(fans cheering)
- Keanu! - Keanu, Keanu!
Downloaded from YTS.MX
(static music)
- [Speaker] Either that or he's a real good double gigger.
Isn't that Keanu Reeves?
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
[Speaker] Well, it looks like him.
[Speaker] Well...
(upbeat music)
Very early on in his career,
Keanu Reeves told reporters that his name Keanu meant...
Cool breeze over the mountains.
- It is a kind of perfect summation of who he is as a star,
not just on screen,
but in terms of what we know about him as a person.
(fans cheering)
You are breathtaking! (audience cheering)
You are all breathtaking! (audience cheering)
(static music) I have been a part of
some films that have been embraced,
(funky music)
and I'm very grateful.
(upbeat music)
[Interviewer] As an actor,
you're essentially living behind a mask.
Right.
Comedy and tragedy.
(upbeat music)
He took some solace in science fiction,
reading, and in comic books,
which is really interesting when you think
about the trajectory of his career
and the kinds of films he ended up making.
- He was a private child who struggled a lot
due to dyslexia, which is something
that he has been quite forthcoming about,
and how that struggle impacted him.
Didn't really have any interest in acting
until the influence of his stepfather
really gave him that kind of bug.
- Keanu has a really interesting background,
in that he was born in Beirut, in Lebanon
when his parents were living there.
His mother was English,
his father was a mix of ethnicities,
including Hawaiian, hence his Hawaiian name, Keanu.
[Hannah] His mother was working in Beirut
where she met his father,
but they did split up when Keanu was three.
So he didn't really have a relationship with his dad,
he didn't even really meet him properly
until he was about 13.
(somber music)
- [Narrator] Art had become a pivotal aspect for Keanu
and his sister, Kim,
who were entranced by fiction and film alike.
(upbeat music)
Growing up in the 70s,
there was no lack of incredible films
for the siblings to watch.
(upbeat music)
- Later on he said that when he was growing up,
he could only imagine that he would go to Hollywood.
His goal was always to go to Hollywood
because the films he watched as a kid
were made in Hollywood,
and he understood that he wanted to be part of that world.
So Keanu's stepdad was Paul Aaron,
who was a Hollywood director and Broadway producer.
Paul Aaron was very supportive of Keanu's interest in acting
and eventually would recommend him for a job
at the Hedgerow Theatre in Pennsylvania
where he would spend some time working as an apprentice
and assisting and kind of living there and helping out.
- [Narrator] Keanu grew into the definition of a hotshot,
high-octane teen.
His stage performances during his years of education
placed him in a handful of short films.
It wasn't long before he found himself
starring in commercials
and eventually in "Hangin' In", a Canadian sitcom.
Hey, where do you keep the towels?
Pete said we could use the shower.
(speaker chuckles) - Oh, Peter put you in here.
Yeah, you rescued us. (speakers laughing)
Ah!
Where did he find you?
- Reeves worked for the Canadian Broadcasting company
when he was a teenager,
for the youth news program "Going Great."
He starred in a few different American shows
when he first moved to Hollywood,
including "Babes in Toyland" and "Brotherhood of Justice"
before he was able to get his first big film role.
(upbeat music)
[Narrator] Hockey has always been
a massive part of Keanu's life.
After his move to Toronto, Keanu took up the sport,
which served him in more ways than one.
It was a huge asset when Keanu landed a role
in his first feature film.
(upbeat music)
The movement of his body complemented his more outlandish
and extreme roles.
He showed promise whilst playing as Heaver, a goalkeeper,
in the lighthearted sports feature "Youngblood."
(upbeat music)
Even if the film was a little formulaic,
it gave Keanu an opportunity
to experience a larger film set.
(upbeat music)
- I'm playing a 17-year-old body
with a 40-year-old mind, okay?
But then I had to play with my conception of 40,
which was sort of older, right?
You look at a 40-year-old and go, "You're old",
but he's not. (laughs) - It sounds like
a juicy, challenging role,
and it's good that you got this one.
- Yes. - And we look forward
to seeing you in another things,
and thank you very much. - Oh, thank you.
- You're welcome. - (chuckles) Bye!
- So I think that definitely having Paul Aaron
as kind of a figure in his life,
that even after he divorced,
Keanu's mother was still there to support him
and help him get a green card
to start his journey in Los Angeles,
must have played a kind of significant role to him
in influencing and shaping that desire.
He was also advised to change his name
because Keanu sounded too ethnic,
which he briefly considered,
but ultimately decided wasn't quite right.
And I think it's a great decision
because now his name has become almost anonymous.
You say Keanu, everyone knows who you're talking about.
[Mark] He's in a kind of stoner drama
called "River's Edge", about teenagers involved in a murder.
It's this really underrated cult movie.
- [Narrator] River's Edge" was a curious project
because in the time of 80s lighthearted teen fiction,
it stood out as one of the grungier, darker pieces.
