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Can he or can’t he? : Keanu Reeves

Posted on October 4, 2009 Written by ripitup

I have been a fan of Keanu Reeves ever since I saw Speed. I guess it is not a surprise, since he became the ultimate name for box office hits after that exciting action flick. But he is not simply an action hero. Yeah, he has fought and kicked as in Point Break, Speed, the Matrix triology and Street Kings. He has done somes spooky thrillers: He has been the villain; a psycho serial killer in The Watcher and somewhat the victim in The Devil’s Advocate. He has done his share of independent movies. He has proven to be good at romantic roles. Have you seen “A Walk in the Clouds” or “The Lake House“. Oh of course we have Sweet November on the sappy side. He has also played a male hustler, sleeping with men and claiming to be heterosexual; and hence not returning the affections and love of his best friend/fellow hustler friend. So here we have a guy who has taken on a variety of roles, in a vast variety of genres. Yet there are many people who find his acting flat and his facial expressions limited. Well, I am in the group that thinks Keanu is a talented actor. Sure it must have helped that he is handsome in an exotic way-being born to a Chinese/Hawaiian father and an English mother and all that. But you do not get his career without talent and hard work.

He has had some disappointments in his career. Not all his movies got the same good reaction. He has had his first TV appearance when he was 20. Keanu has been on screen for 25 years n0w. Yep, he is 45 now. He keeps up the interesting and challenging roles. He doesn’t mind taking smaller parts. And I have been following his movies. The movies aren’t all perfect. But they are never dull.

Yet he has another quality that admire. I don’t really see that much of him in the press. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading about actors. I love seeing their pictures, the latest news on their movies and it never hurts to see the lovely houses they live in. But I don’ t really care that much about who they date. Sure, it is interesting to see the couplings they form and all that. After all, it is fun to see beautiful people hooking up with beautiful people. But it gets really annoying when it is in your face all the time. I am so sick of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. It is like you can’t escape them. But I never knew that much about Keanu’s private life.Not even close. And I’m pretty happy about this. He is an actor. His on-screen chemistry with his co-star is a much bigger deal. The scripts he picks, the roles he takes on, the stunts he does himself…Now, those are the stuff. He is an actor. And I think even the fact that people are arguing over his acting ability rather than who he dates and how long he dates her is better. It is much more relevant.

Yes, I think he is gorgeous. Yes, I think he can act. Here are some suggestions to test my statements:

1) Speed- for action

2) A Walk in the Clouds- for some old-fashioned romance

3) The Watcher– watch out for his bad guy.

Well, if we are still not on the same page, it is ok. Because even if you think he is not a good actor, you have loved at least a couple of his movies. He has provided good entertainment. For 25 years. And that’s something to admire…

Keanu Reeves young — Keanu Reeves- really young

Keanu Reeves and Robin Wright Penn in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. 2009.

All Posts on Keanu Reeves and his movies

Keanu Reeves Trivia 101

The Watcher Movie Review

Something’s Gotta Give Movie Review

Lake House Movie Review

Lovely and Weird: “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee”

Actor Musicians and Musician Actors: Keanu Reeves, Jon Bon Jovi and Keanu Reeves

Brad Pitt or Keanu Reeves?

A Walk in The Clouds movie review

6 Celebrities That Aged Well

Top 5 Movie Endings- featuring The Devil’s Advocate info

Patrick Swayze is dead…

Posted on September 15, 2009 Written by ripitup

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Setting a news page as my homepage was a bad idea. I wake up, turn on my computer and bam! Something awful greets me. Today the first news I got was about Patrick Swayze’s death. I knew he had cancer and things weren’t looking good and everything; but I was really hoping that he would beat it. He didn’t and I am just one of the fans he left behind. You see, Patrick was one of the first actors I saw on big screen. My parents took me to see Dirty Dancing when I was 3 years old. Of course I don’t remember that but my out-going,dance-addicted, rock-n-roll loving nature and my soft spot for men who can dance, look good in jeans and leather- and are manly; yet still have that romantic nature- definitely developed thanks to that movie. Oh yes, Patrick’s character Johnny Castle ruined a lot of girls forever. He was hunky, had an amazing voice both speaking and singing- (songs he has written and performs are featured in the film). He was loyal to the girl he fell for her and well, he was cool!!! He was my fav. Johnny and I still take him over Johnny Depp and any of his characters anytime.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

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How many times have you seen this movie? I don’t remember but I never get tired of it. It’s not just about the romance. It is the fantasy of the sexy holiday fling and the even sexier concept of dirty dancing. It feels great. I used it to seduce, to be seduced, to pick up the boy I like…I use it to have fun when out with friends and to have a laugh. I do it at home to exercise and have helluva lot of fun doing it…I love the music, the time it represents…

