If I were to tell you about an actor that has worked consistently in major Hollywood movies for over two decades, has worked often with Academy-Award winning writers, actors and directors and who has a legion of fans that follow him in all his movies no matter the genre or story, what would your immediate reaction to this person be? Would you think “Wow, this guy must be great. Twenty years of studio movies, he must be talented?” Based solely on the description of the actor written above, with no names attached, would you ever in your right mind assume that the person was bad at his craft; that he sucked? Chances are you wouldn’t. And yet, if after giving you that description I told you the actor was Keanu Reeves, I bet I know what your reaction would be. “He sucks!”
I just don’t get it. In every interview he gives he comes across as an insightful, cerebral, well-rounded person who doesn’t mire himself in the vagaries of stardom and never asks for more than he needs. His co-stars glow about him, and quality directors line up to put him in their movies. And yet, for some inexplicable reason, he is plagued by this notion that he is dumb. And that he is untalented. And I just don’t get it.
How can he suck if he’s still making big movies twenty years into his career? The majority of his early peers are gone and forgotten; actors like Christian Slater, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, et al, and yet here he is coming out with a huge new movie this Friday (The Lake House). He has survived critical drubbings more severe than he deserves. He has been heckled and flamed and deplored because he has good looks, but a vacant affectation. He is perceived as a flat actor, devoid of charisma, empty of emotional depth. And yet, he’s still here making big movies. So you explain it to me.
I have been a fan of Keanu since his Bill & Ted days. I have defended my love for the man who would be Neo to every one of my friends and family. I have gotten into screaming matches with people I barely know, just because I heard them bash the man. And I have never lost an argument about him, because no one can prove that he isn’t a gifted, talented performer. They lose, because I can prove that he is.
But my arguing stops now. Once and for all I am going to prove to the world that Keanu Reeves does NOT suck. And I will prove it to you in 40 point list format. I promise you that when you finish reading this piece you will respect, admire and appreciate the talent that is Keanu Reeves.
Let the proving begin…
1. If you weren’t impressed by Keanu’s mean, Southern Redneck in The Gift or at least agree he was impressively intense, well then we have nothing to talk about. Just click the “X” and leave this site immediately.
2. Contrary to popular belief, has never won a Razzie Award. Which is more than I can say for these actors: Halle Berry, Charlton Heston, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, Faye Dunaway, Woody Harrelson and Madonna
3. Without being asked, gave $38 Million dollars to The Wachowski Brothers so that they could properly finish the Matrix sequels. $38 Million! Let’s see Tom Cruise drop that much for one of his clunkers.
4. Has worked with the following critically acclaimed directors: Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Bernardo Bertolucci, Gus Van Sant, Sam Raimi, Taylor Hackford, Lawrence Kasdan, Stephen Frears, Richard Linklater
5. “Whoa”
6. Keanu’s name means “cool breeze over the mountains” in Hawaiian, which is pretty cool. Compare that to Jean Claude Van Damme, which is loosely translated in German as “giant douchebag”.
7. The night before he was to shoot his kissing-heavy love scene for A Walk in the Clouds, Keanu took a hockey puck to his mouth, which required six stitches. He still showed up the next day for work and shot the scene over the course of six hours. Let’s see a pussyboy like Orlando Bloom do that! Keanu is hardcore.
8. Showing extreme foresight and good judgment (which is more than I can say for Sandra Bullock), passed on an easy $10 million payday to star in Speed 2, because he didn’t think the script was any good. And he was right. Tell me again why people think he’s stupid?
9. Deferred part of his salary on The Replacements (2000) so Gene Hackman could be cast. Obviously, the man knows what makes a movie great. And that would be the Hack Man.
10. Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They don’t just give those out, you know.
11. A personal quote: “I’m a meathead, man. You’ve got smart people, and you’ve got dumb people. I just happen to be dumb.” At least the man is brave enough to admit who he is.