It offered Keanu a chance to approach a more serious role.
Whilst the actor was still up and coming,
it served as an opportunity to carry a role
with heavy thematic undertones.
- The film shows the kind of malaise of this community
and how the teenagers have to come to terms
with this incredibly harrowing situation.
And Keanu was praised quite roundly
for his performance as Matt, who is one of the,
I'd say, darker characters within it.
He kind of struggles a lot with the situation.
Come on!
You finked on John!
I'm your brother.
Where do my children go at night?
(car honking)
- His performance was regarded as a real breakout
by people like "The New York Times."
Everyone was kind of amazed
that this presence had kind of come outta nowhere.
I think he was really able
quite early on to establish himself
as quite a distinctive figure in acting
who was someone definitely worth keeping an eye on.
[Narrator] "Permanent Record",
a more underrated feature had Keanu play
as Chris Townsend. - Or anybody.
(upbeat music)
I don't know if I did the right thing.
(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] After the passing of his closest friend,
Keanu's upbeat character changes drastically.
The film depicts grief in a very unique way,
having sharing the experience between a range of characters
of which Keanu seemingly has to manage.
- He also in the late 80s has a co-starring role
in "Dangerous Liaisons", a costume drama,
in which one might say he's just a little bit miscast.
(static music)
(upbeat music)
So he makes his really big breakthrough in
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure",
a really distinctive film,
and one that seems perfectly suited to him.
It's really what made him a star
more than any other film he'd done to that point.
But "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" is a film
about two high school students
who have to create a history paper,
and somehow they managed to travel through time
to meet some of the characters
they need to write about in their paper.
It's just a wonderful wide-eyed adventure story.
Let's go back into history.
(upbeat music)
- I think that this was due to it being this really big,
silly, fun movie, which took something
that people already kind of were seeing a lot of
in this time travel adventure movie genre
that developed with something like "Back to the Future."
It combined it with this kind of new era, shall we say,
of kind of stoner comedies, which were very silly
and just presented themselves as
not taking film too seriously.
- What makes it really memorable and remarkable is
that it's a film about teenage male friendship
that is utterly without aggression or malice.
They're just good friends.
(chuckles) They get along really well, they help each other.
(glass shattering)
- Excellent! - Excellent!
And they do have an excellent adventure.
So it's a really sweet film,
maybe even slightly educational film,
given that you get to meet Socrates and Abraham Lincoln,
a film that established him in his wide-eyed capacity.
His big phrase in the film is...
- Wow! - Ah!
- There's a sense in which everything is new
and exciting and appealing to this rather sweet,
not entirely bright teenage boy.
- The film was really well received by critics,
and made a surprising return on the box office investment,
and has become known now as one of the kind of
best sci-fi movies around
because it just takes the genre,
which sometimes I think can feel quite serious,
and plays with it and has fun with it.
It's really known as a defining presence
within Keanu's filmography.
There's an element of nostalgia
to "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure."
Like you can't, I imagine if you watched as a teenager,
you simply identify with Bill and Ted;
but if you watch it as an adult,
you kind of look back to teenage years
and the kinds of adventures and the kinds of friendships
that you had at that time in your life.
So I think it's a perfect film for nostalgia,
it's a perfect series to stay in the hearts of audiences
because of that nostalgia factor
and that idea that one would always like to look back on
those sorts of friendships
and that period in your life for the kind of excitement
that it has in the film.
(camera snapping photo)
- Keanu! - Keanu!
(speaker mumbles)
- Keanu, Keanu! - Keanu!
- [Narrator] The phenomenon that was Bill and Ted
made Keanu Reeves a household name.
Keanu makes an effort to form relationships
with his co-starring actors and set professionals.
(upbeat music)
His friendship with River Phoenix stood out in
"I Love You to Death."
What do you say?
(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] The black comedy propelled both Keanu
and River to the next stages of their blossoming careers.
Oops!
(upbeat music)
- [Speaker] I have a feeling we're about to embark upon
a most unprecedented expedition.
[Narrator] Bill and Ted returned
once again for the sequel.
There's a lot of deliberation
as to which film people prefer.
The battle with death remains an iconic scene
in anyone's eyes.
To many it was a clever spin on
Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal",
with less chess and more Bill and Ted antics.
[Speaker] Bill and Ted are dead.
(Bill and Ted screaming)
- [Narrator] Keanu having developed a passion
for composing music decided to start a band.
Dogstar.
(static music)
(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] Dogstar consisted of drummer, Robert Mailhouse,
who Keanu met at Gelson's supermarket.
Bret Domrose was on guitar,
and Keanu Reeves on bass and shared vocals.
So that was kind of dumb, bro,
just happy to be here.
[Speaker] Please.
(upbeat rock music)
[Speaker] Keanu, rock stars becoming
movie stars all the time.
How does it feel to be a movie star
who is becoming a rock star who has a passion for music?
Well, I have a passion for music.
