20 years ago, Keanu Reeves seemed all wrong for the role of John Constantine.
Today, the casting choice has been proved pivotal and transformed Reeves into one of our best physical actors.
With a career that stretches back to 1984,Keanu Reeveshas had many iconic roles.
He was the warm-hearted doofus Ted Theodore Logan inBill and Teds Excellent Adventure.
He was Neo, the would-be One who knows Kung Fu fromThe Matrix.
He was the Baba Yaga inJohn Wick.
But Reeves most defining role was also his most controversial, one for which he seemed wholly unsuited.
That declaration would have been a surprise to anyone who read Constantines adventures in the acclaimedHellblazerseries published byDC Comics.
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Part of Constantines appeal came from his well-defined characteristics.
John Constantine of the comics is a thoroughly British character, born from the hopelessness of Thatchers England.
He shouldnt be played by Keanu Reeves.
He pulls something from within his coat and orders Dodson to look away.
They stay in Hell, huh?
Constantine asks, mocking a statement Dodson made just moments ago.
But thats not the way that Reeves plays it, and not just because hes an American.
Constantine stumbles into the foreground, turning back only for a second, to notice Dodson spewing behind him.
Dont worry, he tells her.
Happens to everyone the first time.
And then he lights another cigarette.
Even though hes making fun of Dodson, Constantine takes no pleasure in the line.
Hes been through it all before and now hes very, very tired.
Its that feeling of exhaustion that becomes the core of all Keanus best performances.
Its a great line, the bang out that we love to hear in any revenge action movie.
But the secret to the delivery inJohn Wickisnt just the usual bluster.
All of Reevess greatest late-period roles share this quality.
All of these characters require Reeves to apply the lessons he learned while playing John Constantine.
The comic book-accurate version that Ryan provided has only made Reevess take stand out as its own thing.
As his apparent miscasting inConstantineshows, Reeves is no chameleon who can disappear into any role.