12. Is not nearly as stiff, wooden or stupid as Paul Walker.
13. Has starred in six $100 Million grossing movies. Which is more than the following actors who many claim are “better” than Keanu: Johnny Depp, George Clooney, Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, Colin Farrell, Richard Gere, Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke, Val Kilmer, Jude Law, Matthew McConaughey, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix, Tim Robbins, Kevin Spacey, Vince Vaughn, Dennis Quiad and Al freakin’ Pacino!
14. Almost never shows up in tabloids, an extremely welcome quality considering the glut of media whores we have today (ahem, TomKat!).
15. Yeah it gave people the impression he’s an idiot, and no, it’s not Shakespeare, but c’mon, who doesn’t love Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure!
16. “I am an F-B-I Agent!” That line rules.
17. Decided to leave his band “Dogstar” so that the rest of the group would not be held back by his celebrity or by his busy schedule. Which is more than I can say for a few other jackass actors/wannabe rockers (ahem, Russell Crowe).
18. Managed to keep a straight face all the way through the abysmally crappy Sweet November. That takes talent people.
19. Has worked with the following Academy Award winning actors: Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, Rachel Weisz, Charlize Theron, Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Marisa Tomei, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Anthony Quinn, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, and then guy who played Bill in Bill & Ted’s. I’m pretty sure he’s won a couple Oscars by now.
20. Is “The One”. Warrants mentioning.
21. Knows his acting limitations and in doing so, does not try to overextend himself in roles he couldn’t do; which means not only that his movies are better, but so is every movie he turns down. He’s making movies he’s NOT in better, someone give it up for this man.
22. Does not own a computer. So you know what that means… is not a MySpace whore.
23. In his review for Speed, Roger Ebert had this to say about Keanu: “Keanu Reeves has never had a role like this before. In fact, in his previous film, he played the mystical Prince Siddhartha, and generally he tends toward dreamy, sensitive characters. That’s why it’s sort of amazing to see him so cool and focused here, a completely convincing action hero who is as centered and resourceful as a Clint Eastwood or Harrison Ford in similar situations.”
24. Has made movies in every single genre.
25. He played Buddha. No, I’m serious, “the” Buddha. Between playing the freaking Buddha and playing a stoner in Bill & Ted’s, why do people think he has no range?
26. Back in the 80’s, he taught stoners of the world something about history (and brought Napoleon to Waterlube). Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t add that he’s totally non, non non, non non, non, non heinous.
27. And despite being viewed as a “stoner”, has never been pigeonholed on screen. In his various film roles, he has played: an FBI agent, a cop, a serial killer, a lawyer, a doctor, a dentist, the One, a Quarterback, a musician, an ad exec, a nuclear physicist (hello!), a redneck, a soldier, the freakin’ Buddha, a gay hustler, and a Dog Boy.
28. He knows kung fu. So, you know, don’t screw with him.
29. When Keanu decides to do a sequel: Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. When Keanu decides not to do a sequel: Speed 2. Can this guy pick winners, or what?
30. Is none of the following: a Scientologist (Tom Cruise), a john (Hugh Grant), a drug addict (Robert Downey Jr.), a cheat (Jude Law), a phone-thrower (Russell Crowe), hard to work with (Val Kilmer) or a mean bastard (Sean Penn)
31. Besides his obvious acting talents, Keanu also: surfs, rides motorcycles, was a good enough hockey goalie to earn the nickname “The Wall”, performs Shakespeare, reads philosophy, plays guitar in a slew of rock bands, ballroom dances, horseback rides, and “knows” kung fu. Is there anything he can’t do?
32. His name is actually pronounced “kay-ah-nu”, not “key-ah-nu”, and yet never makes a fuss out of it (ahem, DEMI!).
33. Has romanced on-screen: Charlize Theron (twice), Sandra Bullock (twice), Monica Bellucci (twice), Rachel Weisz (twice), Carrie-Anne Moss (thrice), Diane Lane, Connie Nielson, Dina Meyer and Uma Thurman. This does not necessarily prove his specific level of suckage, but it does prove that hot actresses want to bang him on-screen, which is an important quality in today’s movie stars. For example, nobody wants to nail Adam Sandler, and he’s not nearly as good an actor as Keanu, even if you count Punch-Drunk Love twice.
