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The Many Faces of Keanu Reeves

A Seriously Random List XXXVI / Dustin Rowles

Seriously Random Lists | December 11, 2008 | Comments (65)


Tomorrow, The Day the Earth Stood Still opens in 3,500 theaters across America, and it’s expected to debut with the massive box-office haul we’ve come to expect from Keanu Reeves’ films. Thanks to movies like Speed and The Matrix trilogy, Reeves is one of the most bankable action stars in Hollywood. But he’s a versatile actor, too. He’s starred in indie flicks (My Own Private Idaho), comedies (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure), romances (A Walk in the Clouds, Lake House) beach capers (Point Break), and even Shakespearean screen adaptations (Much Ado About Nothing). Most people don’t realize just how many genres Keanu has dabbled in over his long and extensive career. He’s got a lot of dramatic range. (Fun Fact: Keanu loves ballroom dancing, too!) Do you have any idea how many MTV Movie Award nominations and wins Keanu has? Seven nominations and three wins! They don’t give those things to anybody, you know?

So, in advance of The Day the Earth Stood Still, and on the heels of the news that Keanu will be playing a Samurai Swordsmen in an upcoming epic (yeah, he’s versatile and half-Asian), I thought we’d take a look back at the many faces of Keanu Reeves. Here are my favorite five:

5. Angry Face

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4. Romantic Face

keanureevesromantic.jpg

3. Happy Face

keanureevesshappy.jpg

2. Searing Face

keanureevessearing.jpg

1. Sad Face, with a Beard Twist

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Comments

Aw...Keanu has no range.

Posted by: NotBlonde at December 11, 2008 2:44 PM

Isn't that picture of him doing the happy face really his Magnum pose?

Posted by: Lindsay at December 11, 2008 2:45 PM

This is quite possibly the best random list you have ever compiled, except I think you have happy face and romantic face mixed up.

(It's Sadfacé with a beard twist, dammit!)

Posted by: Sabrina at December 11, 2008 2:46 PM

Inscrutable.

A blank canvas.

A modern art actor.

BRILLIANT!

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at December 11, 2008 2:46 PM

Maybe he should hook up with Aniston.

Posted by: Cindy at December 11, 2008 2:46 PM

I will admit, whenever the movie The Replacements is on, I will watch a little of it. There is a scene where he has to let his team know he is not playing and he is supposed to give a look where he is upset and hiding something and it's a combination of "I pooped my pants" and "Did I leave the iron on when I left the house?" I pause that face and laugh my ass off. It's the most emotion I've ever seen from him.

And NotBlonde...he does have a range. In the words of Dennis Miller, he has the acting range of a Daisy Air Rifle. OR. His acting style runs the gamut from A to B.

Posted by: Rubble44 at December 11, 2008 2:48 PM

The problem is, photographs cannot capture the monotone of his line delivery.

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at December 11, 2008 2:49 PM

It's the many moods of the Irish Setter.

(I hear he's a very nice person IRL. I just... I have the fear.)

Posted by: twig at December 11, 2008 2:49 PM

It's called subtlety.

What, you don't see it? Look with your heart.

That's not your heart. Stanislavski would not approve.

Posted by: boo at December 11, 2008 2:50 PM

He really is a graduate of the Hugh Grant School of Acting, now that I think about it. Right next to Orlando Bloom.

Can command a performance with a myriad of vibrant expressions including Baffled, Earnest, and Earnestly Baffled.

Posted by: twig at December 11, 2008 2:51 PM

He is what he is.

I'm going to the mat(heheheeh) for homeboy here.

Can you HONESTLY say that you haven't gotten your money's worth here?

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at December 11, 2008 2:51 PM

And people complain that Nicole Kidman's face is inexpressive since she got Botox. Keanu Reeves's face has been inexpressive since BIRTH.

Seriously though, dude's kinda creepy. I don't know why he doesn't get more cyborg/alien/robot roles.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at December 11, 2008 2:53 PM

Tabula rasa indeed! Still, I could think of worse places to sit...

Posted by: Pants at December 11, 2008 2:54 PM

Actually I think no. 2 is more his attempt at 'Blue Steel', than 'Searing Face'.
It's a subtle distinction, I know, but it's there. Trust me.

Posted by: Tarn at December 11, 2008 2:54 PM

The only time he's ever shown true, human emotion was in Bill & Ted movies.

Sidenote: the soundtrack for the second movie is haunting.

Posted by: Skitz at December 11, 2008 2:54 PM

Let's look at it from another angle:

Edward Norton as Neo...think about it.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at December 11, 2008 2:54 PM

This is the best list EVER.

Posted by: Edith at December 11, 2008 2:55 PM

You asshole Rowles! I am so deeply affected by the intensity of the emotion Mr. Reeves conveys( even through still photos) and the rollercoaster ride that scrolling down that list took me on that I need to take some Prozac to level out.

