The French Connection (1971) - 4/5

This is a long, slow stake out movie that opts for realism over thrills. It’s a much more palatable entry to the Unhinged Cop genre than most, choosing to making its point more with racial slurs and questionable shakedowns instead of with rape and addiction. There are more stakeouts than chases, more chases than gunfights, and its own ‘70s realism style to tie it all together. The ending leaves something to be desired, but overall it holds up very well.

Closest comparison: It’s like Training Day by way of Taxi Driver.

Setting: Crime
Plot: Buddy Cop
Tone: Crime

The Man from Nowhere (2010) - 3/5

This movie is extremely dark and upsetting. It doesn’t shy away from any subject matter, but often has the decency to keep it just off-screen. Instead of an action-packed thrill ride like many of its peers this film has only a couple of fight scenes, preferring instead to dwell on the menace arising from the main character’s inability to act in the face of depravity. The sparse action scenes are choppily constructed, making them hard to follow and exchange enjoyment of form for expression of tone. Still, it’s coherent and well-told overall, so if you have no content aversion you may enjoy the meager, eventual catharsis.

Content warning: child abuse, organ trafficking

Closest comparison: It’s like You Were Never Really Here by way of Oldboy.

Setting: Crime
Plot: Action
Tone: Horrific Tragedy

John Wick: Chapter 2 - 3/5

They lost their way with the second one. It still has beautiful cinematography, some fun fight scenes, and memorable side characters. But the lack of specific motivation or creativity in resolving fairly straightforward conflicts makes it a definite drop in quality from the first one. I found the suit gimmicky and by the end they had really gotten John Wick's character wrong.

John Wick - 5/5

It does so many things right. Great action flick with amazing choreography and one of the best performances from Keanu Reeves ever. At the end of the third act the pace drops and there isn't a clear motivation as to why the last fight takes place. The two main combatants have only moderate motivation that's been set up beforehand as to why they're fighting, since they could have fought before but chose not to. But that's light criticism, all things considered.