34. Was in the Pilot episode of the awesome short-lived Jay Mohr show, Action. And since that show ruled all, he in turn, receives a percentage of the ruling. Let’s say 17%.
35. To his everlasting credit, never made a cameo appearance on Will & Grace, which makes him only one of five movie stars in the world never to have done so.
36. Was the host for a documentary show called “Children Remember the Holocaust.” He supports the faith, I support him.
37. Has a college class based around his movies. “The Films of Keanu Reeves” at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Name another supposedly “sucky” actor that has a college class named after him? That’s right, you can’t, because Keanu’s the only one. Because he kicks ass AND educates the youth of tomorrow.
38. Turned down the Val Kilmer role in Heat to do a production of Hamlet in Canada. If I haven’t said it before, let me say it now, the man is devoted to his craft. He works on it, he tries new things. He keeps working. Even if you think he’s not getting better, at least he’s trying. How many movie stars keep pushing themselves after they hit it big? How many just coast along on generic roles and unspectacular performances? Keanu pushes himself. Fuck all to his limitations, he pushes himself and I respect him for it.
39. British theater critic Roger Lewis of the Sunday Times in London (who knows something about Shakespeare, after all he is British) had this to say about Keanu’s Winnipeg-based performance of The Prince of Denmark in Hamlet: “He quite embodied the innocence, the splendid fury, the animal grace of the leaps and bounds, the emotional violence, that form the Prince of Denmark. He is one of the top three Hamlets I have seen, for a simple reason: he ‘is’ Hamlet.”
40. Brought unto the world the phrase “Bogus, dude”, for which we are all eternally grateful.
Now tell me, after reading this piece, do you still think he sucks?
I didn’t think so.
Bangarang!
Just saw the trailer for Street Kings. It looks awesome! Keanu is as fit as he was in Speed but more hard-edged this time around playing a bad-ass cop. I’d like to see him play more bad-ass roles rather than the usual hero so I’m looking forward to this movie. The debate may go on for years whether or not Keanu is a good actor but there is no denying that this dude sure knows how to pick great movies to star in. Looking forward to seeing this one at the theaters. It’s going to rule!
You can check out the sexy picture stills and cool trailers for Street Kings on the US(Domestic) and International Officila websites from these link…
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/streetkings/
http://www.foxinternational.com/streetkings/
OMG! Keanu, you’re looking as smokin’ HOT as ever, baby! Those arms! WHOA!
HOT DAYUM!! Keanu is looking so ripped in that movie. He’s one sexy b.i.a.t.c.h!! When this comes out in the theaters, I’m so there!!
Saw the trailer for Street Kings on tv the other day. It looks tight! Nice to see Keanu back in action again. I’m seeng this one fer sure.
There is a thread on the Keanu Reeves IMDb message board about stalking Keanu fans and I almost shit after I read about this one obsessed fan that has been stalking Keanu for quite some time. She even has a blog website where she talks about how her and Keanu are meant for each other and how she keeps saying that Keanu must call her and answer her letters. After reading her blog, it is very scary and I wonder what is being done to protect Keanu from this weirdo. Here’s here blog. Read it for yourself and see…
http://www.peacechief.org/TOKYO.html
Wow! I read her blog. She is crazy! She has actually tried numerous time to come into contact with Keanu and she insists that she is his wife! She is not only crazy, she’s delusional. Keanu better hire more bodyguards!
Hey Jay, being that you’re a big fan of the ONE, what did you think of his new movie Street Kings? I thought it was pretty tight and he gave a cool, hard-assed performance. I was quite impressed. Keanu is the next Dirty Harry fer sure.
Looks like Keanu Reeves, aka the ONE, is an exhibitionist. Check it out
http://jordanm.fileave.com/sexynaughtyNeo.JPG
All I can say about that picture link above is “WHOA!”
I love everything about Keanu.
Love your sense of humor Jordan – but um, anatomically.. well, never mind, let’s not go there
On another note, Hey Jay! Can’t believe this thing is still alive (if a little feebly now) this long after it’s inception – how cool!
