[Closed] Is Keanu Reeves an actor??

I think he's EXCELLENT!
[img] [/img]

My sentiments, exactly, pp. He was born for that role. Literally.

DrP - Member

We all bandy about the "I could act better than him". I genuinely think I COULD act better than him!

Act out a short film scene or performance piece and post it up for us to see please.

He's not great technical actor but I think he's found his niche now as a post modern action star. I was watching a biography of Charles Bronson on youtube a while back and I was thinking about how he was similarly inexpressive but still very watchable. A plausible tough guy.

He's a movie star.

Michael Caine and Sean Connery have both played themselves for years.
They just happen to be more interesting.
🙂

Michael Caine and Sean Connery have both played themselves for years.

See also: Tommy Lee Jones who has taken the "playing yourself in lots of different movies" genre to a whole new level....blazing a trail which Samuel L.Jackson has followed to it's ultimate conclusion.

I think he is in the Tom Cruise school of acting where they play the same character (themselves) in every film and hope people dont mind. Seems to work for Cruise for reasons I dont understand

OP needs to watch Point Break (original) for more Keanu amusement. Remove the Ted role, and his range begins to match that of Jason Statham Esq.

He's up there with Nic Cage in terms of acting prowess. however, like Cage he's watchable in most films, and kinda suits them well, even dracula and bloody Jonny mnemonic (though the dolphin stole the show).

I genuinely think I COULD act better than him!

Yes,because all acting is a complete piece of piss.

As jimjam suggests,why don't you step up on stage or do a wee Go-Pro movie for us all.
L8rs 😛

yeah, what all them ^^^ said.

It's Hollywood innit. Quantity not quality. Big names are recruited for their ability to draw big crowds at the box office and not necessarily their acting ability.

Isn't the movie star model a deliberate marketing decision by films makers? Without some high profile actor playing the same role they've always done they never get financed.

IIRC (i.e. i've just googled it) Florence Lawrence was the first actor whose name was used to promote a film.

I genuinely think I COULD act better than him!

Maybe, but could you look cool in a full length leather coat?

There are only about a dozen people on the planet who can pull that look off.

I suspect none of them are on this forum.

lovewookie - Member

He's up there with Nic Cage in terms of acting prowess.

Jesus Christ. Nicholas Cage [s]is[/s] was a brilliant actor. He's just got a few million pounds in taxes outstanding. Tom Cruise is also a very good actor.

Even though he's made some decent films I think Denzel Washington qualifies as someone who just plays themselves.

But DrP is [i]method[/i] innit?
He's been immersing himself in this role for years.
Unless you've met him, you'd never know if he was acting or not.

He should just get a role playing a bad actor

I suspect none of them are on this forum.

He may not be the best at acting but he seems to do alright. He might though be the nicest most genuine guy in Hollywood.

Surely the epitomy of "playing yourself" is Being John Malkovich.

Only that John Malkovich is actually a really good actor

You might be able to act better than him (I thought he suited the Neo role really well, can't believe that all started ~18 years ago now), but would you give up your seat on public transport, as a multi-millionaire? 😉

John Malkovich isn't really like himself in real life though. He's just a really good actor.

Agree, but if you remade the Matrixes now with someone else it wouldn't work. He is Neo.

Matrices. 😉

Daniel Craig not much better imo

or maybe bond is just such a shallow role?
[img] [/img]

He's just another actor that plays themselves quite well like all the others mentioned here.
Nothing bad about it, if thats what you like, fine.

However, all the actors mentioned above are head and shoulders above Kevin Costner who is more wooden than a wooden thing. He's truly awful.

Constantine was also another decent role of his, I thought; to go alongside the Matrix, Point Break and Bill and Ted.

Not the best actor there's ever been, but he does enough to make some of his films enjoyable. Plus, he does also seem to be a decent chap.

I think he is in the Tom Cruise school of acting

[i]
John Malkovich isn't really like himself in real life though. He's just a really good actor[/i]

Hate to break it to you Perchy, but Johnny boy will only be doing roles as a corpse in future.

Johnny boy will only be doing roles as a corpse in future.

Hmmm.....is this some kind of Joe Cocker ruse?

Suspicious panther is suspicious.

He's been immersing himself in this role for years.

Immersing himself in solid teak more like.

You're right to be! 😆
Who died then?

having recently watched John Wick and JW2,

Well you went back for more.

Doesn't matter if you think he's a proper actor, he's a [i]movie star[/i].

[img] https://i.chzbgr.com/full/5966088448/hEA98CA4A/ [/img]

[url= http://www.movie-film-review.com/devharsh.asp?act=2&param=755 ]Harsh reviews[/url]

Come on, in-between the shit, reeves has done a couple of great films. The same with cage, leaving last Vegas for example. Now Tom cruise.....

I don't mind Keanu but the 1st John Wick, but christ that story line was weak! I cant believe they made a sequel!

He's up there with Nic Cage in terms of acting prowess.

To be fair, Cage does have two characters; there's regular Cage and batshit-crazy Cage.

