# New Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde movie due...with Keanu Reeves as the lead **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834 "2009-05-09T06:43:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/1 "2009-05-09T06:43:50Z")
[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=55260](http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=55260) seriously what crackhead suggested him for this role? and even more important how did he convince a bunch of people it was a good idea? having seen Reeves “acting” skills I have to wonder how a guy without a personality is supposed to play a guy with 2? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/2 "2009-05-09T14:35:00Z")
I have no problem with the casting. Reeves is a very good actor; people just get confused because he avoids histrionics. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/3 "2009-05-09T19:08:21Z")
Very good actor? No, I couldn’t say that. Keanu Reeves is good within a very narrow range. To his detriment he is often cast outside it. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/4 "2009-05-09T20:02:26Z")
I’ve always thought that his success is because he picks roles where his character needs to show little emotion. Roles that are right for his lack of acting talent (IMHO, of course). This seems like a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/5 "2009-05-09T20:18:32Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > Very good actor? No, I couldn’t say that. > > Keanu Reeves is good within a very narrow range. To his detriment he is often cast outside it. Reeves is the classic reactor. He doesn’t emote, he shows a reaction to events. People tend to think that’s not good acting, but they’re wrong. All of the comments about Reeves were exactly the same comments said about John Wayne. He’s now recognized as a pretty good actor. I think Reeves will be one day, too. I’ve seen him handle too many good roles to think he’s not a very good actor. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/6 "2009-05-09T20:38:23Z")
**RealityChuck** , I act in my spare time. I’ve done it for years. Reeves has a very limited palette. He can paint some things very well, and he would be better served to stay within that narrow range. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/7 "2009-05-09T20:42:04Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > I’ve always thought that his success is because he picks roles where his character needs to show little emotion. Roles that are right for his lack of acting talent (IMHO, of course). This seems like a bad idea. But he might be very effective at the reserved Dr. Jekyll persona. The out of control Hyde, on the other hand … ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/8 "2009-05-09T20:47:36Z")
Anyone who thinks Keanu Reeves is a terrible actor has: -Never taken an acting class, at almost any level -Never been on the set of an amateur/guerilla production -Never been to community or dinner theatre -Doesn’t watch much tv Seriously. The very worst actors you see in major productions are about 10 times better than the average person, and Reeves is far from the very worst of actors you see in major productions. I think part of his problem is that he’s so good-looking. Instead of getting stuck with the gay accusations like most good-looking movie stars, he got “can’t act.” Turn on a telenovella, or one of those soap-operas that started in the 60s or 70s and is still on, if you want to start scraping the bottom of the paid-actor barrel, and even _those_ people got where they are because they’re better than average. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/9 "2009-05-09T21:37:55Z")
Y’know, just because there are _worse_ actors out there, does not mean Reeves is a _good_ actor. I think he’s a very average actor, not the worst but certainly not “very good.” Would not surprise me if most of the “acting” of the Hyde role will be done courtesy of CGI. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/10 "2009-05-09T21:47:38Z")
It’s just that, mentioning Sandra Bullock, for instance, who is 1/10th the actor Reeves is, never elicits a chorus of what a terrible actor she is, while mentioning Reeves pretty much always does. If absolutely nothing else, it’s been said a million times already. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/11 "2009-05-09T22:01:39Z")
Bullock isn’t nearly the huge star Reeves is, so she doesn’t get nearly the scrutiny. Plus she’s better than Reeves, IMO; she was quite touching in _Hope Floats_ and _28 Days_, the latter being a fairly challenging role. I’ve never seen a similar depth of performance from Reeves. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/12 "2009-05-09T23:32:00Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > [http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=55260](http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=55260) > > seriously what crackhead suggested him for this role? and even more important how did he convince a bunch of people it was a good idea? It’s not like he’s never made anyone any money starring in a sci-fi film. I like him. He’s sort of like Harrison Ford in my mind. I never really notice their acting being particularly good in any film, but it’s good enough that I can basically ignore them and enjoy (or not, depending on the movie) the story. They both basically play the person the plot happens to, and so are both perfect for action films, anyways. And even his critics have to agree that there is no one in this universe who would’ve been a better Ted Logan. