Ip Man 4: The Finale
IP MAN 4: THE FINALE - Pegasus Motion Pictures
Ip Man 4: The Finale, directed by Wilson Yip with Yuen Woo-ping as action director, is the supposedly final instalment of this highly acclaimed Donnie Yen martial arts series on one of the greatest Kung-Fu masters to have walked the planet. This "final" instalment is a semi-detour from the underwhelming and cash-grabbing Mike Tyson-starring predecessor, Ip Man 3, with a more profound and dramatic turn in a film that perfectly echoes the ludicrous flair of 1970s martial arts features.
This is not the same Ip Man audiences have seen before. This is an older, wiser and tender character that Donnie Yen expertly plays with outstanding emotional range and craft that has ultimately defined this series and actor. Yen's physicality and athleticism is unquestionable and undoubtedly the highlight of the film, but this time around, it is his execution of evoking tender emotion through subtle visual nuances. His character’s on-screen relationship with Vanda Margraf's Yonah or Jim Liu as Ip Man's son, Ip Ching, are terrifically orchestrated and delicately produced with grace and care.
Yen's character does interact with his most famous pupil, Bruce Lee (Danny Chan), who thankfully takes the backseat here and lets the titular character have full reign while never lingering in the shadow of the martial arts icon. That being said, Yip's film has multiple chances to metaphorically and literally pass the torch onto Lee in instances that would both feel authentic and interesting and even with a slight push in the films last few frames, squanders such an opportunity.
Ip Man 4: The Finale, like past entries, digs deep surrounding political themes and this is where the performance of Scott Adkins in the antagonist role of Barton Geddes comes into play, while also regarding the socially conscious subject matter that is present. Adkins puts forward a terrific effort as the villain. It takes quite some time for his character to be introduced to proceedings, but it is contextually appropriate as his role is wrapped around the second integral theme of the film, of which is racial tension.
There is a deep, underlying theme of racial inequality that the film rather perfectly rallies up for conversation in a profound and enlightening manner that educates rather than exploits for a plot point. It is weighted with sincerity and deep-felt emotion that is honest and authentic with the racial prejudice of the western hemisphere at a time of utter upheaval and terror. Nonetheless, it is handled here tremendously and undeniably hits hard regarding emotional conviction. However, such a theme would be perfectly bookended with the weight and expectation of Bruce Lee's meteoric rise and success. Specifically, his integral role in bringing eastern ideals into the western hemisphere, ultimately defining the 70s decade with his authority and legacy as a philosopher and action star.
Ip Man 4: The Finale IP MAN 4: THE FINALE is released December 20th 2019
