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Today’s turtle start is the one and only Zen master Keanu Charles Reeves. Reeves is a Canadian actor who has been in the film game for over four decades. He has done it all and many publications have ranked him as one of the greatest actors of the 21st century. Whoa. Reeves started his career in television, but his breakthrough role has to be part of the crazy duel of Bill & Ted or maybe it is Speed. Reeves is one of the best in the game and his gentle voice makes everyone feel at peace. Let’s give it up for the incredible turtle star, Keanu Reeves.
Neo/Thomas Anderson – The Matrix franchise (1999-2021)
“I am the One.” Reeves was excellent as the One aka Neo aka Thomas Anderson in the Wachowski’s groundbreaking, visionary film The Matrix. Reeves embodied Neo and had us on the edge of our seat as he navigated the new world with Morpheus, Trinity and others against the machines. The fighting scene with Morpheus was excellent but the bullet shooting scene was AWESOME. This film helped Reeves hit a whole new level of stardom. Whoa.
John Wick – John Wick franchise (2014-2023)
Reeves found a new level and renaissance with his career with the entire John Wick franchise. These films are amazing, hardcore and great storytelling with Reeves leading the way as the lead character. As John Wick aka the Boogeyman aka Baba Yaga, Reeves kicks ass and takes no names. His gun shooting skills and being a straight up badass is fun to watch. When they killed his dog, homeboy destroyed an entire assassination criminal empire and made it look like another day in the office. This film showed how determined a character can be and Reeves made sure he made this role iconic.
LAPD Officer Jack Traven – Speed (1994)
This was the film that made me notice Reeves. I saw this film before Bill & Ted and even Dracula. Reeves was at the top of the action star game with this role as the calm Jack Traven in this high stake’s bus ride. Reeves goes against Dennis Hopper’s character who has rigged a bus to blow up if it falls below 50 mph. This film also has Reeves helping out a young Sandra Bullock who must keep the bus going.
Ted “Theodore” Logan – Bill & Ted franchise (1989-2020)
Starring alongside Alex Winter, Reeves is funny as Ted in the Bill & Ted franchise. This might be one of his most memorable earlier roles of his career. Starting off in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, it is a fun story through time as the two airhead rockers needs to pass their history presentation or the future will be destroyed forever. You wonder how the pair are the hope of humanity, but the film is funny. The first film is the best as Reeves seems to have fun rocking out and meeting famous people but questioning who they are.
Bob Arctor/ “Fred” /Bruce – A Scanner Darkly (2006)
This film is freakin trippy. Reeves joins an ensemble cast with Roberty Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson and Winona Ryder. This is a sci-fi drama where Reeves plays Bob Arctor, an undercover agent who is tasked with finding distributors of a new drug called Substance D that really messes with the mind. Reeves is all over the place in a good way because he shows how messed up and mind-altering this drug is as his character descends further into addiction. Reeves seems to be at home and so in control in this crazy film.
John Constantine – Constantine (2005)
A film that deserves a sequel, Reeves plays the chain smoking, detective who is trying everything he humanly can to buy his way back into heaven. I’ve read the film wasn’t close to the source material but I’m not judging it. Reeves does more than enough to bring this character to life as he tries to figure out what the spawn of Satan is up to after the death of a twin. Reeves is the OG in this role and deserves some mad respect as people want a sequel.
Johnny Utah – Point Break (1981)
This film was good, over-the-top and was right up Reeves alley in his young career. A must watch if you are a Keanu Reeves fan. Starring in a Katheryn Bigelow film, Reeves plays Utah, sounds like a football name, an undercover cop looking for a group of robbers who wear the Presidents’ mask to rob banks. Reeves is great as he does the surfer thing while hanging out with late Patrick Swayze. There is some spiritual with the ocean and life and Reeves performance worked all the way around.
Shadow the Hedgehog – Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
I remember when Shadow first came out in the Sonic universe and I thought he was such a badass. Reeves lends his voice to the red-stiped, black, cool as hell, ass-whippin anthropomorphic hedgehog. Reeves’ voice is perfect for this character as he has a calm, serious voice as he looks for revenge against those who hurt him. Reeves voice is the perfect counter to the high energy of Sonic. You can tell that Reeves played the Sonic games to get a spot on voice for the character.
Kevin Lomax – The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
What better way to wonder about the world than roll with the devil. Reeves plays Kevin Lomax, a cocky, win at any cost Florida attorney. Lomax wins a controversial case when he is suddenly offered a job of a lifetime from John Milton, a high and overseeing attorney in New York City. This film pairs Reeves with the awesome scene stealing Al Pacino. Reeves holds his own in this thrilling tale of good vs. evil.
Jonathan Harker – Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
I believe that some of our worst moments are our best learning experiences. Reeves was cast as Jonathan Harker in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic tale. He was severely out acted by Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins. Was this Reeves’ best work? Nope, but he learned from it because who else gets to star alongside Hopkins and Oldman. This role still helped Reeves develop his craft and become one of the best actors in the world now.