I don't think myself or the band "Dogstar"
have quite reached the heights of rock stardom,
but it's been really fun playing in the band
over the past six years,
and hopefully we can continue to make records and play,
and play live and stuff.
- [Speaker] Does Dogstar afford you peace and security?
(Keanu laughing) (interviewer chuckles)
Does rock afford me peace and security?
Absolutely not. (interviewer laughing)
No, but it's really fun, man.
It's really fun to write,
and the fraternity with my band members,
and like traveling when we can,
and doing rock shows is a lot of fun.
- [Narrator] Keanu and River Phoenix returned in a feature
the following year, breaking out of the teen fiction rut,
and taking on a serious narrative.
(upbeat music)
[Speaker] I always know where I am
by the way the road looks.
Like I just know that I've been here before.
♪ The cattle are prowlin' ♪
I just know that I've been stuck here.
♪ The coyotes are howlin' ♪
- So "My Own Private Idaho" was Gus Van Sant's
take on Shakespeare's Henry ad,
which is a series of historical plays.
Isn't that right, Mike?
What do you care about money?
You got plenty of money.
Actually, Mike is right,
I am going to inherit money, a lot of money.
It took quite loose inspiration
following these two young street hustlers
played by River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves,
who go on this journey across the United States
and to Italy in search of Mike's mother.
It's not only considered one of Gus Van Sant's best films,
but it's become a very pivotal queer film.
So "My Own Private Idaho" was as far from
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" as you could get.
- And it's definitely one of the most heartbreaking films
of the kind of 90s,
and definitely for Keanu I think
establishes him as this sort of unknowable screen presence.
Obscure, enigmatic film.
Quite difficult to know what's going on all the time
that it has its surreal moments.
And I think it was Keanu Reeves' signal to the audience
that he was not going to be pigeonholed,
and he wasn't gonna be caught in that kind of role.
It was an arthouse film, and it was an arthouse hit.
[Narrator] "My Own Private Idaho"
is a unique introspective film.
(somber music)
Keanu and River's performances were exceptional.
The two men shared a rare bond during its production,
a bond which bled into their performances
and solidified the feature as a cultural milestone.
Thanks to its themes and raw messaging.
(somber music)
Audiences wondered when Keanu might return to the screen
with River Phoenix.
Their chemistry had left a lasting impact on viewers.
The two young actors seemingly had no limits,
they shared great potential.
The world, however, had other plans.
"My Own Private Idaho" served as
one of River Phoenix's last films
before he passed at the age of 23.
(somber music)
Keanu, like many, was devastated
at the loss of this incredibly talented
and beloved presence.
(melancholy music)
As the young actor's career flourished,
criticism of his acting became prominent.
(somber music)
There've been some pretty harsh
criticisms directed at him,
particularly regarding his role in Dracula.
With Francis Ford Coppola,
a costume drama set in 19th century England,
and he seems wholly out of place.
Of course, sir, I'll attend to the count.
Thank you for your confidence.
- I think people who criticize Keanu Reeves as an actor
have a rather snobbish idea of acting
that's linked to the stage tradition,
and that's linked to dialogue,
and to an actor reciting dialogue on stage.
That is not what Keanu Reeves does.
I mean, I'll be the first to admit that,
that's not his forte.
(upbeat music)
[Hannah] For me it's just a very
distinctive style of performance,
it's a very reserved style where he withholds a lot,
and he's very subtle in his movements and his delivery.
- He has a kind of intensity as a screen presence
that I don't think many critics
or award giving bodies have been willing to note.
He hasn't been treated particularly generously.
(upbeat music)
- [Narrator] To search for his artistic voice,
Keanu delved into any type of film imaginable,
returning to the comedy genre with "Much Ado About Nothing",
"Even Cowgirls Get the Blues", and "Freaked",
an experimental picture co-directed by his good friend,
Alex Winter, in which Alex also starred.
- [Speaker] Did the language ever intimidate?
You mean English?
No. (speakers laughing)
Most of the play is in verse,
I'm sorry, in prose.
So it's a welcome challenge.
- [Narrator] The strange casting decisions continued.
"Little Buddha" stood out as a rogue edition for Keanu,
who plays as the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama.
I play Prince Siddhartha,
an emotional fable myth aspect interpretation.
Buddhism is very specific with the psychological,
emotional declension, I guess.
So I guess studying that comes
in emancipation from emotions
and realizing more of what phenomenal existence is,
and through that practice
comes perhaps compassionism.
(somber music)
In the 1980s and into the 1990s,
action stars tended to be figures like Sylvester Stallone
and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
That is really powerful, really macho,
seemingly none too bright men
of power and action.
Keanu Reeves helped to bring in
this new age of action stars
where you didn't have to be the biggest,
the most ripped person on the planet to be a credible lead.
Keanu Reeves really signals a change
with "Speed" particularly,
in terms of turning him into a kind of action hero,
but I think it's also a point
at which he redefines the action hero.