Don't mind him, he does a lot for charity

To be fair, Reeves was ok in A Scanner Darkly, but being animated helped there.

Tom Cruise has done some credible work. Magnolia, Born on the Fourth of July, Rainman, etc.

Nic Cage has done some good work. Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation, Matchstick Men, etc.

He haz mad skillz

Not a bad shot either, heard a lot about his charity work and he is generous with his cash too.
https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/keanu-reeves

Comparing him with Nic Cage is harsh IMO.

Cage is probably the better actor when he wants to be, but he seems to just accept anything he's offered and chews the scenery like his life depended on it.

I can't even watch his "good" films any more.

Apologies for the tangent, but this is too good not to share again...
http://www.cracked.com/blog/lets-play-nicolas-cage/

I can't help but like the guy. He gives a shed load of money away and seems to live like a normal person. He paid off all the debts of one of the carpenters from the Matrix, gave up the vast majority of money from the sequels and insisted the crew have it instead. Plus he's immortal to boot!

Quantum Baby
To me interesting bloke, I'd have a pint with him (TBF the club isn't that exclusive)
Enjoyed JW and JW2, ended up discussing with an army guy who was really impressed they bothered to run out of ammo and reload, ditch guns, felt it was way more realistic for that. Honestly they both felt like well done films as far as the action went and credit to him for being JW for the role.

[i]Nic Cage has done some good work[/i]

At his worst he's unwatchable, but Red Rock West, for one, is a great film.

funkmasterp - Member
I can't help but like the guy. He gives a shed load of money away and seems to live like a normal person. He paid off all the debts of one of the carpenters from the Matrix, gave up the vast majority of money from the sequels and insisted the crew have it instead. Plus he's immortal to boot!

This +1

And this

[img] [/img]

He just looks so cool riding a bike.

fasthaggis - Member
I genuinely think I COULD act better than him!
Yes,because all acting is a complete piece of piss

Yeah! Anyone could do it ! Absolutely anyone!

Most big stars only play themselves.

It's hardly their fault, there's too much money at stake to take risks so when the script calls for a "Keanu" style character they get him, if he can't or won't do it, they're re-write it for a "Matt Damon" style character.

Unlike Tom Cruise in the 80s though, he does play different roles, TC just played the same roll with a different job, but all the films he made in that period made **** tonnes of money so, it's not like it didn't work.

It's hardly their fault, there's too much money at stake to take risks so when the script calls for a "Keanu" style character they get him,

TC just played the same roll with a different job,

Nick Cage ?

This is a good film of his, watch it right to the end..

[img] [/img]

There is no Nic Cage film that wouldn't be better without him in it whereas Bill and Ted's without Reeves would just be wrong.

IMO he has/had a strange, blank-faced/confused-looking naivety that somehow made him perfect for his roles in Bill & Ted, Point Break & The Matrix - 3 genuinely all-time classic films (that I could watch over & over again!) which wouldn't have been the same without him.

He's also made a fair number of other watchable films. On top of that he's apparently one of the most genuine & nicest guys in Hollywood so he's alright by me.

He haz mad skillz

Came here to post that - no denying that, even if you don't like his acting, he put a boatload of physical work into that role. And it is an [i]action[/i] film after all.

muppetWrangler - Member

There is no Nic Cage film that wouldn't be better without him in it

I will quote you on this subject. 🙂

He just plays a thicko in pretty much all is movies. While I'm no huge fan of Cruise or Cage, they can both out act Reeves by a long way and have played a greater variety of roles.

Ok.... so fast forard to 2.07...
Tell me that's not terrible!!

DrP

Keanu is probably a better human than most of us. For that reason alone - I'm not prepared to be critical. Then of course there's Bill & Ted. That makes him untouchable IMHO.

There is no Nic Cage film that wouldn't be better without him in it

DrP - Member

Ok.... so fast forard to 2.07...
Tell me that's not terrible!!

That's an ideal scene for you to re-enact. Don't worry about the production values, selfie camera on your phone will suffice. Or at least do your best to explain what you think is wrong with his performance, technically speaking.

I can't help but like the guy. He gives a shed load of money away and seems to live like a normal person. He paid off all the debts of one of the carpenters from the Matrix, gave up the vast majority of money from the sequels and insisted the crew have it instead. Plus he's immortal to boot!

NO one is disputing whether he is a nice guy or not [ he is] the question is can he act

For this I suggest you watch any film where he puts on an accent !!

HE is great in Bill and ted and the other stuff, as mentioned is just that he looks like a fish out of water and confused by what is going on so he is great in point break and the Matrix ans the acting is to be himself trying to act.

He is not a great actor but he has been in some great films and he is a top bloke.

Oh and rreding the harsh revoiews this is spot on

When it comes to expressing emotion, he's right up there with Steven Seagal as one of the worst actors of all time

The only difference is he was in great films and the Seagal was not

It's between him and Affleck isn't it?

Both have done relatively well in life (I'm sure they couldn't give **** what we think) but surely it must be who they know/are related to.

It's between him and Affleck isn't it?

