The Only Witness To The Crime Was Not Even There
I saw this movie on it's opening day (January 19th, 2001) in Canada. It's not a great movie to admire in the awe that is Keanu, but you will definately be convinced that he CAN act (I've said that a few times now haven't I?).
Keanu plays Donnie Barksdale, the bully and wife-beating redneck in a small Georgia town. The main plot is around Cate Blanchette who plays Annie Wilson, the town tarot-card reader, and her aid in the police investigation of the disappearance of Jessica King (Katie Holmes). Keanu threatens her a lot and ends up the number one suspect for murder. I won't give away the ending, but he doesn't rot in jail.
I'm not sure what to think about this one. Those photos of Keanu are looking rather...well...not his usual glamour. Can we really take another movie in which we don't fall head-over-heels? Well, we'll just have to. We are Keanu fans afterall!
Time also to welcome another horrible Keanu character name: Donnie Barksdale! (Damn! Can't do that same sort of "Hi, my name is Kevin Lomax" with that one. Oh, there is also now: "Hi, I'm Shane Falco. I'd be your punk--quarterback punk." hehehe Nevermind....)
Ok, a few things I'm looking forward to and what I'm worried about: Keanu with a beard, gold chain and acting as a hick; Katie Holmes (eek! Scariness!); Keanu married to Hilary Swank...I don't know how that'll work; Billy Bob Thorton co-wrote (I have no experience...but judging by the titles of the films he's done previously and the fact the film is "Rated R for violence, language, and sexuality/nudity", it should be a full-out drama).
Oh, and just a warning: y'all have southern accents in this here movie (*shutter*).
Independent Film Magazine
Zap2it.com
The Gift premiere was held December 18, 2000 at the Paramount Studios lot in Hollywood, California. (I didn't realize there was one of those archway things there--see large photo above).
The photo on the left (from left) has Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi, Greg Kinnear, Hillary Swank and Keanu. And, of course, Keanu is in the photo on the right.
Cate Blanchett....Annie Wilson Gary Cole....David Duncan Stuart Greer....Officer Huggins Katie Holmes....Jessica King Greg Kinnear....Wayne Keanu Reeves....Donnie Barksdale Giovanni Ribisi....Buddy Hilary Swank....Valerie Barksdale David Brannen Kipp Chambers Courtney Aliffi Kim Dickens Danny Elfman Clay James Michael Jeter Rebecca Koon Alex Lee Hunter McGilvray Janell McLeod Elizabeth Omilami Lynnsee Provence Ed Redick Chelcie Ross J.K. Simmons
Keanu quotes:
"You learn to leave people alone."
"Messing with the devil's gonna get you burned."
-It's about time Keanu got some evil, horror movie roles under his belt. No more "Ted"
personna here.
-The scene where Donnie threatens Annie's kid and Buddy (who I thought was all quiet and non-threatening) goes crazy and starts smashing Donnie's truck with a crowbar.
-Keanu has a lot of ability to play evil people. I was scared!
-One of the lawyers says to Annie "no money, no honey" and that's the name of a Beck song. =) (Yeah! Keanu-Beck connection!)
The Internet Movie Database: The Gift (2000)
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