When I find you... Pop quiz, hotshot,
there's a bomb on a bus.
(intense violin music)
Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, bomb is armed.
If it drops below 50,
it blows up.
- Sandra Bullock is behind the wheel of the bus,
Keanu Reeves is trying to save the bus.
It's this crazy action thriller,
as fast-paced and exciting as they come,
in which he plays a kind of heroic action man.
I can't think of anything more different
from Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (chuckles)
or "My Own Private Idaho."
It's really a different kind of role for him,
and he absolutely owns it.
He becomes this man of steel, this man of action,
and it really redefines his career.
Yeah, the title "Speed"
and then the situations that the character got into.
I mean, it was an opportunity to play I thought a good man
and to have fun.
I was looking for work, it came around,
and I got the opportunity to play in it,
and I'm so lucky to be able to participate in
such a fantasy and to hopefully entertain.
[Speaker] Right.
- I think it's just nobody expected anything,
and they got a lot more than they didn't expected.
(Sandra chuckles) - It is true.
It's just hype,
I don't play into it. (speaker laughs)
You have a good time, you hope something does well,
and, well, it does, (mumbles)
And I hope it does well for Keanu and Jan and-
- Right. - Dennis and...
- He turns it into something that's more intelligent
with a bit of emotional depth.
So he redefines the action hero
and makes him just a little bit more vulnerable,
even though he has that sort of power and energy
that all action heroes have.
Keanu!
(fans mumbling)
The nature of acting in an action picture
is very much in a sense of play.
- I really think it's play. - Did you actually put
yourself at any risk or-
- Even the dramatics part of it, it's really in of itself.
It's a good part of it.
[Narrator] Keanu proved himself
as a formidable action star in "Speed",
he followed suit with "Johnny Mnemonic" in 1995.
To many this sci-fi thriller was thought as
the foundation for the next steps in Keanu's journey.
(somber music)
The inclusion of cyberpunk elements
drove people to believe that this was a world
in which the actor seemed comfortable in,
though awards would have one believe
that Keanu remained a blank slate.
(somber music)
Keanu's name has sprung up a fair few times
in the Raspberry Awards.
Many continued to undermine his acting abilities,
whilst others saw him as merely
having his own unique methodology,
which greatly separated him
from the traditional acting world.
(somber music)
In the same year,
"A Walk in the Clouds" stood out as a unique project,
being an unconventional period romance.
Despite family traditions,
love blossoms between Reeves' character, Paul,
and Victoria, played by Aitana Sanchez-Gijon.
The film provides a unique perspective
on a Mexican family during the 1940s
and social standings.
The film gained Keanu another Raspberry nomination,
whilst many audience members
thoroughly enjoyed his performance.
Keanu's performances were divisive,
and slowly people were beginning to accept that.
(upbeat music)
Keanu came into contact with Jennifer Syme.
Jennifer was a talented actor and filmmaker
who'd worked alongside David Lynch
before directing her own projects.
The two became a couple,
undoubtedly their passion for the arts
was a talking point of their relationship.
(upbeat music)
Before long, Jennifer became pregnant in 1999,
the very year Keanu's life would change indefinitely.
(somber music)
[Speaker] Cameraman!
Cameraman Julian, just get in there
and get your shot of Keanu Reeves.
We're being promised we're next in the line,
but these things...
I think the first film that comes to mind
with Keanu Reeves is "The Matrix."
There are other roles that come to mind,
but "The Matrix" is such a distinctive role.
It's such a distinctive film, it's so iconic.
I was 11 when I first saw it,
and I remember thinking that Keanu Reeves
was probably the coolest person I'd ever seen.
The film itself has such an incredible legacy,
and has really changed the way we think about sci-fi movies,
and has become kind of part of the public lexicon now.
So that's the one for me
that I think will always stand out.
Keanu, Sky News, we're live.
Can I just ask you one more quick question, please?
What do you make of the reception,
not just here in London, but just "The Matrix" worldwide?
It's pretty extraordinary,
and it's great to be a part of.
It doesn't happen all that often.
Just for me I just, I love the films,
I had a great experience making them,
and so hopefully people will enjoy them.
And the experience of making the film was a great one.
And then the aspect when it came around
to complete the trilogy,
just signed on board without reading the scripts
'cause of just the experience that I had
and the trust I have in the directors.
And I had a great experience making
"Reloaded" and "Revolutions."
And it's great that people are coming out to the films,
and I hope that they enjoy them.
- Famously Will Smith says that one of his biggest regrets
is turning down "The Matrix",
which he turned down in favor of "Wild Wild West"
because he had a lot of doubts
about whether or not The Wachowskis would be able to
pull off the very tricky special effects.
Nicholas Cage similarly turned down the film
as well as Brad Pitt and Val Kilmer.
So it was quite a long list of names
before Keanu Reeves was the one that the script came to.