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/13 "2009-05-09T23:59:04Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > [Reeves’ acting is] good enough that I can basically ignore [him] and enjoy (or not, depending on the movie) the story. That’s actually exactly what actors should be aiming for. You’re not _supposed to_ notice they’re acting. That’s my problem with some “great” actors like Daniel Day Lewis. Watching him, it’s always so clear he’s-- (master thespian) AC-_TING!_ that it can get distracting. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/14 "2009-05-10T00:22:24Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > That’s actually exactly what actors should be aiming for. You’re not _supposed to_ notice they’re acting. That’s my problem with some “great” actors like Daniel Day Lewis. Watching him, it’s always so clear he’s-- (master thespian) AC-_TING!_ that it can get distracting. Yea, depends on the type of movie, I think. In some films the story is incidental, and the development of the characters and their interactions is the point (say Silence of the Lambs, where most of the memorable parts don’t really have much to do with finding Buffolo Bill), and having really good actors will make or break the movie. But Keeanu tends to be in movies where the focus is on the action, on the story, or on the secondary characters, and the protagonist is just there have the plot happen to him, and doesn’t really need us to understand his conflicted soul or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/15 "2009-05-10T01:12:48Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > That’s actually exactly what actors should be aiming for. You’re not _supposed to_ notice they’re acting. That’s my problem with some “great” actors like Daniel Day Lewis. Watching him, it’s always so clear he’s-- (master thespian) AC-_TING!_ that it can get distracting. how about noticing that they are incapable of acting at all? have you seen point break? are you honestly going to tell me you didnt notice how fantastically bad his “pep” talk was? or my all time favorite from the Matrix “I know kung fu” said with all the surprise and emotion that a box of cheerios could summon up. the point here isnt that hes good enough to not notice, the point is hes so bad he rips you right out of the movie, and its every damn thing hes been in since Bill & Ted (in which I completely agree he was totally rad dude) and of course in that movie he was playing a pot head surfer moron. I do however know how they can save this film and leave him in as the lead, its simple, just cast David Caruso as Hyde. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/16 "2009-05-10T01:38:23Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > how about noticing that they are incapable of acting at all? have you seen point break? are you honestly going to tell me you didnt notice how fantastically bad his “pep” talk was? or my all time favorite from the Matrix “I know kung fu” said with all the surprise and emotion that a box of cheerios could summon up. > > the point here isnt that hes good enough to not notice, the point is hes so bad he rips you right out of the movie, and its every damn thing hes been in since Bill & Ted (in which I completely agree he was totally rad dude) and of course in that movie he was playing a pot head surfer moron. > > I do however know how they can save this film and leave him in as the lead, its simple, just cast David Caruso as Hyde. Point Break was full of bad acting. Gary Busey chewed the scenery. Lori Petty over-emoted. Patrick Swazey was terrible in it too. It’s one of the best terrible movies, without going completely around the bend to “so bad it’s good” territory. I thought Keanu was perfect in _The Matrix_. Yes, he seemed like an idiot. I think his “deer in the headlights” presence was correct for that role. And of course, he was the perfect Ted Logan. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/17 "2009-05-10T02:59:06Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > I do however know how they can save this film and leave him in as the lead, its simple, just cast David Caruso as Hyde. Or better yet, dump Keanu and have Caruso with sunglasses and Caruso without sunglasses as the two parts. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/18 "2009-05-10T04:46:28Z")
As a doper once mentioned earlier in a thread like this, every time Keanu is called a bad actor, I feel the need to say, “Yeah, but he’s a really nice guy.” I, for one, am okay with him getting this role, for that reason alone. Keep going Keanu! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/19 "2009-05-10T05:11:20Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Or better yet, dump Keanu and have Caruso with sunglasses and Caruso without sunglasses as the two parts. They’re saving that for the next Superman movie. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834/20 "2009-05-10T05:59:41Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Or better yet, dump Keanu and have Caruso with sunglasses and Caruso without sunglasses as the two parts. I almost snorted rice out my nose, Thanks for the laugh. I am aware the guy makes money for people, and I am aware hes a nice guy, and I aint saying screw him him. (for that matter good for him, you can bet your ass if I was offered a quabillion dollars to not act in a movie I would be all over that action) however I really wish he would stop showing up in otherwise decent flicks and not acting. I mean come on hes in some of the biggest budget films of all time getting paid fortunes to not act… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dr-jekyl-and-mr-hyde-movie-due-with-keanu-reeves-as-the-lead/495834.md?page=2)