Kudos on an article that was, is and always will be well expressed
Here’s the deal- Keanu takes alot of risk in all of his films. Yes, he’s not De Niro- but Keanu is and will always be a working actor! Always humble and true to himself-desirable to many (both men/women) and perhaps the most down to earth human amongst the sea of pretenders. Lets just enjoy his work- whatever it may be… More power to u Keanu! God Bless!
I don’t know if he’s a great actor, but he’s certainly the sexiest!
Can someone pls tell me , looked for one movie that i most like’it with keanu but i dont remember the title i just know that when he was in movie “he was placed on a table by a few of angry men that thinkt he sleept with the wife of one of them and he was beat up with a meat hamer ” that is all that i can remenber pls from all my heart can you anione know the title of that movie and were i can fiind …please u can say to me at Blackjack_alex2002@yahoo.com . Hes the most great actor of all at his age …love’it
Keanu gets his movie roles because he’s on his knees a lot. I hear what he lacks in acting skills he makes up in giving great blow jobs to the directors and producers of his movies. He’s a brain-dead prettyboy twat who doesn’t deserve the success he’s gotten. Once his good looks fade and he can’t give good head anymore, he’ll fall off the face of the Hollywood hopefully.
You’re a dick, Rick!
You need to get a life RICK, and get paid for it.You’re obviously bored with what you’ve got so far. Have you noticed, this is a fansite for people who ‘LOVES’ Keanu. I think you are on the wrong forum board. And those hateful comments are so passe.
Rick says: [Keanu gets his movie roles because he’s on his knees a lot. I hear what he lacks in acting skills he makes up in giving great blow jobs to the directors and producers of his movies. He’s a brain-dead prettyboy twat who doesn’t deserve the success he’s gotten. Once his good looks fade and he can’t give good head anymore, he’ll fall off the face of the Hollywood hopefully.]
Rick, DID YOU KNOW THAT WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT SOMEONE IS AN EXACT DESCRIPTION OF YOUR OWN PERSONALITY TRAITS.
The same things you are judging about Keanu, are the very same things people you don’t know are saying about you. Trust me on that one.
Think about it, the universe is always in balance my dear. Now, go out there and do something nice for someone you don’t know. You’ll feel “As right as rain”, right after you’ve done. It’ a good thing and a good feeling. Try it sometime.
Have a nice day!
Dear Jay,
I like your writing. I think it’s hilarious and smart. I stumbled across this website a year ago and I totally agree with you about Keanu and Orlando. Orlando’s a good actor but charima-less.I’ve never been moved by his acting. But when Keanu cried in the Lake House, I felt for him.
I read some people thinks that Keanu’s voice sucks cos it’s so low and the emotions doesnt show. But then I noticed that a few days ago that I can hear his voice much better ( I watched an interview with Rove and then the Lake House). Do you think it has something to do with the difference in sound technology between then and now,that maybe his voice wasnt captured well in older films and so they sounded somewhat flat? Cos I heard his voice in the lake house and it sounded good to me and sexy.
No he does not suck. But you do
P. Don’t defer you’re hatred of ‘fish’ onto Paul Walker. Give him a break, he’s no veteran like Keanu.
Otherwise, very good article (and i dont really think you suck. Just be nicer to Paul, in future)
i agree with you that keanu reeves is a very well rounded actor…he and the matrix trilogy has changed my idea of great movie making..thank you for your thoughtful commentary!
You are out of your mind. Within the 40 points, you contradicted your points approximately 10 times. I dont have a personal vendetta against Keanu, I’m just sitting on the outside looking in, and seeing problems in the arguement.
Long Live Keanu.