And Warner Brothers really fought quite hard for Keanu,
whereas The Wachowskis were more
interested in having Johnny Depp.
Keanu ended up being a perfect choice
because he was a little bit of a blank slate
who didn't have a huge profile at the time.
He really gave the sense of naivety
and almost openness that I think
any other actor would've probably struggled with,
but the reason the film works is
because we feel this real connection to him,
and he could be kind of anyone within the world.
He is a kind of audience surrogate who gets embroiled
in this very weird world,
and kind of has to just go along with it.
(upbeat music)
- I did all right, I got kicked a couple of times,
burst open my thumb.
And in one of the wire tricks,
I remember I got caught in a tree,
but I never really got hurt.
All in a day's work.
So "The Matrix" came out in 1999,
we have to think back then to
how early that is to have a cyber thriller, right?
A thriller about the internet
when most people were still just getting to grips
with what the internet was.
This is a whole drama based around the internet.
It also involves a lot of AI, artificial intelligence.
Again, at a time when not a lot of people
would've even known what that was.
(upbeat music)
I'm glad to be here.
I'm glad to speak about something
that I love so much.
I'm a fan of these movies,
and I had a great time making them.
They've been a huge part of my life.
- [Interviewer] Mm-hmm.
- And so to come out and travel and speak about them is
part of the gift, I guess.
I'm fine with it.
(somber music)
[Interviewer] You've done lots of really
interesting work, haven't you?
- Yeah, I've been trying. - Yeah.
- I really feel like "The Matrix" is the event,
is the piece that we all actors
and craftspeople are a part of.
So hopefully if anything's remembered,
it will be the films themselves, and we're part of that.
(upbeat music)
So it is an incredibly innovative,
and I think in a way, prophetic film.
It just broke a lot of new ground,
and opened up new cinematic worlds for audiences.
"The Matrix" is an iconic film,
partly because of its visual style
that it imagined the cyber world cinematically
at a time when a few, if any films had done that.
It's interesting to look at it now
and realize just how paranoid it is,
and how steeped in conspiracy it is,
that everything, everything we see and do is artificial,
and invented by larger structures around us
that are all out to get us.
(chuckles) They are all out to farm us, literally.
It's pretty special.
- [Speaker] Keanu, you've been a rocker in the past,
I mean how rock... Not like these guys.
(speaker laughs) - How rock and roll
do you now?
Are you still rocking it up?
No, I'm not. (speaker chuckles)
I'm going a quieter path now, more measured and quieter.
[Narrator] The fame which came to Keanu,
thanks to "The Matrix" franchise, it was immense.
Beyond the glitz and glamour, Keanu's partner, Jennifer,
gave birth to their daughter, Ava.
(somber music)
Sadly, the baby was stillborn.
The birth affected Keanu and Jennifer beyond comprehension.
The couple briefly parted ways
before reuniting once more in 2001
after dealing with the loss in their own way.
(somber music)
One's personal life can put
a great deal of strain on their career.
(somber music)
Whilst fans of Keanu could only speculate,
it was something that many felt sympathy for.
To juggle publicity and privacy is a war
Keanu seemed to avoid fighting.
His emotions were raw and could be seen in his interactions
alongside his performances.
An aura of honesty
and humbleness began to radiate from Keanu.
Something many celebrities could not demonstrate
due to being enveloped by fame,
but Keanu was a completely different entity.
"The Gift" directed by Sam Raimi
took Keanu back to a darker character,
and is regarded as one of the actor's
more unique performances.
His role as Donnie Barksdale allowed Keanu
to explore his emotional range
within a whodunit narrative.
(somber music)
- Brothers, I mean, your momma being a witch and all.
If she don't stop her evil ways,
someday somebody's gonna burn her up,
(somber music)
and then you boys are gonna be without a daddy.
I played Detective Tom Ludlow, the LAPD.
I am an officer implicated in the death
of his ex-partner who's trying to find the killers.
And along the way,
I kind of dig up more than I bargained for.
It was a great role, and working with David was great,
and I had a intense but really good experience.
The role was a reach for me,
but it was one that I really enjoyed reaching for,
and hopefully people will like it.
(somber music)
[Narrator] On April the 1st, 2001,
Jennifer Syme attended a party
at the home of Marilyn Manson.
On her approach, she was involved in a car collision,
which proved fatal.
(somber music)
The tragedy compounded with the loss of their child
was a shock of sadness to Keanu
alongside being a great moment
of realization and reflection.
Life in Keanu's eyes appeared to seem fragile.
(somber music)
In September 2009,
Keanu's philanthropic work came into the spotlight.
He began to establish "The Keanu Charles Reeves Foundation",
he desired to raise money in support of cancer research,
a need only strengthened due to his younger sister, Kim,
who had suffered from leukemia for a decade.
It was brought to the media's attention
that Keanu had also donated over 70% of his earnings
from "The Matrix" to charity
alongside continuing to donate huge sums of his purse
for causes he has deemed as necessary to back.
