From the first flurries of franchises in January through the last gasp at Oscar-qualifying runs in December, there will be, conservatively, around 300 films released in 2017. For the purposes of this preview, The Times' film writers and reporters chose to write about the movies they were most excited to see in the year to come. So in chronological order ...
"John Wick: Chapter Two"
Feb. 10
Director: Chad Stahelski Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Ruby Rose
No one expected much from the first "John Wick." Looking at the cast list and synopsis, it looked as if it could've been the kind of action-thriller that airs Sunday night at 11 on some basic-cable network: Keanu Reeves plays the shadowy title figure, who kicks off a revenge spree after Russian thugs kill his dog.
And, yes, that is pretty much what "John Wick" is. It is also the kind of grindhouse, exploitation fun that Hollywood doesn't make any more, executed with style and verve by directors Stahelski and David Leitch _ themselves stuntmen, fight choreographers and second-unit directors making the leap to the big chair. "John Wick" made $86 million worldwide off an estimated $20 million budget. With that kind of math, you get a sequel.
This time around, it doesn't seem that a puppy needs to die to prompt Wick _ again played by Reeves like a world-weary Neo, able to work ballistic miracles with a gun in his hand _ to commit mayhem. And anyone who grew up on the action cinema of the '80s and '90s is already in line for popcorn.
_Marc Bernardin
