The forgotten Keanu Reeves movie that Sean Baker adores: “His best performance”
Keanu Reeves might well be known as the nicest man in Hollywood, but besides his personal reputation, he is also known for his stellar work within a host of hugely influential movies.
From the earth-shattering legacy of The Matrix, which continues to be referenced today and defies the passing of time, to the action-packed nature of the John Wick series and his devastating performance in My Private Idaho and Point Break, the actor established himself as a leading man of the 1990s and one of the most iconic action stars of all time.
However, while he is praised for the slick sequences and complex worlds of his cult classic movies, he is also a very moving and sensitive performer when his talents are utilised in more dramatic roles, something that none other than Sean Baker highlighted when praising one of his lesser-known movies.
Baker has soared to new heights after his take on the modern love story, following the experiences of a stripper called Anni who finds herself wrapped up in an all-consuming love affair with the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. But all that glitters is not gold, and Anni soon finds herself racing against the clock to rescue her marriage and crumbling pursuit of the American dream.
However, the director is also known for being an avid cinephile and advocate for independent cinema, championing the work of other emerging directors and working-class stories, trying to make Hollywood a more accessible space that showcases all kinds of stories. Whether it be through his groundbreaking feature Tangerine, which was entirely shot on an iPhone, or the dreamy haze of childhood in The Florida Project, the director has certainly established his own trailblazing style and undeniably good taste.
Due to this, Baker was well-versed in Reeves’ filmography and had many keen observations about his 1986 film River’s Edge, directed by Tim Hunter. The film follows a group of teenage boys who find their friendship challenged after one of their friends is killed by the other, being faced with the decision of either turning him in to the police or helping him evade prison.
When discussing the film, Baker said, “Well, yeah, I saw it on VHS back in the day. And remember, this is like the mid-1980s, so every film that had to deal with youth was essentially in the John Hughes mode. You know what I mean? It was the John Hughes approach, which we all love, obviously, John Hughes is amazing. And I love every film he’s made. But for this to come out, and this came out of nowhere, and this was a totally different approach, much darker. Much more real, based on an actual true story. And it didn’t pull any punches, doesn’t have the nice wrap up ending at the end. This is a dark film that covers dark subject matter. And I also think it’s Keanu Reeves best film, by far, this is his best performance”.
Many coming-of-age stories approach dark experiences with a comedic/light tone, but River’s Edge was one that didn’t look down on its younger audiences and make it a more palatable story. For this reason, it remains as one of the most impressive dramatic performances in Reeves filmography and a sign of his later genius.
