Comments on: Shouting Match: Keanu Reeves, Thespian?

By: r4 ds carta

r4 ds carta — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:24:06 +0000

I have been waiting for a movie on this since the french dude in Ronin with Deniro spoke about them while painting his little models of it. K Reeves should look cool all decked out in Samurai gear lol i hope someone snaps him skateboarding whilst wearing his outfit.

By: LucaM

LucaM — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:07 +0000

" I can sit down any given day and watch a handful of Keanu Reeves movies–not because he’s an actor with excellent range–because he brings everything he can to every single performance. He sells Point Break with his commitment to the absurdity of it. He makes a ridiculous concept like a bomb on a bus work by treating it like its truly life and death. He may have Razzies up the wazz and Golden Popcorn out his ear, but I’ll never be able to laugh off a Keanu Reeves performance. "

exactly. :D

besides, I'd dare say that Reeves' acting is an aquired taste ;)

in his defense, I'll add "The Last Time I Commited Suicide " to the list of movies mentioned by other posters ( "Thumbsucker", "Scanner Darkly", "The Gift", "Street Kings" )

and if I were to enter fanboy mode… I'd add this : http://www.whoaisnotme.net/

By: Davebaxter1989

Davebaxter1989 — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

I tend to dislike Keanu and lazily call him wooden. At the same time as he won't make me rush to a film he also won't scare me away like Simon Pegg or Nicolas Cage.

By: JMoney

JMoney — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

i gotta agree with Adam on this one. the way I usually judge an actor is whether his/her performance made me like the movie or whether they were just along for the ride. Keanu has had his good movies, but when you actully step back and think about it, was it him that made the movies good? When you remember that movie, do you think about Keanu's parts? I certainly don't. What I remember from the Matrix is the action and Morpheus, what I remember from Devil's Advocate is Al Pacino (and not only Charlize's boobies, but the other girl's too), and so on and so on with his other movies. Never when I go to re-watch a movie Keanu is in, is it Keanu's performance that is drawing me in for a repeat viewing, he's just kinda there.

P.S. I take issue with your knock on The Replacements, that is a severely underrated sports/comedy movie

By: zeus

zeus — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

i know this will upset most but looking at Toby maguire early work seems to me to be stone face at times and i have to say there are alot of worst actors then keanu but keanu is the whipping boy for the media and thats his reputation it's apart of him .oliver stone has said he likes stoic actors thats why he offerd the lead of platton to keanu but turn it down . i tend to gravitate towerds the underdog when everyone is dumping on someone i like to think for myself and i have enjoyed keanu's work "A Scanner Darkley" i prefer keanu in certain movie's more action stuff . but i will say there is not that many true actors that really know how to act out there that could be your next disscussion and will smith is not one of them .Daniel day -lewis ,javier bardem ,benicio del torro ,sean penn, marion contillard are a few that can truely act, suprisingly i think johnny depp and matt damon seem to repeat themselves to much in there performances and casey affleck who i like does a pretty good stone face but for tobey maguire it's called acting but when keanu does it here comes the witch hunt . i guess keanu has more in common with joan of arc he might have to use that phone booth…

By: Nevernude

Nevernude — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

Keanu Reeves is NOT a great actor by any stretch of imagination. There are better actors and worse actors out there, however, Keanu is an incredibly important actor. Some actors have a certain look that allows them to play certain roles…think Orlando Bloom playing an elf in Lord Of The Rings. Bloom is no great actor,, but as an elf, he looked and sounded the part perfectly. Keanu Reeves has made a career out of having a distinct look for certain parts..Neo in The Matrix, Klaatu in TDTESS…
in conclusion, yes, Keanu Reeves is an important actor, i can imagine anyone else playing the lead roles that he has through his career. No, he is not a great actor. But i respect him for never trying to go pander to awards bulls**t and try to play a role as if he's begging for an Oscar.

By: Nish

Nish — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

I feel sorry for Keanu. Him and Matthew McConananananahy do seem to try and be good actors but they come off as lazy and wooden. I don't think he is a great actor, being a great actor doesn't just mean being in good films, it means drawing in audiences and putting on great performances. Ok, he's had 4 good films but they're not really classics and its not his performance that people talk about, its the film as a whole. I would like to agree with you Josh, I would so like to think Keanu is a great acotr, but he isn't.

By: BillBrasky

BillBrasky — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

while reading this article I was also thinking of Nicolas Cage and his career.

