Latest news with #JohnWick3
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas Debut ‘Ballerina,' ‘The Life of Chuck' Premieres and This Week's Best Events
Here's a look at this week's biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Ballerina, The Life of Chuck and plenty of FYCs. More from The Hollywood Reporter Mindy Kaling Reveals Plans to Act Again and Ben Affleck's Reaction to Her 2002 Play 'Matt & Ben' 'Ballerina' Director Len Wiseman Talks Scrapped 'John Wick 3' Connections and the Truth About Additional Photography 'The Better Sister' Stars React to Murder Mystery Reveal: "They Totally Threw Me Off and I Was There" Best of The Hollywood Reporter Seeing Double? 25 Pairs of Celebrities Who Look Nearly Identical From 'Lady in the Lake' to 'It Ends With Us': 29 New and Upcoming Book Adaptations in 2024 Meet the Superstars Who Glam Up Hollywood's A-List
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Ballerina' review: Ana de Armas leads a bloody ‘John Wick' spinoff
The new 'John Wick' spinoff 'Ballerina' is recommendable, -ish, primarily for the way Anjelica Huston, as the Russian mob boss, makes a meal out of a single-syllable word near the end, delivered after a pause so unerringly timed it's almost too good for this world. We don't deserve it. This fifth and fairly diverting movie in the assassin's-revenge franchise is not much interested in what anyone has to say — although Keanu Reeves says what little he has to say in rivetingly off-human ways — but Huston blurts her game-over syllable with the 'oh, authority of an acting titan. 'Ballerina' screenwriter Shay Hatten dreams up a simple story taking place between the events of 'John Wick' Chapters 3 and 4. In a prologue, little Eve (Victoria Comte) is orphaned after her assassin father is killed in an attack from a rival underworld gang, members of which have a conspicuous 'X' branded on their wrists. Eve's taken under the protection of Wick's sometime-affiliates, the Ruska Roma. The years pass, she's Ana de Armas, she's long past ballet training even though she's still carrying around her wind-up ballerina doll, and she's ready to concentrate on killing. And that's the movie: She wants the killers of her late killer father killed, personally, by her. It's no spoiler: This is where Reeves as Wick comes in handy, dispensing helpful/cryptic/annoying/supercool life lessons in tiny little sentences. Mostly Eve goes it alone, taking care of unworthy assailants of every type, including the deadliest barista alive. Reportedly, the late adds to the final cut of 'Ballerina' reinstated some extensive, relatively complex action sequences. They're pretty fair for what they are, meaning: They're stunt-driven, sometimes, and digitally futzed and stitched and glossed other times. You rarely get the kind of clean, inventive propulsion generated by that amazing 'John Wick 3' opener in the rare-books emporium, or the best bits in the Paris staircase marathon in '4.' How's de Armas? She's OK. Sometimes better, but rarely holding the screen or activating the human element in any surprising ways. It's not her fault that Eve has so little emotional or psychological detail to go on; it's not in the script, which is both straightforward and filmable (I mean, they did film it) and as thin as Dollar Store printing paper. As for the finale, well, it's a little too in love with the obvious lust object of 'Ballerina': the superhot flamethrower brandished by Eve as she incinerates a dutiful roster of village assassins. The movie hits sincere variations on the themes of fate and family, practically begging for a 'Fast & Furious' crossover project. But 'Ballerina' really can't wait to get to the flames. 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina' — 2.5 stars (out of 4) MPA rating: R (for strong/bloody violence throughout, and language) Running time: 2:05 How to watch: Premieres in theaters June 5
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Cruise says Ana de Armas' John Wick spin-off Ballerina "kicks ass"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Tom Cruise is full of praise for new John Wick spin-off Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as the titular dancer-turned-assassin. "It's gonna be a fun summer. A lot of movies," Cruise said during a red carpet appearance at the UK premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in London, which you can watch below. One title mentioned was Ballerina, which hits theaters next month, and Cruise immediately responded enthusiastically. "I saw the movie, it just kicks ass," he said. "It's right in that tone, it's right in that Wick world. You're gonna love it." Directed by Total Recall remake helmer Len Wiseman, the movie is written by John Wick 3 and 4 screenwriter Shay Hatten and follows de Armas' character Eve as she trains with the Ruska Roma so she can get revenge for her father's death. Set between the third and fourth John Wick movies, the cast includes several familiar faces from the Wick-verse, including Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane as New York Continental manager Winston, a posthumous appearance from Lance Reddick as concierge Charon, and the return of Anjelica Huston's the Director. The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus, Hereditary's Gabriel Byrne, and Dune's Sharon Duncan-Brewster also star. As for Cruise, his next big-screen outing is Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which sees him take on the role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt for the eighth and last time. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is out on May 21 in the UK and May 23 in the US, while Ballerina arrives in theaters on June 6. For more on the rest of this year's best upcoming movies, check out our guide to 2025's biggest movie release dates at a glance.
Geek Tyrant
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Final Trailer For BALLERINA Showcases Lots of Brutal Action — GeekTyrant
Lionsgate has released the final trailer for the highly-anticipated John Wick spinoff film, Ballerina , and it showcases lots of awesome and savage action! As Ana de Armas' character, Eve, embarks on a mission of vengeance she is fueled with fire and blood and nothing will stop her for getting what she wants. As you'll see, she will kill anyone that gets in her way. Except for John Wick himself. The movie is set between John Wick 3 and John Wick 4 , and the story focuses on a young female assassin named Eve Macarro, who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. There are some pretty kickass action sequences teased in this trailer and it looks likeEve's weapon of choice is going to be a flamthrower. But, I'm excited to see her face off with Wick! When talking about the film, Armas said: 'I'm very proud of it. It's really exciting. It's dangerous, it's sexy, it's very John Wick. I think people are going to be surprised. I'm biased. Of course, I like the movie, but I think it's really cool. It's going to be amazing." The movie was directed by Len Wiseman, and franchise director and producerChad Stahelski was brought in later for some reshoots, and to add some more insane action. The spinoff is scheduled to open in theaters on June 6th.