People had just realized one key thing,
Keanu Reeves was one in a million.
(cameraman taking photo)
In May 2010, an image cropped up
showing Keanu sitting alone at a park bench.
He was eating a sandwich,
and the internet went crazy about it.
(cameras clicking photographs)
- We're all familiar with sad. - I'm just eating a sandwich.
Sad Keanu,
a sad Keanu in right there. (audience laughs)
Man, I'm just eating
a sandwich. - This is a frame of
berserker from-(audience laughs)
Yeah. (audience applauds)
(spectator cheering) - There you go.
(audience applauds) - Okay.
Keanu Reeves has become known
for this incredible generosity,
both of spirit and kind of monetarily.
He is a big philanthropist
and is known for just helping out anyone that needs it.
That is something
that is incredibly genuine coming from Keanu.
He seems like someone who just really wants
to leave the world a better place than he found it.
One of the stories that always gets repeated is,
how much he loves stunt teams
because he makes so many action movies,
and he always buys really incredible gifts
as a thank you to all these people he works with.
He bought Ducati motorcycles for everyone on "The Matrix",
and then Rolexes for everyone on "John Wick"
because he just wants to kind of share
his success with the world. (fans cheering)
- Keanu! - Hey, Keanu!
(fan mumbling)
- There's a really lovely clip from a few years ago
where he was stranded at an airport
with a group of passengers
and was giving them a sort of impromptu tour
with some facts he found on Wikipedia.
It's population is around 380,000.
(speaker chuckles) - Wow!
- Making it the ninth most populous city in California,
and the 52nd most populous city in the nation.
We all say it, we all do it,
and I think it has meaning.
I think it's what we're going through now.
I think it's the reason
that things are all sort of a little bit uncomfortable.
- [Hannah] He is known for being a very genuine soul,
the opposite of a diva within Hollywood.
I think it's maybe too easy to say
that Keanu Reeves makes action films
and sci-fi films alone.
It's true, those are the films that have the most impact,
those are the most popular films he makes,
but he also makes a pretty wide variety of films.
He tries his hands in quite a wide range of genres.
It doesn't always work out that well,
at least in terms of the box office of the films,
but he is always trying to do something a little different.
So he makes the film "The Lake House", for example,
with Sandra Bullock, which is a very romantic film;
"Something's Gotta Give" with Diane Keaton
and Jack Nicholson, a comedy.
He is an actor who is always stretching his wings,
whether the audience takes note or not.
(somber music)
He is a very private man,
so we don't know a lot about him as a person.
He doesn't talk about his private life
or his beliefs very readily.
One senses his personality when he's on talk shows
promoting his films, his laid-back nature
when he talks about what he likes to do offscreen,
it's usually riding his motorcycle,
long, long motorcycle trips.
He's not someone who's seen on the red carpet a lot,
he's not one who's seen at openings, at nightclubs,
he's not one of those Hollywood A-list people
who is always in a tux and attending the right thing.
One gets the sense that he is this sort of
very laid-back, centered, easygoing guy,
and fans pick up on that.
I learned how to ride a motorcycle
when I was doing a film in Munich.
This young woman had an Enduro,
and I asked her if she'd teach me how to ride it.
And then when I came back to Los Angeles,
this is probably around '86, '87,
I got my first motorcycle.
When I don't ride a motorcycle,
I go through withdrawal.
It's not good for my health. (chuckles)
(somber music)
If you look around on social media a bit,
you can see various videos of him,
like when he is on the subway in New York,
people notice him giving up his seat to others,
or helping them with their luggage,
or doing all sorts of
just really kind acts of everyday behavior
that reinforce the idea
that this guy is not a slave to Hollywood glamor,
but is his own person.
(somber music)
In the 2000s, Keanu really started
to kind of experiment more,
he was doing "The Matrix" sequels,
but he was also taking on roles like John Constantine
in the adaptation of the comic books
about a man dying of cancer
who hunts down all kinds of supernatural entities.
And that's become one of the roles
that I think a lot of people still even now,
nearly 20 years later
still want him to make a sequel to that film.
(somber music)
He was also taking on roles in films like
"Something's Gotta Give" and "Thumbsucker",
which were a little bit more comedic for him.
And then he did "A Scanner Darkly",
which was Richard Linklater's
very experimental rotoscope animation film.
So I think that Keanu really started
to kind of take more risks
once he'd had the success of "The Matrix",
and to start getting involved with films
that were a little bit different for him.
- I mean, I'm trying to play different kinds of roles,
different genres, and not be typecasts, so.
I don't think you're gonna see
"The Private Lives of Pippa Lee",
and expect to see Neo or something like that.
(interviewer chuckles)
(somber music)
- Yeah, I mean, I enjoyed the physical part of acting,
(speaker laughs)
and this one certainly has that going forward.
