I always thought it interesting that girls thought Keanu was HOT but guys didn't understand why girls thought this (in the same way I don't get why guys LOVE Jennifer Connelly. I mean, she's pretty, but they, like, LUST for her. I'm told it's 'cause she gets naked a lot but this isn't about her so...).I was never a fan of his during his Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure days - maybe there was too much hair? But his subsequent films made me perk up with, ala Liz Lemon with clawed hands, "Cat sound!"
I get the impression most people really enjoyed his turn, in a kitschy way, as the undercover agent in POINT BREAK. Everyone loved his surfer dude yell:
But I think his greatest turn (before becoming NEO) is his performance as Officer Jack Traven in SPEED. It's as if Keanu was able to channel all his Alpha male energy into Jack Traven, making him a single-minded but uber hot manly man.Not only is he physically fit, even his cropped buzz cut doesn't detract from how good-looking he is in this role as the victim and hero. This is the first role I felt, besides B&TEA in which Keanu seems like it was natural - that he wasn't acting. And if he isn't acting to be that forceful and strong - meOW!
I can't really describe it, ladies (and gents), but unless you find him utterly repulsive, watch it again and tell me if you didn't find him sexy or if you didn't believe his chemistry with Sandra Bullock.
All I know is that once this film starts when it's on the tay-vay*, and Keanu enters the scene, I'm hooked until the very end.
His other convincing roles are:
Neo in The Matrix (though we can forget Reloaded and Revolution)
Donnie in The Gift (I never knew he could play an abusive whitetrash husband so believably)
Constantine in Constantine
Sadly, nowadays, he looks... different. I'm not sure what it is? Unlike some guys who have that weird bloating that seems to happen (see Bloat Watch), Keanu doesn't have that. But it's something about his eyes, I think?
I can't pinpoint what it is, but he's not quite the hottie he used to be. The last film I saw of his was the magic mailbox (aka The Lake House) - his sequel that isn't a sequel that reunited him with Bullock.
I thought the premise of this was ridiculous, but going on a friend's review, I gave it a chance when it played on cable. Even with the silly premise, it wasn't that bad. I liked Bullock's performance well enough, and Keanu was, well, Keanu. It didn't really work for the character, but this wasn't Shakespeare so it's passable enough.
However, it's here that I started noticing the change in his face that isn't quite so appealing to me anymore. It only seemed to look weirder as evidenced by The Day the Earth Stood Still clips and pictures. *sigh*
Oh well. At least I have all my other mens to keep me happy. That and repeats of SPEED.
*Cletus the slack-jawed yokel on The Simpsons
You might want to check out the movie "Thumbsucker" with VDO and Keanu Reeves. You would most likely have to order it online like I did through Best Buy. Keanu has long hair in it and his character is a crazy dentist. Vince Vaughn is also in it looking really bad as I think they were trying to disguise him from not looking like VDO since they have been compared to looking like brothers.
ReplyDeleteHa, that's funny since they DID play brothers in THE BREAK UP. I despise Aniston, but I did flip through the film just to see VDO. (^_^)
ReplyDeleteThey were also both in "The Cell", real creepy but equisite cinematography, you should check it out. VDO plays a serial killer but I will warn you it is mostly a vehicle for Jennifer Lopez' wardrobe and makeup closeups. ::yawn::
ReplyDeleteHave seen THE CELL. Agree with you on the cinematography and I appreciate Tarsem's design style but the story blew and I'm not a big JLO fan (though she was solid in OUT OF SIGHT).
ReplyDeleteI consider your yawn as a very well put review. ;)