The Reel Review
After surviving a gun battle as a child which killed her father, a now-adult assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma clan of Russian nomadic soldiers sets her sights on avenging his death. Ana de Armas (Blonde, No Time to Die, Knives Out) and Keanu Reeves star in this one-woman killing machine spinoff from the John Wick action/thriller film franchise.
Under the (at least initial) direction of Len Wiseman (Total Recall), this female-led “John Wick 3.5,” which takes place sometime between 2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4, showcases some truly spectacular fight choreography, practical effects and stunt work from de Armas, who, like Reeves in his John Wick films, does her own stunts. Two exceptionally graphic and well-done sequences – one involving grenades, the other involving flame-throwers – are the benchmark of what all fight choreographers should aspire to achieve.
Story wise, the film isn’t the strongest, but then again, fans of the John Wick franchise are typically more focused on action scenes and a non-stop, brain-numbing onslaught of violence, which this film achieves many times over. The solid ensemble cast includes Ian McShane, Angelica Huston, Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), Gabriel Byrne and Oscar nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace). Thanks to an excellent production and strong performance by de Armas, Ballerina is one badass movie.
REEL FACTS
• Ana de Armas edged out Lady Gaga and Chloë Grace Moretz for the title role.
• With initial filming from November 2022 to January 2023, the film’s release was delayed almost two years, with producer and John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski reportedly reshooting much of the film’s action sequences in February 2024 in the wake of director Len Wiseman’s original cut.
• Although Shay Hatten has the sole writing credit for Ballerina, there were actually five other screenwriters who were brought in to rework the screenplay – among them Emerald Fennell (Saltburn, Promising Young Woman), who was brought in by Ana de Armas.
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