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You didn’t convince me he is a good actor. He may do better box office than Johnny Depp and George Clooney but that doesn’t make him a great actor. He has been making movies for over 20 years but that doesn’t make him a great actor. Your points don’t prove anything. His best performances were in Speed and Point Break. Since then has not made much progress. He plays the same dull character in most of his movies. And he still acts the same way. I saw his latest movie: the remake of the 1951 classic ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’. Again he plays an emotionless character. There is no facial expression. He is like a robot. He picked a role that doesn’t require any acting skills. Some people hate him for being a bad actor. I don’t. I don’t know him personally. How can you hate someone you don’t know?
He seems to be a nice bloke but don’t tell me he is a VERY TALENTED performer. I have seen much better.
Rick,
You need to grow up. What you wrote is childish nonsense.
He may be the worst actor of his generation but he doesn’t deserve all those hateful comments of yours.
I don’t think he gets his movies roles because he is good looking. He gets them because he is a big box office name.
He cannot please everybody but I don’t understand this hatred some people have for him.
I have seen much worse than him. Some actors act like him and they are even more wooden than him. Anyway he CAN act, even if he has done some bad performances ( ‘Dracula’, ‘ Much Ado About Nothing’, Johnny Mnemonic’ , ‘A ‘walk in the Clouds’, ‘Chain Reaction’, ‘The Watcher’ and ‘ Hard Ball’ ). His detractors say he can’t act. They talk about his INABILITY to act. I think they talk nonsense. He would have never had a job as an actor if he couldn’t act. Who would hire someone who can’t act? I am not saying he is the most talented actor in the world but he has some talent. The fact that people think the actor and his character Ted are the same person means that he is very believable as the moron Ted in the movie, so he is not that bad at acting. Although he plays dull characters in most of his movies- I agree with you , he should be more expressive and more natural. That explains why he is yet to be nominated for an Oscar or a Golden Globe – he has done very good performances, not only in ‘ Speed’ and ‘ Point Break’. I really enjoyed watching him in ‘ The River’s Edge’, ‘Tune in Tomorrow’. ‘Parenthood’ and ‘ A Scanner Darkly’ ( he is very convincing as that character with a split personality. It is not an easy role to play. He doesn’t always pick roles that don’t require any acting skills ) and the Matrix ( he is Neo. He is perfect for this role. I can’t see any other actor playing the ‘One’. ). I saw the ‘Day the Earth Stood Still’ last December. I know he plays an emotionless alien. It is painful to watch someone with a blank expression, I give you that, but it is the way he has to play the character. In the movie, the alien says he cannot do the human emotions or something like that. To be honest, I don’t like the movie. They ruined the 1951 classic. It was a waste ot time and money. Anyway, he is not the best actor in the world but he is all right. I have also seen better actors than him like Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Heath Ledger, George Clooney, Leonardo Di Caprio, Kate Winslet and the rising Hollywood star Shia Labeouf, but everyone is different and that’s good. The world would be a boring place if everyone was the same.
I like the guy even if I don’t rate him a great actor. He seems very nice. There is no arrogance or showing off or controversy. I think he is a decent guy. You’re right , Jay. I have never seen him in tabloid magazines. He is not the kind of person to expose his private life to the public. There is nothing wrong with that. I would keep my personal life private if I was a celebrity. I don’t like nosey parkers. Angelina Jolie should do the same sometimes . She should protect her children’s privacy as well. I think she chose acting to become famous. Unlike Angelina, Keanu chose this profession for another reason. I don’t know the reason but I am sure he didn’t do it to become a celebrity.
I would ignore Rick’s nonsensical comments about Keanu. Some people feel the need to make nasty comments about someone so let them. They can’t help but do it. They have a boring life so they have nothing better to do than writing stupid comments about someone they hate.
I read your well written, humourous article.
You seem to be upset when people perceive Keanu as ‘ a flat actor, devoid of charisma, empty of emotional depth, or not fun to watch’. That is how they perceive him. There is nothing wrong with that. Remember, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Don’t take it the wrong way. Someone said that the debate on whether or not he is a good actor can go on forever. My point is whether an actor is good or bad is SUBJECTIVE. You can’t convince some people he is a talented performer and they can’t convince you he is bad at his craft. Do you see what I mean? It depends on how you perceive somebody. You said Orlando Bloom is ‘BLAND’, but that is okay. That is how you perceive him. Of course, his fans will disagree with you, because they don’t perceive him that way. One of my work colleagues thinks Hugh Grant acts the same way in every movie and all his characters have the same mannerisms. Again, that is how she perceives him. Some people will not share her opinion. They will say there is nothing wrong with Hugh’s acting.