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I don’t care how subjective it is going to sound but I’m going to have to refer to Jennifer Grey as the luckiest bitch of the 80s. Yes, of course I’m jealous that she starred in two movies with Patrick. But look at Dirty Dancing. Look at her, and the theme of the movie. She is not exactly one of the prettiest stars. I am not saying she was miscast, she definitely looked the part she was playing: innocent, idealistic (even bordering on naive), romantic. She was average looking and the fact that Johnny fell for her, is like the ultimate fairy tale. But I love dancing. And she got to dance with Johnny- and I am underlining this fact because Patrick is the dancer son of a dancer mother; married to a dancer. I would love to have been in Jennifer’s shoes…

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Oh yes: all my identities are deadly jealous of Jennifer: the dreamer/ the wannabe actress/dancer/movie-maker/writer/the woman…

And then..Ghost!!! You have seen Ghost. You must have had.

GHOST (1990)

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This is the story of Sam: A guy who loves his girlfriend (Demi Moore) but isn’t so great at expressing it. One day he is murdered by his best friend and remains existing as a ghost…Sam’s journey includes the things he does to try to adapt his form, the funny adventure he has to with the nutty medium (Whoopy Goldbeg) and the obstacles to protect his girlfriend- and of course the obstacles that get in his way. It is very funny and deeply emotional. If you can’t hear,touch or see someone how can you convince someone you exist?

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He has done other good stuff too that I enjoyed. He makes a wonderful, adrenaline-junkie bad guy: Point Break. The movie is one of my favorite action flicks. Keanu Reeves is the good guy, Patrick is the bad guy. Patrick’s team robs banks wearing president masks, right after the surfing season ends. Keanu learns how to surf and pretends to be one of the guys,as a required by F.B.I.

POINT BREAK (1991)

Sure, he had critically acclaimed roles in critically acclaimed movies. But these three, and especially the first two- are owned by him.

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I met Johnny Castle first. And I am still in love with both the movie and the character of Johnny. It is the type of movie most guys hate, the type of movie that has such a sexy male character that boys you know in real life are intimidated. Man seem like kids. When you meet guys who can not dance, you think “What the…?”…

Dancer,actor, singer… Patrick Swayze will always remain as that gorgeous guy who stole your heart when you were a teen and yet still remained as one of biggest crushed. You can grow out of a lot of things, but Patrick is not one of them.

Rest in peace. We miss you already.

It’s all about sales, dammit!

Posted on September 2, 2009 Written by ripitup

image: http://www.reiq.com.au/assets/Shop/Products/BookClub/Selling_is_Everyones_Business.jpg

I have never been interested in becoming a sales person, not directly. However, being the force behind the sales is intriguing, such as in advertising. After graduation, I started working at a consultancy firm. The premise sounded fun enough: The firm specialized in consulting people on language schools, universities, master degrees and certificate programs in different countries. It required interaction with people from all over the world and I loved that aspect. Yet, I also had to talk to people who came to the office and try to sell them the programs. Some programs were really promising and I wanted to join them myself, so I had no problem bragging about them. But some programs and most potential customers made my life really boring. The job also required mind-numbing data entry and worse, customer follow-up. You see, I don’t like to follow-up. When I am the customer, I hated to be followed up on. I believe that if people liked your pitch, they will come to you. I also believed non-aggressive pitching would make us even more distinguished since all our competitors looked downright desperate. But the boss man had other ideas. So I got bored and took off.

Then I got another job. A freelance, totally likable job. The title is customer relations/business development. The requirement though? I still had to talk to customers and potential customers-face to face and/or on the phone and persuade them to use our services. What at first sounded like a piece of cake, turned out to be a challenge since the customers have apparently turned into arrogant asses over the year. The results in the end weren’t worth the effort so we stopped the project all together.

image from: http://irrationalayush.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/sales-fail.jpg

Do you like sales? I am not asking if you like shopping during the sales seasons. Do you like the concept of selling? Do you like people stopping you every few meters to ask you questions about a new product/service or a reminder of a beloved organization and asking for donations? Do you enjoy being “stalked” by the seller, the persistence, the incapability to leave you alone; or do you just like it when they give you the space you need?

Shopping/buying can be a pain in the ass. But the funny thing is whether you like sales or not, whether you work as a salesperson or not- you have to sell somethings throughout your life and you have to do it constantly. Oh, I am pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to survive at the cash register at a supermarket. And I am sure life at any sort of box-office wouldn’t be fun unless you enjoy the interaction with people. But not only shopping assistants or street vendors sell. Not only telemarketers try to convince you to spend money.

selling yourself — Funny. But this is how the world works.