The people at work just asked me if I am O.K. because they thought I was having a breakdown. Now they're going to call me the crazy angry, romantic, happy, searing, sad, beard twisty guy.

Thanks, Jerk.

Posted by: admin at December 11, 2008 2:57 PM

I think he used all five of these in The Devil's Advocate.

Where is I am a dumbass face? I think he used it in B&T's and Parenthood.

Posted by: richmac at December 11, 2008 2:58 PM

His groundbreaking performance as Siddhartha in Little Buddha has put in him in a permanent state of whoa.

Posted by: branded at December 11, 2008 2:59 PM

...or Nic Cage, as Neo...or let's go reeeeeeaaally crazy Griffin Dunne in Point Break....how about, mmmm, Rob Lowe in Speed?

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at December 11, 2008 3:01 PM

I always had a suspicion he was Asian seeing as he has the whole yellow tint thing going on. I wonder if he went all in and started eating dogs?

Posted by: Pookie at December 11, 2008 3:02 PM

I've been doing the 3 Faces of Keanu bit for 5 years Rowles...not amused, my boy, not amused.

Posted by: Smokin at December 11, 2008 3:02 PM

MY POINT?

Only Keanu can do, what Keanu does.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at December 11, 2008 3:04 PM

Eff you, hippies.

Posted by: Nadha at December 11, 2008 3:06 PM

(It's Sadfacé with a beard twist, dammit!)

Posted by: Sabrina

Sabrina, me can't eat soup! Or stop laughing. EEEAAAAAHHH!!!

Posted by: Sofía at December 11, 2008 3:09 PM

Damn right, BarbadoS! And, I would have his baby too!

Posted by: Cuca at December 11, 2008 3:10 PM

i just snorted in my diet coke. thanks a lot.

Posted by: lizzieborden at December 11, 2008 3:11 PM

Brava, Pants, brava!

Posted by: meaux at December 11, 2008 3:11 PM


Actually, No. 4 is his O-face.

Posted by: Drake at December 11, 2008 3:15 PM

One can not forget his riveting performance of Hamlet in Winnipeg.

Posted by: Miz Misanthrope at December 11, 2008 3:16 PM

Hee hee hee. All of those could be categorized as "I like toast" faces.

Posted by: Julie at December 11, 2008 3:19 PM

A friend of mine has been known to hold an annual event called "Keanuthon." At this event, every single film (including TV-movies) that has Keanue Reeves is exhibited back-to-back.

Don't believe me?

www.keanuthon.com (The website needs a little work, but the "What is it?" section gives you the summary.)

Posted by: DarthCorleone at December 11, 2008 3:26 PM

Thank you Dustin. From the bottom of my soles [sic]. I do love Keanu Reeves--no matter what--even when my friend shoves a tabloid picture of him urinating outside of a bar and then passing out in the same wet spot. He'll always be beautiful to me.

Posted by: anikitty at December 11, 2008 3:35 PM

Sweet. I'm gonna go watch Point Break now.

Posted by: VeinsRHiways at December 11, 2008 3:52 PM

Let's look at it from another angle:

Edward Norton as Neo...think about it.

It was supposed to be Will Smith, but he went with 'Wild Wild West' instead.

Because the world is an infinitely large place that still has the time to spend trying to crush my hopes and dreams.

Posted by: twig at December 11, 2008 3:52 PM


Also, worst tasting spooge EVER.

Posted by: Drake at December 11, 2008 3:57 PM

I thought the last one would be his grizzledouche face.

Posted by: Agente Provocatrice at December 11, 2008 3:57 PM

Oh, and don't forget - Keanu Reeves played Siddharta Gautama in Little Buddha!

Posted by: DarthCorleone at December 11, 2008 4:02 PM

"[Keanu Reeves] runs the gamut of emotions from A to B."

Dorothy Parker

Posted by: kayla at December 11, 2008 4:08 PM

Today in my final for my history class I mentioned "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure." I don't think I spelled "Excellent" right though because when I'm spell checking it on the computer, it isn't taking it the way that I spelt it in class. Anyway- I used this amazing reference in my paper about the "effects of Mongol rule in Eurasia, particularly China." I also wrote down that Genghis Khan was able to beat up all of northern China when he only had an army of around 150,000 because of his "Military AWESOME-NESS!"

And to think, when I grow up I want to write history books.

Posted by: Emily at December 11, 2008 4:25 PM

I thought #3 was his "I know Kung-Fu" face.

Posted by: Brie at December 11, 2008 5:04 PM

lmao

Posted by: Celie at December 11, 2008 5:08 PM

Ya know that game where you try and guess somebody's "O-face?"

Ha. Oh Keanu.

