John Wick: I like action movies, says Keanu Reeves
"I've always dreamed of performing in Paris, and being back was amazing," the jovial 58-year-old movie star told AFP on a recent trip to the French capital.
The last time he worked in France, more than 35 years ago, was for a very different project: the period drama “Dangerous Liaisons”.
These days, he's best known as the brutal yet stylish assassin John Wick, whose latest outing features scenes of bravery stunts in tourist spots like Montmartre, the Trocadero and the Arc de Triomphe.< /p>
"To be able to go to the places we did with 'John Wick: Chapter 4', like filming in front of the Sacre Coeur and the steps leading up to it in Montmartre, being in the canal under the city, being in the turning street at night - it was very special."
He likes the physical side of cinema.
"I like a good action movie," he said.
"We use digital technology, but we're more into the visceral, flesh-and-blood celebration of the movement of bodies, of violence - it's almost ballet, you know."
It was somewhat surprising that John Wick - the man who gets revenge for the murder of his dog in the first installment in 2014 - has become such an iconic role for Reeves.
Famous, the franchise is led by Reeves' stunt double from "The Matrix", Chad Stahelski.
"The role in 'The Matrix' was a wonderful, life-changing experience in my youth, and John Wick is for my senior years, for my 50s," Reeves said.
Nearing 60, has he gotten too old for all those painful fight scenes?
“I'm getting closer! Have we reached the limit? I don't know,” he said.
“What we are doing is not easy...I have to train for months before doing it. I have to have stunt teams.”
"John Wick" draws primarily from classic Hong Kong action films, with added visual cues from European and Hollywood dark thrillers.
Beyond high-level stunts, Reeves says it's the main character's internal tension that keeps audiences captivated.
"John Wick the man and John Wick the assassin...they're almost at war with each other, but they're also related," Reeves said.
"This interaction, this tension, I think, is fascinating."
AFP
The last time he worked in France, more than 35 years ago, was for a very different project: the period drama “Dangerous Liaisons”.
These days, he's best known as the brutal yet stylish assassin John Wick, whose latest outing features scenes of bravery stunts in tourist spots like Montmartre, the Trocadero and the Arc de Triomphe.< /p>
"To be able to go to the places we did with 'John Wick: Chapter 4', like filming in front of the Sacre Coeur and the steps leading up to it in Montmartre, being in the canal under the city, being in the turning street at night - it was very special."
He likes the physical side of cinema.
"I like a good action movie," he said.
"We use digital technology, but we're more into the visceral, flesh-and-blood celebration of the movement of bodies, of violence - it's almost ballet, you know."
It was somewhat surprising that John Wick - the man who gets revenge for the murder of his dog in the first installment in 2014 - has become such an iconic role for Reeves.
Famous, the franchise is led by Reeves' stunt double from "The Matrix", Chad Stahelski.
"The role in 'The Matrix' was a wonderful, life-changing experience in my youth, and John Wick is for my senior years, for my 50s," Reeves said.
Nearing 60, has he gotten too old for all those painful fight scenes?
“I'm getting closer! Have we reached the limit? I don't know,” he said.
“What we are doing is not easy...I have to train for months before doing it. I have to have stunt teams.”
"John Wick" draws primarily from classic Hong Kong action films, with added visual cues from European and Hollywood dark thrillers.
Beyond high-level stunts, Reeves says it's the main character's internal tension that keeps audiences captivated.
"John Wick the man and John Wick the assassin...they're almost at war with each other, but they're also related," Reeves said.
"This interaction, this tension, I think, is fascinating."
AFP
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