Keanu Reeves, Happy Birthday: the life and career of an actor

Keanu Reeves was born on September 2, 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon. (where her mother moved at the time for work), with a clearly multi-ethnic background, as also evidenced by her appearance: her mother, Patricia, is English, and her father, Samuel, was Hawaiian, also Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Filipino. origin, among others, Irish and Portuguese; same name Keanu is from Hawaii Keaveaheulu, which roughly translates to “a fresh breeze rising from the sea to the mountains” (although he was often advised early in his career to change it in favor of a less exotic and more easily pronounced name). After the separation of his parents, Keanu moved several times, changing the country and even the continent after his mother: first, the family moved to Australia, then to New York and, finally, to Toronto (he still retains Canadian citizenship); there, thanks to his mother’s second husband, director Paul Aaron, Keanu began acting first in the theater, and then switched to television, acting in commercials, programs and television films.
Despite the fact that Keanu Reeves has become, undeniably, one of the most recognizable stars in the world over the years, he has always remained anti-star par excellence, while maintaining a very low profile in his public and private image; in his spare time, he indulges in his hobbies such as motorcycles (he also founded a custom car company) and music (plays bass in the band Dogstar).

The beginning of Keanu Reeves between the small and big screen

Twenty-year-old Keanu in 1984 – one of the correspondents Goes great, a Canadian television program aimed at a younger audience that focuses on boys doing bold and reckless things; meanwhile, he plays in the theater, playing Mercutio in the production of Romeo and Juliet, debuts on Canadian sitcom, hanging out (1984), followed by TV movies such as kids in toyland (1986), Christmas musical with Drew Barrymore, Execution… true story (1986) with Charles Bronson, e Forced justice (1986) with Kiefer Sutherland. However, he made his film debut in 1986 with broad shouldersa sports drama about the world of hockey starring Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze, and Robin’s dream (1986), about an aspiring gymnastics champion and a thriller river boys (1986).

Keanu Reeves and art cinema

From the end of the eighties, he began to take part in a number of author’s films; plays a role in Dangerous ties (1988), a costume drama based on the famous French novel of the same name, followed by two iconic titles: Boiling point (1991), again alongside Patrick Swayze, a cult film directed by Kathryn Bigelow set in a world of surfers in which he is an undercover FBI agent and then Beautiful and cursed (1991) Gus Van Sant with River Phoenix. Reeves will later appear in the cast Dracula by Bram Stoker (1992), adaptation of Francis Ford Coppola’s horror classic with Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder. Much ado about nothing (1993), author and with Kenneth Branagh, based on a play by Shakespeare, cowgirl – new sex (1993), a western for women, again directed by Gus Van Sant, which however is a commercial and critical disappointment, directed by our very own Bernardo Bertolucci in Little Buddha (1993).
In later years, he would continue to frequently watch auteur films, mostly in the genre, such as Sam Raimi’s supernatural thriller. Present (2000), or more recently psychological horror neon demon (2016), cult Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, or a legal thriller double truth (2016) with Renee Zellweger.

Keanu Reeves, action star

Keanu Reeves became one of the main heroes of action films thanks to the success Speed (1994), a film in which he co-starred with Sandra Bullock and which, upon release, received excellent reviews and a huge success with the public, so much so that it spawned a sequel (in which, however, Reeves wisely refuses to appear, and which will be considered one one of the worst sequels of all time).
However, the film, which will probably forever remain the one with which the name and face of Keanu Reeves is universally associated, is obviously matrix, a dystopian saga about the Wachowski sisters that begins with the first chapter in 1999: few titles have had an impact that was not only cinematic, but extended to many other aspects of our pop culture, and not only in recent decades, how many had The Matrix ; the film finally devoted its main character to the starry sky and, as we know, the saga continued first in the form of a trilogy, with the release of the second and third chapters, filmed one after another, matrix Reloaded AND Matrix revolutions, in 2003, and it seemed like it was all over when Neo returned to fight in the fourth season. Resurrection Matrix (2021).

