, even playing Baltimore police lieutenant Cedric Daniels in HBO’s Wireas Agent Phillip Broyles of the Department of Homeland Security in Fox’s edgeor even multiple copies of Albert Wexler in Netflix otherwise lame Evil inhabitant.
A man of majestic stature, his deep, smooth voice exuded authority and menace in any book, and his intimidating presence did not prevent him from exuding composure. Polite, compassionate, 60-year-old actor is always welcome in any movie or TV show. So his passed unexpectedly last week At such a young age, encountering the entertainment world — and many of his fans — was particularly difficult.
While Reddick may be gone, he’s still back on screen this weekend in John Wick: Chapter 4The latest epic installment in Keanu Reeves’ killer franchise, takes on the role of Charon, the dashing concierge at New York City’s glitzy assassin hotel, the Continental.
Leveraging his elegant style, unflinching composure, and ability to suggest intimidating power with a polite smile, it was a small but memorable role that helped capture the attention of a wider audience. Alongside Ian McShane as manager of Continental Winston, Reddick gave the series an extra measure of luxury, methodical muscle, and in return he received a suitable mainstream background. match his remarkable talent.
That is why it is disheartening to discover that, for all its superior attributes, John Wick: Chapter 4 make Reddick dirty.
(Warning: Front spoiler.)
Reeves’ fourth appearance as the well-dressed executioner is a barrage of bullets, nunchuks, car crashes and bloodshed, plunging into a larger-than-life scene (full of nods. with Lawrence of Arabia, Barry Lyndon, And The Warriors) for which it earned 169 minutes easily. What it doesn’t do, however, is spread the love out.
Director Chad Stahelski clearly devotes most of his attention to Reeves’ silent killer, and he also makes sure to provide standout moments for McShane, Bill Skarsgård (as the evil Marquis Vincent de Gramont) , Hiroyuki Sanada (as Buck). old samurai friend), Scott Adkins (as a stout German villain in a suit), and above all, the legendary Donnie Yen (as a Zatoichi-type blind assassin hired to destroy Buck). Even Laurence Fishburne is, in her several on-screen appearances, famous for her majesty as King Bowery who rules the underworld.
However, Reddick is not treated like that. Charon may have always been a peripheral franchise character, designed solely to add personality and prominence to the proceedings, but at least in John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum, he was given a prime opportunity to shine. IN John Wick: Chapter 4on the other hand, he is summoned at the beginning of the film to meet Winston and Gramont, and then — when Gramont blows up the Continent and banishes Winston from the assassin world — is executed right in front of Winston’s eyes.
“What an honor, my friend,” he said to his master, and then died on the floor—an unhappy ending that was later overlooked (and thus forgotten). forget) for the rest of the movie’s enormous length.
The John Wick: Chapter 4 The cast paid a heartfelt and emotional tribute to Reddick this past week of promotional tours, but almost no mention was made of the cavalier style he’s been dropped from the series. To be fair, Reddick will once again portray Charon in the upcoming franchise spinoff ballerina (starred by Ana de Armas), thanks to the story taking place between John Wickthird and fourth parts. Still, nothing shakes the impression that Reddick’s role should have been expanded as this saga goes on, not dismissed simply as a means to create some emotional pathogens. work for the original plot — especially in the cheap, throw-away style practiced here.
Even if it makes sense for Charon to retire permanently, Reddick deserves a much better farewell than he received in John Wick: Chapter 4, it takes minimal effort to bind the book with one of its (if minor) signature characters. Reddick’s legacy will live on thanks to the power of his impressive workload, especially on the small screen, where his stern, stern charisma — embellished with a sly sense of humor. — usually best used. Too bad his latest big-screen project is fit to squander him carelessly.
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