The big picture
- Keanu Reeves turned down a role
section
because of the violence, a decision that seemed unusual. - Reeves later embraced violent roles, leading to iconic characters in R-rated films.
- It's hard to imagine
section
with Reeves, but her career without him was ultimately successful.
The classic and iconic Vietnam War film, sectionby writer-director Oliver Stoneit was almost a very different movie. Charlie Sheen he led an all-star cast in one of his most celebrated roles as the title character, Chris Taylor. However, many other young actors were lined up for the role as the film prepared for production, including Kyle MacLachlan, Johnny Deppand no more and no less than Keanu Reeves. Stone revealed in a May 2011 interview with Entertainment Weekly that Reeves turned down the role of Chris Taylor due to the film's violence. Or as Stone himself put it, “Keanu turned it down because of the violence. He didn't want to do violence.” It is somewhat shocking and ironic to learn that Reeves would turn down a role in a prestigious and award-winning film, a film that could have elevated his film career, for such an unusual reason. This is especially true considering the films Reeves would be best known for are incredibly violent R-rated films. At the same time, putting ourselves in Reeves' shoes, we can also understand his decision. Time to delve deeper into Reeves' rejection of the role of section.
section
Chris Taylor, a neophyte recruit in Vietnam, finds himself caught in a battle of wills between two sergeants, one good and one bad. A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict.
- Publication date
- December 19, 1986
- director
- Oliver Stone
- Execution time
- 120 minutes
Keanu Reeves took a pragmatic approach to pacifism early in his career
On the one hand, Reeves takes a pacifist view of violence and applies it to his career is understandable. Although Reeves admitted in a 2005 interview with The Associated Press that he does not follow a secular religion, he always puts on a very spiritual vibe and treats his peers with kindness and compassion. A specific case, during an interview with The Sunday Times, Reeves' Bram Stoker's Dracula co-star, Winona Ryder, revealed that Reeves would refuse to insult her and try to make her cry while filming a scene for the movie. As Ryder said while doing the Francis Ford Coppolagothic horror film, “To put it in context, I'm supposed to be crying. Literally, Richard E Grant, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu…Francis was trying to get them all to shout things that would make me cry.”
As Ryder continued: “But Keanu wouldn't do it, Anthony wouldn't… the more it happened, I was like [she crosses her arms like a sulky teenager and frowns]… It just didn't work. I was, like, really? He did the opposite.” That Reeves brings this kind of moral pragmatism to his work is admirable, especially in a business as tough as the entertainment industry. It's understandable that around the age of twenty or twenty-one, when was probably in talks for section, a young up-and-coming actor like Reeves, who was just starting out in film at the time, would try to avoid playing violent roles. However, as Reeves later realized, applying this to his career would limit his roles and success.
Keanu Reeves would embrace violence in R-rated roles
The reason why Reeves reasoned his rejection section At first glance, it's unusual because some of Reeves' most famous and iconic roles are in R-rated films. While Reeves' breakout role was as “Ted” Theodore Logan The excellent adventure of Bill & Tedhad gone on to star in several R-rated films during the 1990s, such as the hit films Point Break, Bram Stoker's Dracula, speedand of course the matrix. More infamously, he also starred in unsuccessful com Johnny Mnemonic i The devil's advocate. When you look at some of Reeves' most famous and iconic roles, be it Neo a the matrix or John Wick al John Wick franchises, are R-rated movies full of action and violence.
Too, section it was not a film that depicts violence for the sake of violence. section it was a gritty, realistic and grounded war film, depicting the tragedies and horrors during the Vietnam War. It is also celebrated as one of the best and most celebrated films of the genre and its subject matter, winning Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. Although Charlie Sheen was not nominated for his performance as actors Chris Taylor Willem Dafoe i Tom Berenger were recognized for their work and both received Best Supporting Actor nominations for their performances in the film. By turning down Taylor's role, Reeves could hurt his career just as he was gearing up, and he also lost the chance to win awards for a high-profile, prestigious film.. Also, while section it is a dark, violent and gloomy film, it shows violence in a realistic and horrific way. It is not glorifying the violence or death that occurs in the film. Arguably, Platoon's depictions of violence are more in line with Reeves' view of pacifism and non-violence at the time. Regardless, it's good that Keanu Reeves took a less restrictive approach to violent roles as his career progressed. Otherwise, he wouldn't have become the cinematic icon he is known for today.
It's hard to imagine “Platoon” with Keanu Reeves
It is interesting to imagine how section would have appeared with Reeves in the lead role of Chris Taylor. All in all, it seems to be the best. Although Reeves turned down the role, later found professional success in the 1990s and 2000s, and later experience a career resurgence with what is being called the “Keanussance.” Sheen would experience a career of ups and downs, largely downs due to his turbulent personal life. However, be successful with section so early in his career certainly set him up for great success later in his career. It's hard to imagine section with Reeves playing Chris and without Sheen in the role. Likewise, it's hard to imagine many of Reeves' most iconic roles in various R-rated films, such as Point Break, speed, the matrixi John Wick without the famous actor.
Interestingly, while Reeves had a pragmatic view on non-violence earlier in his career, there is a certain sense of that moral view in roles like John Wick. Wick is a man at war with himself and his violent nature. In the first John Wick, Wick is an ex-assassin from the criminal underworld who left this life behind to be with his wife, whom he loved dearly. After his wife dies of cancer, Wick's heart breaks. When mobsters kill the dog his late wife gave him before she died, the last line that keeps Wick tied to a life of peace and non-violence is severed. He resumes his old ways of revenge, which he continues for several films. Wick is a man who wants peace, but circumstances and various events conspire against him. As a result, Reeves still brings this sense of moral pacifism to his roles despite his depictions of graphic violence.
section is available to stream on Prime Video in the US
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