If already “The Matrix” was clearly under the influence oriental cinema and martial arts filmsthis is an inspiration that recurs several times in Keanu’s career: along with Japanese actors, he is one of the main characters of the film. 47 Ronin (2013), inspired by a group of 18th century samurai, even though the film was a commercial and critical failure. It was also a failure. Man Tai Chi (2013), a China-US co-production marking directorial debut of Keanu Reeves, partly inspired by the story of its protagonist, actor and martial arts champion Tiger Chen, Keanu’s teacher and friend who plays his antagonist in the film. Reeves is also the documentary’s narrator. Mifune: The Last Samuraiabout the famous actor Toshiro Mifune, known for the films of Akira Kurosawa.

However, in recent years, Reeves has begun another successful action film franchise

what occupied him most and probably gave him the most satisfaction, and also enlivened an uninteresting period of his career: we are obviously talking about John Wicksaga of a revenge-seeking hitman directed by former stuntman Chad Stahelski: the first chapter, released in 2014, came as something of a surprise and exceeded all expectations, leading to three sequels: John Wick – Chapter 2 (2017) John Wick 3-Parabellum (2019) and most recently John Wick-Chapter 4 (2023), whose budget (as well as revenue) continues to grow proportionally, becoming an event that fans cannot miss.

Keanu Reeves and science fiction

Of course, The Matrix is ​​also a sci-fi film, but, nevertheless, this genre was present in Keanu Reeves’ career from the very beginning: his first real success in the American market came in fact Bill and Ted’s Great Adventure (1989), a wild sci-fi comedy that became so cult that it immediately spawned a sequel, mythic journey (1991) and the series, and even the third chapter many years later, Bill and Ted make music (2020).
He was also the main character Johnny Mnemonic (1995), a sci-fi film set in the year 2021 in which society is run by the Internet and mega-corporations, followed by a sci-fi thriller. Chain reaction (1996) with Morgan Freeman and Rachel Weisz. Reeves is also among the translators Scanner gloomy-dark peer (2006), a film by Richard Linklater based on a story by science fiction master Philip K. Dick, shot using the rotoscoping technique for a highly original visual effect that makes the actors appear cartoonish. The actor was then a star Ultimatum to Earth (2008), a remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic as the mysterious alien Klaatu, a film that was a good hit with the public, although not completely convincing critics, it also failed on all fronts. replicas (2018), in which he plays a neuroscientist trying to bring his family back to life.

The sentimental side of Keanu Reeves

However, in a career often devoted to action films, we also remember the more sentimental side of Keanu Reeves, who nevertheless appeared in various films: he was the main character The scent of the wild must (1995), a sentimental remake of the Italian costume drama Four steps in the clouds (1942); he then became Charlize Theron’s partner Sweet November – Sweet November (2001), a romantic drama that received an unexciting reception. Instead, it’s a romantic comedy. Anything can happen. Something must happen. (2003), in which Reeves plays a supporting role alongside protagonists Jack Nicholson and Diana Keaton, in a film that is a major commercial success, especially at home. He and his girlfriend Sandra Bullock reunite for Lake house time (2006), a very romantic film with a touch of fantasy, a remake of Korean Seaand then Reeves joins Robin Wright and the rest of the cast of the prestigious series. The Secret Life of Mrs Lee (2009), well-reviewed but little known drama. Most recently, Keanu reunited with Winona Ryder (after Bram’s Dracula Stokers) for a romantic comedy Place for a wedding (2018).

Keanu Reeves and comics

Keanu Reeves is one of the authors of the BRZRKR comic book series., starring an immortal warrior who is set to be made into both a live-action film and an anime series starring Reeves himself. The actor also already had his own comic when he was filming Konstantin

(2005), based on the comic Hell Blazers; The film, which hit theaters at a time when DC superhero movies weren’t really as popular as they are today, received mixed reviews but has been overrated as a cult film over the years, so much so that Reeves and director Francis Lawrence recently confirmed that a sequel is in development.

Future projects

In addition to the projects already mentioned, Keanu Reeves will continue to ride the wave of success of the John Wick saga: the fifth chapter has already been announced, but it looks like the director and actor will take a break before proceeding with its implementation; and in the meantime, the spin-off will arrive Dancernarratively placed between chapters 3 and 4, directed by Len Wiseman and starring actress Ana De Armas.