I was watching a Scanner Darkly with my brother yesterday, and he commented on how he thinks that Keanu Reeves is the worst actor ever. I almost agreed, then decided not to agree. Then I changed my mind, but then I changed my mind again.
On one hand, his acting chops: not so great.
On the other hand, the movies he's been in: pretty super fantastic awesome great.
Now I know what most people would say, "Well, that has more to do with him having a bomb ass agent/manager than anything." I would almost agree with that, except I thought about how the role of Neo was orignally turned down by Will Smith. Smith is a much MUCH better actor than Keanu, fine. Though a Will Smith movie becomes exactly that, a Will Smith movie. It wouldn't be just plain old The Matrix.
Reeves is just ok enough an actor to not ruin a film, but not so good that he's distracting. He's the perfect blank canvas with which to tell a grand story. He's a coat of primer paint.
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