- So yeah, it was an experience. - Thank you very-
Keanu made his directing debut
with "Man of Tai Chi" in 2013.
He really played into kind of his interest in action
and in martial arts particularly.
But there's a sense in which
he hasn't quite found his feet, or found his new role
until he makes the first "John Wick" film.
[Narrator] The loss of a loved one
was depicted beautifully by Keanu in 2014
upon the release of "John Wick."
Beyond being an impeccably well-choreographed franchise
of action filmmaking,
"John Wick" connoted an understanding of impermanence,
that suffering is merely an unavoidable part of life.
(thrilling music)
(dog barking) - You like that, huh?
- [Narrator] It is at this point where we bear witness
to this actor showing discipline,
which goes far beyond physical feats.
(thrilling music)
Keanu himself in "John Wick"
shared something in common: Loss,
as do they share the willingness to persevere.
(actors firing guns)
(thrilling music)
How good's your laundry?
No one's that good.
I thought not.
(thrilling music)
That starts a whole new franchise for him
and gives him a new identity as a more mature actor.
He is not the young teenage Kanye Reeves anymore,
he plays an action hero who cannot be defeated
no matter what you throw at him, he cannot be defeated.
"John Wick" has become one of the most
successful action franchises of all time,
and I think that it totally wouldn't work without Keanu.
And I think that a lot of that is down to
the partnership between Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski.
- And you must be very good at kung fu now as well.
I'm okay at movie kung fu.
- Okay. (chuckles) - Yeah, movie action.
Your characters,
the storyline... Your characters.
Of course, you set... Yeah.
Pieces into action.
But what's staying the same?
John Wick suffering... John Wick.
Fighting for freedom.
Always.
- Together they really care about making sure
that the "John Wick" films
are not only incredibly well crafted,
but incredibly entertaining.
Definitely the amount of effort
Keanu and Stahelski have put into casting the films
and building the world of the films,
the franchise is incredibly beloved
by action fans around the world.
But wait, we do some car stuff.
- Cars, horses, fights. - The cars are back.
- Not really horses. - Little bit of horses.
(speakers chuckling)
- But we have cars. - Lot of cars, motorcycle.
- Lot of fighting, jujitsu... Motorcycle, car.
- Judo, kung fu. - Jujitsu, judo, kung fu.
But we got some surprises in there.
- Yeah. - We got some surprises.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- They both require this incredible amount of stunt work
from Keanu who has really shown this ability
to throw himself into his work,
especially in the latest "John Wick" film
where he falls down the longest flight of stairs
in the world repeatedly and quite heavily.
(actor punching Keanu) (Keanu grunting)
He is someone who really wants to innovate
within his space and try new things,
there is a constant quality.
- So it's a curious combination of the old style
vigilante film in which the action hero is seeking justice,
but it's overlaid with a level of heartache
and vulnerability that gives the film
and the character some depth.
Well, I love the role,
and for me it was really cool
to have the response of the first film
from the audience to give us the opportunity
to tell another chapter in John's life.
I remember the first day that I was back in,
we were starting to film,
and the first time that I put the suit back on,
it was literally the same suit from chapter two,
and it still fit.
- I was always inspired by the early James Bond movies
about how they took you place
and they made you really think about the world
and place you wanna go and inspire you,
so we just wanted to do the same thing.
It's a bit of a saga, it's John Wick's story,
it's John Wick's saga.
So you get to see John Wick go through
a lot of trials and tribulations,
some great set pieces and meet some interesting people.
Yeah, the world... And then shoot them.
The character. (Chad chuckles)
I mean, you were going a little big.
[Chad] I went pretty big on this one.
- Yeah. - I wanted the world
of John Wick to feel big.
[Speaker] Is it true that there's
really gonna be a "Bill & Ted 3"?
Is it really true?
Like that's my dream come true, if so.
I can't wait to see it, man, a huge fan.
- We didn't expect to wanna make another one,
(upbeat music)
including not just Keanu and myself,
including the writers: Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon.
And I think they just kind of got inspired,
they had this idea they brought to us awhile ago,
like a good 10 years ago,
that we just thought was really hilarious
and had a lot of potential.
- Third installment, is it is on the cards, is it happening?
Maybe, yeah, they're writing a script,
Chris and Ed, so. - Mm-hmm.
We'll see if it's any good.
(upbeat music)
Not giving much away though, you just...
Well, that's all I know.
Okay? - Mm-hmm.
It's just like they've got the burden,
and why hasn't things happened,
and they're still kind of stuck in their life.
(upbeat music)
- Yeah. - Yeah.
I think it would be good.
I think we're better than good, I think it would be.
It would be ridiculous, but fun.
- But fun. - If it's good.
It would be excellent. (Keanu chuckles)
(chuckles) You are not gonna say it,
are you? (chuckles)
Not today.
Oh, I tried.
[Narrator] Some projects were deemed
more critically successful than others,
yet Keanu maintained his passion
throughout every project he was a part of.
