ArticlesI am not a good critic of movie-acting. I don’t know what makes good acting, and I never walk out of a movie saying “Wow, that was a performance that should win him/her the Oscar!”
In 1995, I watched the movie Johnny Mnemonic, and found it painful to watch. I came to the realisation that it was Keanu Reeves’ woeful attempt at emoting that had absolutely destroyed what otherwise would have been an enjoyable movie. Given that I am not discerning, it must have been an exceptionally bad performance!
I entered the cinema to watch The Matrix with friends with some trepidation; I was afraid that Cardboard Reeves wasn’t up to such a role, and that he would ruin another cyberpunk movie.
Do you remember the opening scenes, when Carrie-Ann Moss acts like an android; running and fighting almost robotically, while her face remained calm and completeless emotionless?
Were you distracted by some guy in the cinema laughing riotously during this dramatic opening?
I’m sorry, that was me.
I was so impressed at the brilliant ploy used by the directors. When put up against an emotionless robot as a leading lady, even Keanu Reeves looks like he has a pulse.
Comment by Bork Blatt on October 26, 2007
Bad acting / lack of emoting didn’t really spoil the Matrix for me. I guess it’s one of those “whole being greater than the sum of the parts” movies.
What I will submit to you as my test of a good actor / actress, is their ability to disappear within their character. Some actors always seem to play exactly the same character, no matter what movie they’re in (eg Tom Cruise with rare exceptions, and the Governator) while others take a while to recognise, and after you do, you forget it’s them (Johnny Depp, Charlize Theron).
Enough rambling. Bring on the popcorn so we can watch those robots running around in the green-tinted Matrix again.