Take music, for example. Whether an artist’s music is good or rubbish is subjective. You like his or her music or you don’t.
Each actor has his own style of acting. Some people like it, others don’t. I don’t pay too much attention to an actor’s style of acting because I ,too, only watch movies to be entertained. I want to be entertained. I like ‘Chain Reaction’, because it is entertaining. I think Keanu is quite wooden in this movie. He doesn’t bring much emotion into his character. But that is his style of acting, and it didn’t put me off watching the movie. To tell the truth, I enjoyed the action so much that I didn’t take any notice of Keanu’s bad perfomance the first time I saw it. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying he sucks at his craft or he can’t act. Like I said, he has done very good performances in some of his movies. And I don’t think he is always wooden. I saw him cry for the first time in ‘ the Lake House’ and I could feel his sorrow. He is very believable as the wife beater in ‘ The Gift’. I was suprised to hear that he had received positive reviews from film critics… for a change. Still, I don’t rate him a great actor. I like some of his movies. The ones I like most are ‘Speed’, ‘Point Break’, ‘The Matrix’ and ‘Matrix Reloaded’. They are in my DVD and Blu ray collection. He is more suitable for roles in action movies because he is a physical actor. You might think it is silly but I would like to see him play an American Indian in a Western movie like ‘Dances With Wolves’. With his long hair he looks like a native American. Until now I thought he was an American Indian. I didn’t know he is part Hawaiian, part English when I discovered him in ‘Speed’.
Whatever you say I still perceive him as a dull actor like many people. He is not fun to watch. It is a shame.
I agree with people who say Johnny Depp is better than him. He may not be a box office name but his acting is a lot better than Keanu’s. He is more fun to watch than Keanu. He is more convincing in every role he plays and seems more natural than Keanu. I don’t think he is an overrated actor. He is a gifted one. He is an Oscar nominee. That doesn’t make him the best actor in the world but it is quite an achievement. I didn’t know Keanu is yet to be nominated for an Oscar. That won’t happen unless he changes his style of acting. If he sticks with his robotic style of acting chances of being nominated for an Oscar are next to nothing. Apparently he has received 7 Razzie nominations. Not a good career achievement for someone who is a ‘talented performer’, isn’t it, the Jay? I really feel bad for him.
You rock rick….Keanu reeves sucks…..he’s a total douche bag….all of his movies sucked. It’s like a cartoon, he’s the same person in like every movie just different scenarios. What a f***tard
While i agree with everthing on this list, i did find one flaw- orlando bloom. he fell out of a five story window and was told he’d never walk again. a year later he filmed all three lord of the rings movies. so yeah, he can take pain. that’s all though.
oh, and i was watching a preview for one of his earlier films and you know how they pronounced him name? key new. like he knew! i died a little inside.
Honestly, I am not very impressed by his acting. It is OK but not perfect. I only like him in ‘Speed’, ‘Point Break’ and the ‘Gift’. In those movies he is more believable, more expressive and less dull. He didn’t give an Oscar worthy performances but they were better. At least in those three movies he is watchable. I agree with Frank and Johnny Memory on his robotic style of acting. To prove their points, K R is as wooden in ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’ ( Crappiest movie I have ever seen ) as ever. Jesus! He has the emotional range of a brick wall. He has a blank expression on his face. It doesn’t show any emotion. He is like a robot. I thought : is he playing a robot or an alien? I have seen his other movies. It is true he acts the same way. His characters have the same facial expression and same speech pattern. His acting is not always convincing or natural. Sorry Jay, you can’t convince many people he is a brilliant actor. I am not saying he can’t act or has no talent, but he is certainly not the most gifted actor around. I have seen much better. A movie star he is. A great actor he isn’t.
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