Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi, opens today.
In 1987, the year Reeves first started hitting his stride, the year following “River’s Edge”, he was profiled in “Interview” magazine, as one of many rising stars (along with Johnny Depp, Robin Wright, and others). The profiles consisted of brief quotes from each person, and Reeves’ reads as follows:
“You know my favorite role? Mercutio – you know, in Romeo and Juliet – ’cause he’s so full of passion and wisdom and anger. I don’t know. I just live out here in L.A., man. Been out here two years from Toronto. L.A.’s a twisted place. It’s a varied animal. I guess it’s like free ways. Get it? Two words. I don’t know. Nothing’s for free, huh?”
There it is, the Reeves thing, that stilted earnest quality, that odd grace, on display everywhere throughout his career, and on display in spades in “Man of Tai Chi”. I loved it.