If you are in public relations, you are after selling a good image. The public is your audience.Your clients rely on you to develop the relationship. So you have to sell yourself to the client, to make them pay for your services.If you are in advertising, you need to sell your company and your campaigns. Oh-if you are not working in a service or product related business/shop/store, you still have to work your butt off trying to sell yourself.

Business, Engineering, IT…Whatever career you have picked, you need a CV and/or a portfolio. Then you can send it to your potential employer and then maybe get an interview. And then maybe get the job.

You might be a creative artist. Your job gets tougher. You need to go out there, make connections, send out sample, write beautifully crafted letters so that maybe,just maybe they will like your stuff and give you a chance.

It never ends. After all these years, all those box office hits, all those big shot actors and musicians are still out there, still selling themselves. Tours, premiers, award shows, interviews…All designed to sell the movie/record..whatever. If Keanu Reeves needs to sell his work, I guess I should shut up and stop complaining, right? Well, at least we LOVE what they are selling.

Keanu Reeves in The Lake House — Keanu has been in the industry for over 20 years. Yes, he is so rich he owns an island. But he still promotes his work. But hey, I love his line of work.

image from: celebritywonder.com

Allure of the Older Guy: Pierce Brosnan, Keanu Reeves, Andrew McCarthy and Andy Garcia

Posted on June 3, 2009 Written by ripitup

Don’t panic. I don’t mean older as in old. I have tendency to be attracted to good-looking men in their thirties and sometimes 40s even ( Banderas, Reeves,Bonjovi…40s are the new 30s, lookswise and lifestyles).(mind you, I am in my mid-20s). And I have to admit I still fail to see Brosnan as too old. A couple of years ago, in his mid 50s he still looked great. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Pierce Brosnan is in his 50s. He looks much better than he did in his 30s. Of course I am talking about certain type. Fun, funny, confident, modest, not afraid to kick as and a true romantic at heart. I hate the word old-fashioned, yet when it comes to romance,the guy who can pull it off, just scores big on the sexiness chart. But the thing is it has to be passionate and heart-felt and in no way pretentious.

keanu at 44,Street Kings — Keanu at 44 in Street Kings. Great movie, good acting and...He looks so ugly, doesn't he?;)

Andrew Mccarthy plays this billionaire in Lipstick Jungle where he sends cars and jets and pulls out all the stunts, to take her to a date. He can afford it and he enjoys it. But here is the thing, attraction kicks money’s ass. For me,at least. So trust me I pick a gorgeous yet struggling 25 year old over the old and unattractive guy any time. But here is the thing: this character Andrew is playing- is cool.

Andrew McCarthy as Joe Bennet, Lipstick jungle. Shame the show had only 2 seasons. It was a lot of fun to watch and Andrew had that charm that almost reminded me of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

Charismatic. Funny. And pretty cute. He does look good in his suit—and I happen to label suits as turn offs so many times! So it is the jokes and the voice and the smile and, get ready- he is there for the girl. Bingo!!! Ad trust me I have seen Andrew in movies where he was 20 something and he was not half as attractive.
My friend couldn’t have been more indifferent to Andy Garcia (not his acting she was just not into his looks), yet after watching one particular movie- she would’t mind kissing the character he was portraying. He is what? 39 in that movie? An ex gangster with a conscience? Suits and no jeans?

Andy at 39, ten things to do in denver when you are dead — Andy Garcia. Smooth. Very smooth. In case you are wondering, it is a really neat film.

Andy Garcia,ten things to do in denver when you are dead

But then the way he picked the girl he became besotted with…He might have said some cheesy stuff but it is the voice, and the way he looks at girl,how he means what he says: that he may not be able to take her breath away, but he will try. Honesty, charm and more charm. Not to mention sincere and funny. She was so intrigued, she agreed on a date despite having a boyfriend. The date was so fun and romantic, she invited him in afterwards. Don’t get me started on the way he kisses…. Oh, did I mention I am more into tall,well-built dark blondes who wear jeans and plain t-shirts and have long or longish hair? But what wins me in the end is a good kisser. A good kisser is the one who makes you want more. Who doesn’t push your limits and follows your lead instead. Who knows that the more you like someone, the more passionate the sex gets and it just becomes more fun and more satisfying for both. He can kiss her cheek or forehead or the eye yet you can feel that the girl is already wanting him- and she is getting high just because of a kiss!!!!! The word we use is devour…Oh boy!!! He devours her, and puts his whole being into a kiss…and she ends up craving him more than anything or anyone else…

So, excuse me but I like sense of fun coming with maturity. Just like i want romance and fun at the same time. So basically, I am screwed. I have a feeling that these combinations exist only in movies…Oh well, doesn’t stop me from wanting it….