From the World of John Wick, Ballerina is exactly what you expect, vibrant and intense. Exploring the world from the viewpoint of a different character, Eve Macarro played by Ana De Armas, the film fits perfectly with the franchise, offering the violent action of the previous films and a character that is emotional and charismatic.

Ballerina is billed as an action thriller film, the fifth film in the John Wick franchise, set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3– Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4. The movie is directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hattan. In the film, Eve is a young girl whose father is killed by an unknown group of people. Taken in by the Ruska Roma and the Director, she is trained to be a ballerina-assassin but soon finds herself seeking revenge for her father’s death, despite orders. Along the way, she seeks assistance from Winston (Ian McShane) and Charon (Lance Reddick, in his final role). She also encounters a mysterious man, Daniel Pine (Norman Reedus) and the legendary John Wick (Keanu Reeves) as she takes on the chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) as the leader of the group she is fighting. 

I really enjoyed the dynamics of this film and how well it fits in with the franchise. Just like the original John Wick films, Ballerina sets out to be an engaging and thrilling action film with fantastic fight choreography and vicious violent scenes. Ana De Armas performs her scenes with intensity and charisma, with believable tactics that give her the upper hand even when she is overwhelmed by large numbers or stronger fighters. As a female fighter, she uses everything around her to even the odds and I like that about the character.

The story is tight, with not a lot of extraneous details but gives just enough for the audience to sympathize with Eve and the loss of her father. We’re shown that her father (David Castaneda) wants her safety and to keep her from the violent world he lives in. He fails but she embraces his ideals, the role of protector, not just a killer and that allows the film to paint her in an empathetic light. Ultimately her fight for vengeance is about the pain she suffers but also protecting another little girl from the fate she has accepted. While there is not a lot of character development, what there is adds to the narrative of the other John Wick films and gives us a little more insight into the Ruska Roma.

The action scenes are what are the highlight of the movie, with an intensity and dynamic focus that kept me engaged in both the fight and in the story. The fights are well choreographed, with a mesmerizing quality to the violence. The viciousness of the fights adds to the believability as Eve fights her way through an entire town, using methods that help her win even if they are brutal. If you are a fan of the franchise, you will enjoy the brutal violence in these scenes.

Ana De Armas is charismatic as Eve. She easily draws the eye with her beauty but it is her emotional performance and her fight scenes that keep you engaged in her character. She is straightforward and I appreciate the way the character chooses not to engage in philosophy but to simply take the fight to her enemies. The scenes with young Eve (Victoria Comte) are also emotionally intense, especially her interaction with her father and Winston. I love Ana De Armas’ ferocity as Eve, her passion for finding the truth about her family and her willingness to fight for her own choice in a brutal world. Angelica Huston is impactful as the Director and the other performances are the perfect balance to Ana, including Gabriel Bryne, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Norman Reedus and Lance Reddick. The spotlight is on Ana De Armas but they are fantastic foils to her journey.

If there is any flaw, it is that this is primarily an action film. There is little delving into the background of the Ruska Roma or Gabriel Byrne’s character. We also don’t really learn much about why Byrne’s tribe is around or why they need an army of fighters. I’d love to have had more insight into the tribe. But as an action film, the movie is highly successful, giving us a strong charismatic lead and fantastic fights.

If you are a fan of the John Wick films, you will love this addition. Ana De Armas is amazing as Eve and the fight sequences are vibrant and intense. Ana is dynamic and her performance is emotional. The other actors are a great support for her character, especially Norman Reedus, Angelica Huston and Keanu Reeves. I also liked Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Nogo, Eve’s mentor in the Ruska Roma. The film does a brilliant job of showing Eve’s training as an assassin and the details of the Roma Ruska world. Gabriel Bryne is great as the antagonist as well. Overall, this is a fun and exciting action film. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 music boxes. 

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