(From syracusenewtimes.com)
So when Cinema Blend comes out with a story on the week that the movie “John Wick,” starring Keanu Reeves, will hit the theaters with the news that all is not great in Mr. Reeves’ world, well, I’m not rushing out there to Hollywood holding out my box of Kleenex.
Still.
I understand the premise that Reeves used to be a bigger star in the days of “Point Blank” and “Speed” and “The Matrix” franchise.
And that major studios were not thrilled when some of his films that came after did not have nearly as much cha or maybe even any ching in their box office receipts. So they stopped calling.
Interesting dynamic, that.
But “John Wick,” in which Reeves plays an assassin come out of retirement, is getting great preview reviews. It opens this weekend. I want to throw out the fact that Keanu Reeves has turned 50. Not that he’s getting old, mind you, but doesn’t that make you feel older?
If you’d like to read my installment of this week’s Film News blog on the attractive Syracuse New Times site, click the link below.
http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/even-john-wick-poised-well-keanu-reeves-aint-used/
(From syracusenewtimes.com)
In addition to links that will bring you to the places where I’ve found the original news accounts of the film world, you’ll see my take on Johnny Depp and Anna Kendrick.
They’re both in “Into the Woods.” That’s the family-fine fare coming out Christmas Day from The Disney Company. Depp plays The Wolf, and Kendrick is Cinderella.
Meryl Streep is in the movie, adapted from the Broadway musical, too. She’s the witch.
What’s your favorite Keanu Reeves movie, and why? Do you think Reeves has a big-hit comeback period left in him, or is he destined for indie art films soon? On Christmas Day or anytime during the holiday movie season, do you want to bring the young people in your life to see Johnny Depp as the Wolf or Meryl Streep as the Witch or Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, and why or why not?
Mark Bialczak 
Don’t laugh… My favorite Keanu Reeves movie(s) were the Bill and Ted movies! (Okay, you can laugh! LOL!) In fact, I loved them so much, my son’t middle name is Keanu. Yes, really. (I think I really liked all of his expect Point Break.) And, yes, I can’t wait to see Into the Woods! 😀
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Ha! My favorite Keanu movie IS ‘Point Break.’ So I think I like your choice of middle names anyway, my friend. I hope your son does. Very cool, Rachel. 🙂
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LOL! But I bet we like and dislike them for different reasons…Mine was, he wasn’t as cute as in Bill and Ted! LOL! Actually, it was that a klttle bit, but more than that, I didn’t care for Patrick Swayze at the time so it didn’t hold my interest. Since he passed away, I’ve learned to appreciate him better, so I should probably give that movie another chance.
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I liked the presidents’ masks on the bank robbers, Rachel, and Lori Petty being caught between the bad Keanu and good Keanu. 🙂
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My Own Private Idaho was the only good movie he was ever in. That’s obvious, right? And Dangerous Liaisons? I mean, The first Matrix was okay, I guess. The other two were just pay days. The rest of his movies…um…?
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Thanks for pitching in with your strong feelings, Happy Apathy. Glad you decided to join in.
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I like Keanu Reeves, did not realize he reached 50, wow! I was always picturing him closer to 45 or less?! This does make me feel old! I liked his “Speed” movies, since his combining with Sandra Bullock was quite enjoyable! Also, will try to see “John Wick” and would like to see “Into the Woods,” which usually is a musical but am not sure if this is true of this production? I loved, “Sweeney Todd,” which was definitely NOT for children! Smiles for the great reviews and questions that get me thinking about age, movies and also, musicals…
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No, don’t bring the little ones to ‘Sweeney Todd,’ they might lose their head, right, Robin? Sorry, couldn’t help it … Yes, this movie includes singing. Indeed!
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Is “Into the Woods” family fare? Are you sure about that? Sondheim can be pretty rough, witness “Sweeney Todd.” Reeves has never been taken seriously although that first “Matrix” movie has to rank among one of the best Sci-fi movies ever made. It influenced an entire generation of filmmakers. Ripoffs abound.
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Well, Mark, it’s a take on the Grimm fairy tales. It looks dark, but everything I’ve read still points toward family. Not cartoon littlest, but middle school thinkers. Rating: PG.
Yes, ‘Matrix’ was a style-changer, indeed.
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Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, dude!
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Yes, Austin, and me being just a tad older, I am volleying with ‘Fast Time at Ridgemont High’ and all those Sean Penns and Forest Whitakers and Judge Reinholds and Phoebe Cates and Jennifer Jason-Leighs it let loose on the world thereafter. That was my dude movie. But yes, Keanu had his day in Bill & Ted, for sure.
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I hear they are making a third one. Excellent!
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I gotta say that I’m not really a fan. I did see Speed, however, I don’t recall loving it.
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I, on the other hand, am a Sandra Bullock fan, Aud, so yes to “Speed.”
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Yes, she is what sticks out in my mind…her character, sadly, not hers. I enjoy Sandra a lot.
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I like the idea of Keanu being an indie-star, as in good indie, not straight-to-Netflix indie. Or a quirky Tarantino muse.
A very good friend of mine who used to work in the film industry says he is the nicest person you will ever meet and she gets tired of the Keanu-bashing (not that you were, just saying, he’s a good guy and not a cad off screen according to her).
