Movies

Ana de Armas Shines in Action-Packed John Wick Spin-Off Ballerina

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The movie titled “Ballerina” – the first cinematic offshoot from the “John Wick” series – is almost ready to debut. Despite having its own distinctive flavor, it’s unmistakably a spiritual successor to the franchise, carrying on its captivating world-building and pulse-pounding action scenes. While there are some noticeable storyline problems, it showcases Ana de Armas at her best in terms of action, and offers an enjoyable spin-off centered around a character whose tale is worth exploring.

The John Wick series stands out not just for its impressive action scenes, well-thought-out canine-centric storylines, and the undeniable acting prowess of the highly respected Keanu Reeves.

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve always been captivated by the intricate world-building of this iconic franchise, particularly its intricate portrayal of an assassin society teeming with unique aspects such as customary currency, life debts, covert hotels, legendary assassins boasting distinctive skills, and towering crime syndicates that include the Cosa Nostra, Bratva, Triads, Yakuza, and the Ruska Roma. The upcoming film From the World of John Wick: Ballerina promises an unprecedented glimpse into the intricate world of the Ruska Roma, offering a perspective that I’ve longed to explore.

An Action Star Is (Re)Born in Ana de Armas

The storyline of “Ballerina” unfolds after the events of “John Wick 3: Chapter 3—Parabellum” and before “John Wick: Chapter 4”. It starts with a young character named Eve Macarro, portrayed by Ana de Armas, and her younger counterpart Victoria Comte, witnessing her father’s murder at the hands of a secret group of assassins.

They aim to bring Eve into their group, but she manages to elude them. Later, Eve encounters Winston Scott (Ian McShane), who guides her to the Ruska Roma’s leader, Anjelica Huston. As a grown woman, Eve Macarro, having mastered the assassin techniques of the faction, is driven by a personal desire for vengeance due to her father’s demise.

Ana de Armas’ action-oriented roles have had their ups and downs, with some films being less successful (such as “Ghosted”) and others shining brightly (she excelled in “No Time To Die,” even though she was given minimal screen time). Undoubtedly, the film “Ballerina” falls into the category of her brighter performances.

1) She’s agile and convincingly tough, handling both the film’s complex choreography and emotional moments gracefully. Gabriel Byrne portrays a powerful adversary as the Chancellor, bringing a menacing charm to his role as the leader of an assassin cult residing in a small, ruthless town.

The secondary characters perform their duties admirably, given the opportunities they have for significant actions. Keanu Reeves assumes an essential but limited part in the spin-off, engaging in an enjoyable and skillfully coordinated skirmish with Eve during the climax of the movie. Norman Reedus appears briefly too, as expected, delivering a reliable performance, though his character’s subplot doesn’t seem to significantly enhance the overall storyline.

‘Ballerina’ Has Story Issues But Delivers Excellent Action

In “Ballerina,” the aspect that truly stands out is the intricate action sequences, which significantly improve in both quantity and quality towards the latter part of the movie. As we journey to the quaint village of assassins, the film offers numerous scenes rich in both action and humor. Ana de Armas’ character, Eve, displays exceptional skills in an acrobatic form of combat that includes using the environment creatively by tossing people and objects about, adding a fun element to the action. This style also provides successful doses of physical comedy, and there are numerous instances where the action sequences leave a lasting impression (you haven’t truly experienced until you witness a flamethrower shootout).

The main issue with the movie lies in its story development. Andrew Lincoln’s character arc isn’t crucial for driving Eve’s actions, and it seems like he was added merely to make his presence felt in the narrative. Furthermore, one villain is shown to have a link with Eve, but the film fails to explore this connection effectively.

In a nutshell, when Eve is portrayed as a child, her favorite item is a wind-up ballerina – isn’t it surprisingly obvious that this future assassin would become a ballerina? Although the dance sequences are powerful, they could benefit from a tighter integration with her formal ballet training. At present, it’s unclear why the Ruska Roma invest in training their assassins in both murder and ballet. Instead, wouldn’t their efforts be more beneficial if they focused on specialized training?

All in all, Ballerina delivers a robust portrayal by de Armas, features some genuinely amusing scenes (the gun supplier nicknamed “Frank” stands out), and offers skillfully arranged action sequences that grow more engaging as they progress. Although there are instances of plot conveniences, excess story details, and certain narrative inconsistencies, it effectively expands the John Wick universe in intriguing ways. Crucially, it recognizes that the franchise’s charm doesn’t lie in its logical consistency but rather in the enjoyment audiences derive from the thrilling world and exhilarating action scenes, and it successfully captures those elements.

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2025-06-05 01:04

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