Before "Speed" Keanu wasn't even a blip on my radar screen.
Afterwards I developed a "scorched earth" policy, unearthing all things Keanu. I ran out of sources by October, just in time for the release of "Speed" on video. I bided my time for the next release: AWITC. And then...oh my God! they postponed it...and then postponed it again...until August, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII. It felt like 50 years just waiting for the movie. I remember driving to another state to see the two minute preview for AWITC because a friend told me she saw it at a particular theater with the movie "Losing Isaiah". I paid admission, watched the preview, and left. I was desperate for anything new on Keanu.
Meantime, JM struck on Memorial weekend. But that's another post....
I know a lot of fans who came into fandom with AWITC. It was number two at the box office, losing out to Michelle Pfeiffer's "Dangerous Minds." I wanted it to be a big hit like "Speed" and erase the box office disaster of "JM." It went on to make $50 million and was listed as a hit in EW because of its low budget. But its always listed as one of Keanu's failures by reviewers. And they went after his jugular in the reviews. He got stomped, kicked, lashed, slashed, and skewered big time. What were they looking at? The only major review I could actually read without assuming a fetal position was Roger Ebert's.
Keanu was on tour with Dogstar and had to take a break from his cross-country adventure to arrive at the Premiere looking completely disshelved. I remember the look of shock on reporters' faces as he ran past them, and then saundered back with hands in his pockets, taking questions.
One of my favorite interviews was with Bob Goen from ET interviewing Keanu from the set of AWITC. Keanu's response "do you want me to touch you?" to Goen's story that women at his office were gushing over him was priceless! Keanu blushed. Very cute. I loved the interviews he did with the Napa Valley backdrop, sitting in a chair, fighting allergies, and answering questions in an unguarded manner. He was refreshingly honest and open. I miss those interviews.
AWITC is eye candy to me. Everything about it reminds me of an escape from realism. Look how it starts: out of all those men getting off the ship, Keanu is the only one left standing on the map of Oklahoma. Yeah, right. And the wife choosing Armisted Knox over Paul Sutton? What was SHE thinking? And what about Paul Sutton? He's not like any man I know past the first month of a relationship. Its a movie less about characterization and plot, and more about imagery: the first sight of Las Nubes, the butterfly wings, the grape-crushing scene, the fire, the kiss, the bulging biceps pulling the original rootstock out of the ground in a sooty white T-shirt.
Hm...Hm...
Where was I? Two of my favorite Keanu scenes are in AWITC: the serenade and the drunken rehearsal with Don Pedro which preceded it. During the filming of AWITC Keanu was playing hockey with friends and got hit in the mouth, requiring stitches. The next day he had to film the sexually-charged welcome home visit to his wife. This scene was very "hot" in the book, written by Deborah Chiel, based on the screenplay. Because of Keanu's injury, there was no kiss between husband and wife. I guess it left me wanting something more. And that's how I remember AWITC: sweet, but it needed more substance.
Okay, I saw 'A Walk in the Clouds' with my mom and when I asked: "How did you like it?", she replied: "Well, the cinematography is great". And she was really mad when the movie wasn't nominated for Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards.
Apart from the cinematography, I have to say that what I liked about the movie was the fact that it was a simple love story, with some tacky dialogue, but that you can pay attention and have fun. No sex scenes, no boobs, no cursing and no violence.
Keanu singing in Spanish was a bit awkward. He just seemed to be a bit lost - of course, he doesn't really know spanish. I can't blame him. However, he can play someone nice without being corny, a person that even after all he's been through in the war, can just search for the needed answers to get on with his new life and be happy.
Unfortunately, it was one of the last roles I see Keanu relaxed, in peace with himself. It is hard to explain, but he oozes a certain "I like doing this. I really do." in some scenes (like the crushing of the grapes and harvesting scenes). I miss this.
I remember very well a behind the scenes special where he was doing some Stanislavsky exercises with Alfonso Arau and he was sobbing and crying. Desperate. He was w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l. Amazing. Really. And let me say one thing: I know that exercise. It is NOT EASY. To pull of a truthful performance, to let it all out like that, cry and, in a way, lose it, in a room full of people and a video camera... It's something for very few people. I sincerely wanted to clap. (And I did. I got up, alone and clapped.) At moments like that, I fall in love him him all over again. No one can do the things he does....
Anyway, Aitana Sanchéz-Gijon is good, not falling into the mexican soap-opera acting style, Anthony Quinn seems to be having a ball with the whole movie experience, from making to his co-stars and his character and though Alfonso Arau lost the magical touch from 'Like Water to Chocolate' (read the novel, it's amazing), he still can deliver a beautiful film. And, of course, the cinematography is--well, let me just say: the Academy didn't do the right thing (as always).
Posted by: Bea on August 1, 2002 01:01 PMmy dear lord...this is just great...i even have a big poster of the movie...there`s not much i can say about it cause it just left me speachless ...you know Bea...you`re kinda right `bout what you said...the sad look in keanu`s eyes lately...i don`t know...maybe we haven`t been paying attention till know and that`s his look....anyhow, he`s just incredible...and i just love him anyway:>...may he never change
Posted by: Cristina on March 15, 2003 09:50 AMO.K, I admit (though not to many), that when it comes to movies, I'm kind of a sucker for romance, and a happy ending...I loved this movie...the script was sort of 'corny' at times though, wouldn't you say? But it doesn't matter, because the story of love, and family, and honour more than made up for it. Now, I find myself fantasising about living in as beautiful a place as Las Nubes one day...I'd never want to leave, the cinematography was absolutely amazing, and the characters were beautifully played, by such a talented cast. The feeling of culture, and family came through quite strongly. The Mexican/Spanish culture, that was portrayed in the movie was so vibrant, and exciting to watch...much like my own culture (Pacific Island). Keanu was pretty gorgeous though wasn't he? Aitana was beautiful, and both characters did well in making this movie one of the great Love stories in film.
Later...OX!!
Posted by: JAX on April 14, 2003 11:27 PMThis is the movie that made me a fan of Keanu's. I was intrigued by the trailer about a time that still held such hope amid so much destruction following WWII. I admit to being a sucker for movies with strong themes of family, values and love. I am not surprised that the Family Channel runs this movie so often.
The cinematography and score were beyond enchanting and made you overlook the sometimes lackluster dialogue. I truly enjoyed watching Anthony Quinn and Keanu in scenes together, they seemed to enjoy being in each other's company and that dymanic added so much to the story.
Yes, Keanu was totally hot, even surrounded by subdued earthtones and smoky light - he was magic!
He seems to always look for the "goodness" in the core of the characters he plays and build upon that "core" and he found it with Paul Sutton. I remember reading in a an interview that Keanu said that he was influenced by some of Gary Cooper's performances of that era and he attempted to bring that out in his characterization of Paul.
This movie is on my personal list for top ten love stories of all time!
Posted by: Sande on September 2, 2003 06:17 PMSo romantic. I'm romantic too. That's because I like it. Little words but with big meaning. I love you, Tiger.
Posted by: Yetzenia on December 13, 2003 08:29 PMI know I have been looking at K too long when I can see at a glance that his face has been "flipped" on the poster.
Posted by: Bethanie on January 1, 2004 09:08 AMwat perfect eybrows!
Posted by: ~*HaNnY*~ on March 4, 2004 11:49 AMchanged my mind,perfect everything!
Posted by: ~*HaNnY*~ on March 4, 2004 11:49 AM