The world, as of late, is suffering through stagnant action-flicks and though influence from the assassin genre is there. You can only repeat themes so many times. Thankfully, Ballerina provides a breath of fresh air. And coming from the world of John Wick proves itself to be a worthy spin-off.
After four feature-length journeys with John Wick (Keanu Reeves), many friends and foes have been introduced along the way. Both an ally and at times an enemy to Wick, the Ruska Roma and their assassin traditions have taught Wick many a lesson. In Ballerina, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) begins training with this group of ruthless Russians to learn their ways of assassination. We are privy to old friends – Winston (Ian McShane), the Director (Anjelica Huston), and others. Along with meeting new characters and legends in the John Wick universe.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum follows Wick after he murders an international crime lord, and he is declared excommunicado with a huge bounty set on him. Visiting past friends, Wick seeks help to save himself from the ruthless bounty hunters who are after him, and the associated reward. It is in this stage where the world is introduced to the Ruska Roma, and where Macarro’s story takes place. Here we become aware of where Wick himself grew up and was trained.
Though viewers were not introduced to Macarro specifically in any of the John Wick films, we do witness the ballerinas in the school of the Ruska Roma as Wick walks through the halls. Leaving us with the question of “are these girls assassins too?”. Creating Ballerina has given an explanation to who they are. And shared the story of possibly the next greatest female assassin.
Ballerina does not become a Wick backstory in any sense. It does give the world the history of how the members of the Klan are trained and prepped for the world of hitmen. Instead of giving the audience the John Wick backstory, Ballerina explains the lore of the Ruska Roma while introducing a new and resilient female assassin. As audiences are introduced to Macarro as a child, there is more room for character development to occur. Which allows for a deeper connection between the protagonist and the viewer. She is, to no surprise to anyone familiar with the franchise, out for revenge for the murder of her father.
Though he was lost to her as a child, it takes over 12 years for her to have the means and the skill to exact her revenge. No one, not even Wick himself, can stop her. As occurs in life, when something traumatic happens to a child they tend to block it out from their memory. Macarro spends most of her childhood being raised and trained by the Ruska Roma. And as she finally goes out into the field, this is where she learns about her past and begins to remember what happened.
Unlike Wick, Macarro’s story presents the world with a powerful young female who pushes through the pain – pirouettes, martial arts, and the mental challenges of being an assassin – to prove to the Director that she is up for the challenge. Though the John Wick films are known for their director Chad Stahelski, Len Wiseman’s take-over for this new addition to the universe still does the series justice.
Wiseman’s directorial decisions allow the film to be reminiscent of the Wick quartet. Yet allows Ballerina to feel more feminine showcasing the fragility and poise of the dancer and her movements. Instead of aggressive fighting with harder movements, the action sequences in Ballerina feel as if there is more of a flow and rhythm to them, personifying the ballerina herself. Along with his directorial decisions, the sound editing remains big, bold and beautiful. And the Tyler Bates score reminds audiences that we are still in the John Wick universe.
Since her role in Knives Out (2019), de Armas has had few roles that have allowed her to show her talents or show her skills as a female action star. Her portrayal of Eve Macarro has her at her best. And allows her to show the world her potential for future action films. Starring opposite Daniel Craig in the last 007 flick, No Time to Die, de Armas’ role as Maccaro shows her power in the action genre. More takedowns than twirls, Ballerina still wears its elegance proudly.
Currently in cinemas around the world, Ballerina provides a change and calmer stride than the fast-paced action in the John Wick films. But it does not shy away from the massively powerful sequences. Ballerina is a change, but a good one at that. Hopefully the world will see Eve Macarro again soon. If this is her first act, the audience is ready for an encore.