(upbeat music)
Yeah, I was reliving it
at the same time living it.
I knew.
That gesture that you're talking about,
kind of feeling the back
and seeing if the plug is there and stuff.
There was certain moments that were intentionalized,
like, okay, so that was then, so let's do it now.
But now is different.
(somber music)
And I think Lana Wachowski, the director,
was playing with that idea of the past and the present.
- It was challenging, for sure, and exciting.
I love that physical aspect of
what it takes to play Trinity.
As challenging as it was,
just 'cause my body is so different 20 years later,
and it was a challenge that I loved it.
I loved being a part of those really physical scenes,
and especially doing them with him.
He is so masterful at it, and it's so,
I learned a lot by watching him,
and how he meets the action in such a believable language.
He has just this incredible ability
with his body to tell story.
And I learned a lot
working with him this time around watching him,
and trying to take some of it. (laughs)
Well, you nailed it. (speakers laughing)
I also like just the first time that we meet.
- Mm-hmm. - And then all of our scenes.
- Mm-hmm, it's really fun, (Keanu laughs)
it was really fun. - Really.
- Every day was really lovely to be across from him
and partnering up in that way, it was really a joy.
- In "The Matrix." - Yeah.
(somber music)
[Narrator] Animation became a new stone
for Keanu to overturn.
His appearances in "Toy Story 4"
alongside "SpongeBob" and "League of Super-Pets"
resulted in some fantastic vocal deliveries,
and often material which would later become a meme template.
The memes, of course, were a way of honoring the actor,
not to belittle him.
(somber music)
Keanu, thanks to his earthly persona,
had tapped into a new generation of audience,
which has embraced him for who he is.
(somber music)
To a lot of people, Keanu appears as a source of comfort
and hope in this turbulent world.
His calmness and enjoyment of the simple things in life
is how many others wish for themselves to live.
(somber music)
I think audiences have always enjoyed
seeing Keanu Reeves offscreen
because when they see him,
he's not doing the normal Hollywood things,
and he comes across as a genuine laid-back person
who has a life quite separate
from his star power and his incredible earnings.
He must be one of the best paid actors in Hollywood,
but he seems like someone who just likes
riding around on his motorcycle.
And when he is on talk shows, he's very self-deprecating,
and doesn't have any of the self-importance
that a lot of Hollywood actors bring.
So I think people see something genuine
and genuinely laid-back in him that's very appealing.
And they've seen that from the beginning,
from his earliest films through to his latest films.
So one of the most intriguing things I've heard him say
about his future is that he'd like to play King Lear.
And I'm not sure whether he meant
that on stage or on screen,
but I think it would be a great part for him.
I think he looks like Lear now.
John Wick (chuckles) looks like Lear.
And I think it would be a great way for him
to stretch his wings further as an actor.
(somber music)
For over 30 years, Reeves has really had
this incredibly varied career,
which is defined by these really intense action roles
that he has managed to make his own,
and he's really got this kind of bravery
I think as a performer where he's been knocked down by life,
by bad reviews, by bad box office reception,
but he's always kind of got back up.
His impact is really reshaping
what it means to be a leading man,
and also what it means to be a successful actor,
and to how you should take bad reviews as an actor.
His parlance of his online persona,
or certainly his outside of film persona
with on-screen performances, especially in John Wick,
has become incredibly unique
and something that we're going to see
influencing the next generation of actions stars.
(somber music)
Well, I don't think he'll be remembered
primarily as an actor in the sense that we remember,
say Laurence Olivier or Marlon Brando
as an actor.
And I don't think he'll be remembered as the kind of star
that Tom Cruise is, or George Clooney is,
someone where we know a lot about their private life,
and we feel their presence
in the film,
the presence of their personality in the film.
I think he'll be remembered in terms of the screen,
in terms of his acting,
as someone who really changed the action genre
and brought a new kind of figure into it,
a more thoughtful, a more emotionally complex,
less macho action figure.
I think that'll be a key part of his legacy.
And the other part will be
someone who managed to be a star
and a top earning star for decades
without taking on any of the trappings of glamor
or scandal or self-importance
that so many other Hollywood stars have.
(upbeat music)
[Narrator] Keanu Reeves is far and away
one of the more unconventional actors.
(upbeat music)
His ability to have his spirit seep into the roles
he undertakes is remarkable.
He has experienced so much in his lifetime.
Though he deservedly remains a private person,
he has shown the world his kindness,
his generosity and appreciation
for what others might perceive as mundane.
There is no doubt that Keanu is a beacon for many people
who have experienced similar events in their own life.
It is the acceptance of our flaws
and the willingness to continue,
which Keanu has gifted to the people.
(upbeat music)
[Stephen] What do you think happens
when we die, Keanu Reeves?
(audience laughs)
(Keanu sighs)
- I know that the ones who love us will miss us.
- Ah! - Aw!
(audience applauds)
(upbeat music)