Both have done relatively well in life (I'm sure they couldn't give **** what we think)

Affleck is on here.

Wasn't Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson the highest earning actor on the planet last year?
Not sure you need talent to be an 'A List' superstar any more?

Affleck is on here.

I hope so. Bout time he was brought before the STW select committee for a grilling.

While he isn't great I thought the John Wick was not supposed to show any emotions that's what makes him such a cold blooded assassin.

Wasn't Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson the highest earning actor on the planet last year?
Not sure you need talent to be an 'A List' superstar any more?

See my point about actor vs movie star.

No you don't want to see Jason Statham playing Hamlet, but equally The Transporter wouldn't have been as good with Jim Broadbent in the title role.

I don't like the F&F movies, but The Rock is the best thing in them.

Affleck is on here.

I hope so, after the abomination that was Batman v Superman he needs a stern talking too.

chakaping - Member

See my point about actor vs movie star.

No you don't want to see Jason Statham playing Hamlet, but equally The Transporter wouldn't have been as good with Jim Broadbent in the title role.

I don't like the F&F movies, but The Rock is the best thing in them.

That's about the size of it. The Rock is a hugely charismatic character and he looks superhuman. You could never accuse Arnie of being a great actor but I struggle to imagine anyone who could have played The Terminator (1) better.

Keanu is the right mix of good looks, likeability and physical dedication to his craft.

Junkyard - lazarus

When it comes to expressing emotion, he's right up there with Steven Seagal as one of the worst actors of all time

The only difference is he was in great films and the Seagal was not

Well no actually. He's nowhere near the worst actors of all time - I think you could say of all of the hugely successful movie stars of the last hundred years he's not one of the more expressive. I mean, what the hell was John Wayne other than a walk, a squint and a drawl.

Interesting point about Seagal, his early films are (imo) pretty good, certainly entertaining. When he shot to fame there were all sorts of rumours that he was in the CIA or some kind of black ops assassin (which Segal did nothing to extinguish). He also did a pretty good job of actually making aikido look like a plausible martial art, and it was novel.

In reality he had some very big mafia/mob connections who invested heavily in his early films. As he became an actual movie star, studios tried to push out the mob influence but Seagal refused. Ultimately he was forced to choose between legitimate studio system films and mob funded b movies - he chose the latter, hence the rapid decline.

He is by all accounts a thoroughly horrible person. An abuser and a bully who apparently played up to rumours that he had killed people for the mob.

In reality he had some very big mafia/mob connections who invested heavily in his early films. As he became an actual movie star, studios tried to push out the mob influence but Seagal refused. Ultimately he was forced to choose between legitimate studio system films and mob funded b movies - he chose the latter, hence the rapid decline.

🙄

Drac - Moderator

🙄

[url= http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/13/nyregion/a-mafia-case-and-a-scene-straight-out-of-hollywood.html?mcubz=0 ]A Mafia Case, And a Scene Straight Out Of Hollywood[/url]

[url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2007/aug/21/4 ]Seagal: FBI killed my career.[/url]

Yeah that's quite the same story you sound though is it.

Drac - Moderator

Yeah that's quite the same story you sound though is it.

No you're right, it's not [b]exactly[/b] the same. There are so many unpleasant rumours about Seagal that I can't find the exact story I was recalling. I'll maybe spend another five minutes looking for it.

I'm sure someone who has been accused of sexual assault multiple times, sexual trafficking and who fraternizes with Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko is a paragon of virtue.

Page 3 and no mention of Speed, which was a great action movie and he was pretty good in that.

I thought he was perfect in JW and JW2 and fitted the stone cold killer role, a bit like Affleck in The Accountant.

Where his personality doesn't translate well is into movies from other genres, such as the awful Knock Knock which he must have only done as a favour to someone.

Here, hang on and no mention of Kick Ass (Nic Cage again) One of the best films ever.

Also, I'd much rather watch a wooden actor, like Canoe, than an over-actor, like .. shit can't think of anyone!.. but you know what I mean 😆

just thought of one - Hanks.

Keanu played a mean, wife beating drunk in The Gift and actually acted quite well in it IMO. A very different role for him. I don't think Affleck is that bad and actually thought he was the only decent thing in that shitty batman versus superman film.

Nic Cage used to be a good actor and now he'll do anything for money. Here's a fun game we can play. Who can post the most pictures of Nic Cage in a cave and Nic Cave in a cage 🙂

Nic Cage used to be a good actor and now he'll do anything for money. Here's a fun game we can play. Who can post the most pictures of Nic Cage in a cave and Nic Cave in a cage

He's not a "bad" actor. That's a role reserved for Jim Carey.

He was born to play Jonny Utah. A stoned surfer adrenaline junky. But his greatest quality is that he's a really decent human being.

Ohh, you know the 5 degrees of separation thing? You're supposed to be only five people away from anyone in the world. I'm 4 people from Keanu.

That will impress nobody.

I don't think Affleck is that bad

Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms.

even dracula and bloody Jonny mnemonic (though the dolphin stole the show).