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Interview Interview Back to The Matrix There’s always been an otherwordly aura to Keanu Reeves, writes Harold von Kursk. When he first emerged as one of the film industry’s rising young stars with the release of Speed and Point Break, audiences were drawn to his ethereal features, as much as his quixotic persona or much of his 20s and 30s, We can all appreciate his passion, “They occupy different worlds, Right: Keanu Reeves and Neo Keanu Reeves preferred his grief, and his struggle with his obviously, but they share a sense will return to cinemas in the Fto live in L.A.’s exclusive suffering. They’re basic elements of destiny and mission. I also much-anticipated Matrix 4 Chateau Marmont Hotel rather of the human condition.” identify with the kind of state of than buy a place of his own. He When the first John Wick mind of being they’re seeking. popular imagination. The epic was noted for being a loner, often movie was released to modest One of my favourite moments ➤ foray into sci-fi metaphysics was spotted reading books in isolated commercial success in 2014, in The Matrix comes when the propelled by Reeves’ mesmerising cafés or riding his motorcycle at Reeves was considered box-office head of the Machines, the Deus presence as Neo, a transcendental breakneck speeds along Sunset poison following the disastrous Ex Machina, asks Neo what he warrior doing battle in a universe Boulevard. And even after The performance of his martial arts is really seeking, and Neo that has frightening parallels to Matrix film trilogy turned him into sagas, 47 Ronin and Man of Tai answers, “Peace”. simulation theory as opposed to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Chi. Today, with three Wick films “That’s a very beautiful the mindless pablum of Reeves remained a supremely under his belt and two more moment and John Wick is also, superhero-driven action films. enigmatic figure. scheduled to be filmed back-to- in his own way, trying to restore Reeves, still youthful-looking Over the past decade, he has back this Autumn, Reeves has the sense of peace he had before at 56 albeit a bit weathered at taken his melancholy image to the found a way to reconnect with that got taken away from him. the edges, was excited by the next level with the success of the a new generation of fans. I believe in that kind of search prospect of reviving a character John Wick film franchise. His Perhaps it’s only fitting that – that concept that we can that still resonates deeply within laconic, brooding portrayal of Reeves is about to return as Neo, achieve peace in some form. him. “When you get to revisit Wick, a retired assassin struggling arguably one of the most iconic I love films that speculate on a story you’re bringing in the to find meaning in an indifferent characters in movie history, meaning and I love being able past and the other work you’ve universe, has marked the with the release of Matrix 4 this to step into that kind of done,” he explains. beginning of a remarkable career December. Shot in Berlin and questioning, troubled outlook “So returning to The Matrix renaissance. The Canadian actor San Francisco last year on an on the world.” is revisiting the interior emotional also believes that he has found estimated budget of $100m, the Although films such as Point state of your character and when a soulmate in his implacable film is one of the most highly Break, My Own Private Idaho, you put on that character’s screen alter ego. “I love this anticipated projects of the The Gift, and A Scanner Darkly costume [that brings] the exterior character,” Reeves says. post-pandemic era. The first will always rank amongst his best and then you just feel it.” “John gets beaten up, thrown three Matrix movies earned work, nothing can compare to the Interestingly, Neo’s familiar through windows, run over – a combined $1.7bn and the impact of the Matrix trilogy on the black cloak has influenced but nothing stops him. He added bankability that Reeves Reeves’s own personal fashion keeps getting back up every has gained with his Wick films is tastes. When promoting his films time he’s knocked down and I a factor Warner Bros. is counting “I LOVE FILMS THAT in public, he always wears a black love his will and how he’s able on to reboot the franchise. SPECULATE ON MEANING suit and tie that could well have to recover and keep on going Reeves sees several AND I LOVE BEING ABLE been taken from John Wick’s TO STEP INTO THAT which is a metaphor, even if it’s interesting parallels between KIND OF QUESTIONING, wardrobe. The actor lets out exaggerated, of how we are Wick and Neo, and identifies TROUBLED OUTLOOK a small chuckle when asked ON THE WORLD.” all faced with daily challenges but with their similar sets of KEANU REEVES about his minimalist attire. we find ways to overcome them – philosophical preoccupations. “Black is very stylish. It doesn’t ➤ 14 Upward Curve July-September 2021 July-September 2021 Upward Curve 15 Interview draw attention and when I’m wearing black suits it definitely “BIKES HAVE BEEN PART influences how I behave. But in OF MY LIFE EVER SINCE movies like The Matrix – which kind I WAS 22 AND WORKING ON A MOVIE IN MUNICH. of set a trend I guess – and John I MET THIS GIRL WHO WAS Wick, there’s this mournful quality. RIDING THIS INCREDIBLE There’s also something priestly to KAWASAKI ENDURO” black. I don’t know...” KEANU REEVES The primary thread linking the two franchises however is the predominance of elaborate want anyone else doing the fight martial arts sequences. It’s not a scenes, and I still do virtually all coincidence that the John Wick of (the fighting). franchise was developed by “The only problem is that David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, you’re very sore and stiff the next stunt coordinators who had day because you’re older and less previously worked with Reeves flexible. I can’t jump as high as on The Matrix films. Keanu was I used to, but I think my overall intrigued by the prospect of extending the tradition of the fortunate” to have had three John technique... is at a much higher stylised fight sequences that were Wick films under his belt prior to level now and I still get a kick out Above: Keanu Reeves in the pioneered by Asian action movies having been called back to action of doing those scenes. I’ve also 2009 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race and principally those directed by in Matrix 4 last year. had some greater teachers to get Below: Reeves with Sandra John Woo and starring Jet Li. At 6’1”, he has been working me to where I needed to be. It’s Bullock at the 2006 Oscars Reeves confesses to being “very with elite personal trainer Patrick a lot of fun.” Murphy ever since he began Although the films are steeped preparing for the original John in violence, Reeves was much Wick film that was released in more interested in probing Wick’s 2014. Keanu has also been sense of isolation and existential obliged to immerse himself in the despair that follows the murder of various martial arts forms that are his wife and gnaws away at him part of Wick’s special set of skills. over the course of the series. films. Despite the physical toll it Reeves is far more focused takes on his body – “I’m not in and reflective than commonly my 30s anymore” – Reeves has assumed. The early perception always been willing to put in the of him as an airhead following his kinds of intense, six to eight-hour turn in Bill and Ted’s Excellent training days for several months Adventure could not be further at a time in order to execute the from the truth. His self-absorbed intricately choreographed hand- nature is one of the quizzical to-hand combat sequences that attributes that inform his various lend the John Wick films their screen personae. He is quick to mystique. “When we set out to do dispel all the rumours about his the first film we wanted to achieve supposed love of self-isolation and that look of creating something hermit-like ways: “I’ve never tried visually stunning and unique to disappear from the world. I love where we would give audiences being able to tell stories and be these highly choreographed fight very active these days. I feel very sequences. John Wick synthesises lucky to be able to have some a lot of influences... it’s American success again with these films.” muscle cars, it’s pistols, it’s Nonetheless, social media’s machine guns, it’s judo, it’s gloomy take on Reeves has been jiu-jitsu, there’s grappling fuelled by several personal techniques and chokeholds... tragedies that have impacted his I can still hack it, though, I don’t life. His younger sister Kim, with ➤ July-September 2021 Upward Curve 17 Interview I was 22 and working on a movie in Munich, explains Reeves. I met this girl who was riding this incredible Kawasaki Enduro and I asked her if she could teach me to ride. Every break between shooting on the set I would take the bike out for a ride and I’ve loved the sense of speed and freedom it gives you.

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