By: AMike

AMike — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

Keanu isn't a GREAT actor, but he is a good one (his turns in The Gift and Thumbsucker could even had gathered him more praise than he got. It is a shame that his Bob Arctor is so underrated too) and really doesn't deserve the eternal bashing he gets, usually from fanboys. Aside the fact that he is incredibly humble and kind – just ask anyone, me included – who ever met the guy in person – he doesn't pose as a thespian, he doesn't go all the way Oscar cliché like so many of his peers. He makes odd choices in movies and has no fears about it, he just go for it. He likes and respects sci-fi and his turn as Klaatu is the best thing about TDTESS. I respect the guy, he is probably the most bashed actor in history (the go to guy to beat down) and even so you never read or see him babbling about it on the media. he only appears when promoting a movie, do his work and disappears. For me the guy is a class act and deserves his status in Hollywood.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

My favorite Reeves role was in Thumbsucker. I thought he did a damn good job. Is he a wonderful actor? Perhaps not, but I do respect him, especially after doing some research and finding out how committed he has been to indie films and aspiring filmmakers over the years.

Plus, he just seems a decent dude and someone I could hang out with.

By: zeus

zeus — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

martin landau once said " a good actor can do alot of things " i hate when actors give fake nuance's ala amy adams in doubt are just repeat them selves like denzel washington in everymovie if you seen one denzel movie you seen it all ,same with johnny depp or brad or george the worst is nic cage who is a great actor it's either zombie cage are crazy cage . it's good to take a break like Daniel day -lewis are viggo mortensen to empty themselves to start fresh look at Heath Ledger he was the joker ground breaking now that is a performace and joaquin phoenix was johnny cash theres a difference it's like you either want the fake mona lisa are the real mona lisa when an actor comes from the heart like Heath it's magic …. keanu all i can say is 47 ronin looks good and to me i wasn't around when steve mcqueen was around but his kinda like that for me clint eastwood type you route for the guy movie stars don't have to be great actors ..

By: JMoney

JMoney — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

man, use some punctuation and check your grammar, it's damn near impossible to read your posts

By: zeus

zeus — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

jmoney you sound like a real Dildo don't read my post i don't like grammer and punctuation i do suffer from sever dyslexia but theres alawys some ignorant dildo outhere that thinks there so great because they can spell well good for you your such a genius now you can go figure out the economy problem

By: zeus

zeus — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

paul, the best don't need acting school Heath ledger did not go to acting school it's natural

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

This is pretty funny. I just saw TDTESS and I was impressed. Keanu's natural woodenness totally worked for him. Hinestly, he is a small part of the movie. When I see a throwaway performance like that, I can;t help but wonder where he studied acting. A good acting school is worth it’s weight in gold. The key is to find one that caters to your individual needs. Not only do you need the basic tools for auditioning, scene study and the like, but you need a curriculum that works with whatever your schedule may be. Whether you work all day, go to high school or care for your kids, not everyone can study in the traditional way. Another acting program that works this way is Film Connection. http://www.film-connection.com/Acting.htmlThe Film Connection’s acting program is affiliated with Joe Anthony studios and fetures valuable one-on-one mentoring. They are also available to anyone living in the United States and have financial aid assistance.

By: RobertFure

RobertFure — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

I love Keanu Reeves. I love Johnny Mnemonic, Speed, The Replacements, The Matrix, Point Break, and Bill & Ted's. I will fight anyone (not with words, but with fists) who dislikes Keanu Reeves.

He is one of those "easy target" guys that everyone feels safe to pick on. Well not me, Keanu, I've got your back.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

I believe in the Keanu Reeves Effect. Basically, Reeves has managed to surround himself with great actors so that his movies are great despite his inabilities. The Matrix – Lawrence Fishburne, Huno Weaving, & Joe Pantoliano; The Devil's Advocate – Al Pacino, Charlize Theron, & Connie Nielsen; Point Break – Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey, John C. McGInley. The list goes on. He finds himself in movies where others make up for his lack of skill.

By: John

John — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

have you guy's never seen My Own Private Idaho? i thought for sure with all the shakespeare references FSR would have at least mentioned Gus Van Sant's loose reworking of Henry IV. i would even argue that it is his best movie. Keanu Reeves. River Pheonix. Awesome

By: HempKnight757

HempKnight757 — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

Rather then to get into it I am just going to say damn most of you guys on here are just straight clowns. Can't understand how the guy at the top doesn't like Simon Pegg when he is actually a refreshing actor & writer in hollywood. The Replacements is hilarious. I think Keanu has way more depth than Matthew. Plus Matthew smokes a lot of weed. Orlando Bloom is garbage! All that guy can play is the second lead in some movie placed back before cars. JMoney chill out on the corrections. TDTESS finally found away to make the typical end of the world movie even more boring while getting a easy paycheck for everyone involved because it was so boring. A Mike most be Keanu's agent or friend or something. Zeus get off Heath Leadger's nuts like everyone else. Yes he was amazing as the Joker, but just remember the movies he did before that & now how he has left the Batman franchise.

By: Toby

Toby — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:06 +0000

I think you guys are a bit too hard on Keanu. His acting style iconic and perfect for the charcters he plays.

In fact, I just thought of something. What if he were a machine in the terminator franchise? Keanu vs. Bale… LOL. OK, that might be a stretch, but still, it could happen.