Posted by: Kayanne at December 11, 2008 6:01 PM

Holy fucking shit Dustin! You may have just discovered the only actor of our generation more capable than the other greatest, Rob Schneider!

Dustin Hoffman, Orson Wells, Tom Hanks, Edward Norton, bah! There's only one Keanu Reeves.

Posted by: George at December 11, 2008 7:19 PM

This was indeed your best list Mr. Rowles.

I can't be mad at my boy Keanu. He does what he does.

Posted by: greer at December 11, 2008 7:35 PM

This list belongs in the Pajiba Hall of Fame!

Posted by: David at December 11, 2008 7:37 PM

It's the many moods of the Irish Setter.

This. So many times over, THIS.

I can't help but be a sucker for The Matrix trilogy, though. Well, more like a sucker for the second one. I adore that movie with such a guilty passion.

Posted by: duckandcover at December 11, 2008 7:50 PM

Hey, I went to school with him. True story, Toronto. Jesse Ketchum Jr. High.

Funny thing, I don't remember anything about him besides the funny name. I guess some things don't change.

Posted by: Teddy at December 11, 2008 8:11 PM

I took a Shakespeare Literature class in high school (I had allergies to popularity), and we watched "Much Ado About Nothing." Every time Keanu would show up on screen, my lumberjack-esque teacher would burst into peals of girlish giggling, shake his head and say, "Keanu Reeves..."

Posted by: Dingles at December 11, 2008 8:30 PM

About many faces of Keanue--call me an old timer--it reminded me of an old Far Side cartoon. The many moods of an Irish Setter--happy, excited, angry, depressed, suicidal (and the dog's facial expression never changes). Keanu is like that Irish Setter.

Posted by: True_Blue at December 11, 2008 9:07 PM

Tee hee hee. I heart pajiba!

Posted by: Stephan at December 11, 2008 10:34 PM

Nice try, but the list should read as follows:
5. Douche Face
4. Chode Face
3. Bi-Curious Face
2. Constipated Face
1. Douche with a Beard Face

Posted by: JP at December 11, 2008 11:50 PM

He should do a calendar to really show off his diversity.

Posted by: Dr. Spaceman at December 12, 2008 1:01 AM

This. Is. Genius!

My friend Nate has this theory that to get Keanu to act, they jingle some keys near his face so he'll stare perplexed into the distance.

Just watch him attempt Shakespeare in Much Ado About Nothing and try to come up with a better explanation.

Posted by: Empress of All the Russias at December 12, 2008 1:24 AM

One can not forget his riveting performance of Hamlet in Winnipeg. Posted by: Miz Misanthrope at December 11, 2008 3:16 PM

Ahahaha! I went to that! I won tickets. I was in grade 8, and we also stalked him outside the MTC centre. He wouldn't stop for autographs...but I guess it was pretty freaking cold that day (as it is every day here).
Miz Misanthrope, were you lucky enough to catch his astounding range on stage?

Posted by: popejenn at December 12, 2008 2:25 AM

Sure Keanu Reeves can't act, but he at least chooses good film roles, which is more than you can say for many actors. Nic Cage had a string of bad movies this year and he's an Oscar winner. Who cares if you can emote if you're in a shitty movie.

Posted by: Dan at December 12, 2008 6:54 AM

Watching him bumble through Dracula with an English accent was to die a thousand deaths.

Posted by: eloosie at December 12, 2008 10:13 AM

Oh, great. Yet another reminder that shitforbrains will soon be eviscerating the memory of Michael Rennie.

Keaneu Reeves? When it comes to drama, he's got the depth of a teaspoon and the range of a whiffle ball. His whole career has been based on saying, "Whoa" in the most undramatic way possible.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to consume toxic quantities of alcohol in the hope of killing enough brain cells to rid me of any memory of his alleged performances.

Posted by: Archvillain at December 12, 2008 3:47 PM

My boyfriend and I went to see The Lake House on our first date. We both burst out laughing during the scene where Keanu has to cry over his father's death (or something). Thank you, Keanu Reeves, for providing the exact moment in which I knew that I had found The One.

Posted by: Bethany at December 12, 2008 4:09 PM

I have been laughing at Keanu Reeves against his will ever since he simpered, woodenly, "It's. sublime. don't. you. find?" in Dangerous Liaisons.

But in his defense, he's an F! B! I! agent, DUDE!

Posted by: Melodie at December 12, 2008 6:28 PM

Posted by: Manda at December 13, 2008 2:06 PM

Jim Carrey as Neo.

Think about it.

Yeah.

Posted by: DarthBrooks at December 14, 2008 1:35 AM

@ Julie

his "I like toast" face?

HAHAHAHAHA! awesome.

Posted by: Iris at December 14, 2008 10:23 PM

WHOAH. DUDE, WHOAH.

Posted by: Keanu at December 20, 2008 3:08 AM