From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina

Story: Following the murder of her father, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) is trained to be an assassin by criminal organisation Ruska Roma. Once on field, she goes rogue in pursuit of the man who destroyed her family. To achieve that, she needs to fight his entire tribe on her own.

Review: Hollywood has generated a spade of female-led badass babe-action thrillers. Angelina Jolie in Salt and Wanted, Scarlett Johansson starrer Black Widow, Jennifer Lawrence in Red Sparrow, Linda Hamilton in Terminator, the examples are plenty. What sets Ballerina apart, beyond its terrific action choreography, is its casting. Ana de Armas’ Eve is fierce yet feminine. She’s hardened by life but not bereft of emotion. The softness of her past isn’t eroded by the brutalities of her present. She kills like an assassin but empathises like a woman--she fights like a girl. Director Len Wiseman creates a distinct lead that doesn’t aspire to be a John Wick and Ana de Armas’ casting is a cherry on top. The actress blends pulsating action and vulnerability flawlessly. She is one woman army who only trusts her instincts.

A spin-off stemming from a formulaic origin story, the real dance in Ballerina is the spectacular action set pieces that play out at a lightning speed. Whether it’s a deadly hand-to-hand combat or guns, knives, sword, flame-throwers, fire extinguishers or virtually any weapon within an arm’s reach, the film has it covered. There’s a little humour too, but the film stays rooted in its no nonsense-action origin. Two action scenes in particular are outstanding and amp up the drama.

For fans of Keanu Reeves and the franchise, of course he’s there but he lets the girl fight her own battles without stealing her thunder. Eve isn’t spared because she’s a girl. She is kicked around, beaten black and blue but never defeated. She rises like a ballerina with an unflinching resolve while pinning her nemesis beneath her toe. She isn’t robotic and yet lethal in her flight of fire. Eve stands tall in the world she creates, beyond the John Wick universe.