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I’m glad to hear that he is a good guy, because I’ve liked him since he and Lori Petty were on-screen surfer-knots in “Point Blank,” Jeanette.
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i’ve always thought he was an extremely robotic actor, but i did enjoy him anyway in ‘a walk in the clouds’ because it was so romantic, even if he was robotic, he looked good ). i don’t see him as a huge draw anymore, but probably would be an interesting indie film actor. yes, i would go see that film, though the little might be too frightened to accompany me. i am a huge folk and fairy tale lover –
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It sounds a little frightening for the small to me, too, Beth.
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Constantine is my favorite, and Reeves is always big time in my book. He gets miscast quite a bit but he really is a phenomenal actor. Mark did you see The Gift where he plays a secondary role as a wife beater, or any of the videos of his stage roles? You might’ve pleasantly surprised.
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Oh, I like Keanu all right already, Chess. Thanks for supporting him with facts, though. That is always welcome here, my friend. 🙂
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I was a teen when “Bill & Ted” came out, so to me, he is forever that valley dude. (That should make you feel old). I remember being in college when he was in a Paula Abdul video and saying to my roommate, “He can’t even act well in this music video.” So I haven’t enjoyed anything he’s done since 1989, I guess. I read once that his dad was jailed for selling heroin at a Hawaiian airport, so really, anything Keanu does will top that. Maybe I just hate his voice. Like the way Christian Slater sounds like Jack Nicholson. Just show me your real voice. And he was on Kimmel ( I think) last night, as we were flipping through, donning the patchiest beard you ever saw. If you can’t grow a full beard, don’t work that patchy one. I think I’m crabby today.
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Piggy-backing here as my immediate response to your question was Bill & Ted (which may just be one of the greatest movies of all time in my warped opinion) and what fun–but no surprise–that Kerbey has said the same thing. Hopped over to IMDB and see he’s been in a film called Feeling Minnesota. Curious title, that. Have you seen?
I enjoy Reeves, but thinking it all goes back to Bill & Ted. Didn’t keep up with Speed, Matrix, etc. He’s a stage actor, too, yes? A professional actor would want the big bucks of box-office hits and he makes a good point about studio backing opening up new worlds, but artistically the indies make more sense.
I will be eating cookies and mashed potatoes and such on Christmas Day, so won’t have time to catch Anna and Meryl. But if it’s good, I’ll find it on netflix eventually. Speaking of Kendricks, enjoyed your mention of Pitch Perfect. What a fun movie.
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I’m glad Kerbey and Liz are in the right age group for an Exellent Adventure with Keanu. I’m more of the buzz boy with Spiccoli and ‘Fast Times,’ which gave the world a whole lot of A Listers thereafter.
Liz, you have to NetFlix Feeling Minnesota. State duty, doncha think? I will if you will, and my call of duty is slightly different.
I know, right, why do they open huge movies on Christmas Day? Oh, yes, not everybody bakes and eats and celebrates around hearth and home or at all. But maybe not the theater for me, either.
“Perfect Pitch” was a good little singing movie. Anna is underrated. Thanks, Liz. 🙂
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Kerbey and Liz, again, Sean Penn is my dude of movie record, see comment attached to LIz’s here. Yes, Kerbey, this particular comment is rather crabby. Man can’t grow a beard and shows up on late night TV. How dare he at 50 years old!
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He should have shaved if he can’t pull it off.
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I think it’s the look he sports in the movie and the publicists are ordering him to keep it. Really.
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Spiccoli! I remember watching that at a slumber party, trying to pretend like I understood what was going on. I think Keneau Reeves is très beau. Something about his cheekbones and lean facial structure. To quote a favorite Blog of Funny Names line, hubba hubba.
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Oh, Liz, I like this! French and hubba bubba in one comment. Wowser!!
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It would seem that Keanu does best in the brooding action hero setting, and his attempts at dramatic turn haven’t been all that great. He was awful in Devil’s Advocate, appearing lost and a page behind in the script, through the whole thing. Also, that movie made Charlize Theron appear unattractive more than once, and not in the cool “best actress” for Monster kinda way. Doesn’t matter how well Keanu delivered his “Whoa” face, when that kind of bad choices are being made. Still trying to think of something he was good in that wasn’t an action movie, and I actually like most of his work.
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Yes, Steven T. ‘John Wick’ does appear to play right into Keanu’s movie wheelhouse. Although others here mention his success in stage plays, where it is harde to do action scenes of note. I have yet to see him in a play, so I must take a pass … Thanks for coming by to comment. Hope to see you out soon. 🙂 Can AJ bring the Orange to six wins?
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I’m not a follower of Reeves, although I’ve seen some of his movies. I honestly find it hard to judge what kids would like to see – so I let them decide. Kids have an awesome communication system and often know better than the adults what movies are better to see. I have to admit I am a Meryl Streep fan and have never been disappointed by a movie of hers.
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Meryl is a pretty good judge of scripts, right? (Or her agent is, right?) Thanks, Paul. Back in the day, I loved Keanu in “Point Blank,” the surfer cop/bank robber movie, a lot. RIP Patrick Swayze as the good-hearted clown-mask villain.
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