Part Four- [Experimentation]

Keanu feared a future of being known as a real life Ted. He therefore took more risks with his career of course like most risks some of them were anything less than successful. But despite this he has never failed to stop taking these risks. This is partly why he has so many fans due to the fact that his movies span so many different styles.
Keanu was typecast though when he played the loveable Tod, the not so bright son-in-law in Parenthood a comedy about family life starring Steve Martin. Parenthood turned out to be a hit comedy.
In I Love You To Death, Keanu displayed his talent for comedy with his portrayal of a brain dead wanna be assassin.
The eighties was the era of the Brat Pack and people constantly tried to heap Keanu in with them but he was different, he chose to appear in big screen costume dramas and Shakespearean adaptations as well as some art house flicks none of which had much appeal to a young mainstream audience.
Keanu's first ever try at a costume drama was Dangerous Liaison's starring Glenn Close, John Malkovick and Michelle Pfeiffer. Dangerous Liaisons is a story about sexual power, cruelty and deceit. Keanu played the role of Chevaller Danceny an idealistic young lover who is corrupted by Close's Marquise.
Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter (aka Tune in Tomorrow) the 1990 film also surprised Keanu fans. Set in New Orleans in the year of 1951 and staring Barabra Hershey as Aunt Julia a 36 year old divorcee who falls in love with her 21 year old nephew by marriage, a new writer at the local radio station named Martin (Reeves). Played to mix reviews.
Point Break, 1991 was Keanu's first true action film. Point Break was in fact the spring board for Keanu's lead role in Speed. If Keanu hadn't secured the role in Point Break he would never have landed the role in Speed.
Point Break was a high density, thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Set in California among the surfing scene , Reeves at the time was 26 years old and this movie sought to sell the actors growing sex appeal. Keanu plays Johnny Utah, FBI agent, who goes undercover as a surfer to infiltrate a gang of bank robbers known as the ex-presidents who wear masks that look like former US Presidents.
Keanu again Co-Stars with his Youngblood counterpart Patrick Swayze. Though they play buddies in Point Break and had worked together previously they didn't become close friends, off screen with Keanu saying "You've got to remember that Patrick and I came from different worlds his a good ol' boy from Texas and I'm a kid from Toronto. We got along fine but we aren't the sort of people who become close friends as a result of working together.
Point Break was an amazing contrast from Keanu's pervious roles. Viewers were amazed to find that the teenage boy of old had disappeared and the handsome muscle man appeared in his place. Viewers got a taste of what was deemed the 'new Keanu'.
Keanu's next two roles weren't received with such wide open arms, playing Jonathan Harker in Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Draculla (1991) though it did do good business in the box office it was not well received bu critics. Keanu faced a battering in the press the Daily Mirror declaring "His casting can't be described as inspired the poor boy can't cope with acting and sustaining the British accent." Premiere Magazine quipping "He's less than persuasive his valley boy persona simply dons a stuffed shirt." But Keanu was also disappointed by his performance admitting that his "performance was introverted closed in and safe. He said "Francis tried to spur me on, to greater height but I just couldn't reach them. I didn't act very well."
Next Keanu moved on to Much Ado About Nothing where he was again met with unfortunate criticism. He played the villainous bastard brother to Denzel Washington's prince. Fans would have been quite interested to see Keanu playing the "bad guy" a far removal from his usual parts.
One of the biggest risks of Keanu's career has been that of Scott Favor in Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho. Playing a low life rent boy on the streets of Portland. Despite it's low rating, it was still considered and "adult movie" due to it's themes and occasional drug use. My Own Private Idaho was a tasteful piece with a stylish production and an interesting concept. Though many found, Idaho bizarre, it was a critical success. Keanu's co-star River Phoenix received rave reviews while Keanu received good reviews himself one critic noting "If Reeves was overshadowed by Phoenix, this was more the role as written then played."
Keanu then moved on to Little Buddha the 1994 art house flick co-starring Bridget Fonda, Keanu plays Prince Siddhartha, the sixth century Indian Prince who became Buddha. Reeves conversion to Buddhism which he credits with his transformation to serious actor helped him in the role.
Keanu suffered from food poisoning and fever. Keanu was shown his star potential even in Bhuten where filming took place being followed by Napoli girls wherever he went. Critics said of the film "He still has an air of Bill and Ted around the edges"
But Keanu had Something to prove. His next movie would make him a A-List Star.