Keanu Reeves Reveals How He Was Tricked into Leading Critically-Panned Thriller The Watcher

As a seasoned movie enthusiast who’s witnessed the rise and fall of countless stars, I can say with certainty that Keanu Reeves‘ tale is one for the books. The man who breathed life into iconic characters like Neo and John Wick found himself in an unexpected role – as a villain in the critically panned movie, The Watcher. It seems fate had other plans for him, with his so-called friend, Joe Charbanic, forging his signature on the contract.

In a surprising turn of events, the captivating Keanu Reeves disclosed an unusual circumstance that compelled him to feature in one of his most critically lambasted films. Although Reeves is renowned for creating a cinematic heroic legacy through roles such as Neo in The Matrix and John Wick, the 2000 thriller The Watcher cast him as a villain in a story about a morally corrupt serial killer and the FBI agent chasing him. This role appears incongruous with Reeves’ persona, and he candidly admits to finding the script unappealing. So, what led him to star in this suspenseful film with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of merely 11%? The answer lies in the fact that his supposed friend forged his signature.

Although I found the script unappealing, a friend falsely signed my name on the contract. Unable to disprove this act and fearing legal action, I was compelled to participate in the movie production.

Back in 2001, during an interview with The Guardian, I myself had an interesting tale to share. It was none other than Joe Charbanic, the director of the movie “The Watcher,” who I’d crossed paths with after he directed several music videos for my band, Dogstar. Eager to see me step out of my comfort zone in a different role, he pulled a clever trick – he forged my signature on a contract without my knowledge. This deal also meant I had to settle for the union minimum wage, significantly less than what my co-stars, James Spader and Marisa Tomei, were earning.

The Watcher Was Mauled by Critics

Keanu Reeves Reveals How He Was Tricked into Leading Critically-Panned Thriller The Watcher

In simpler terms, “The Watcher” is categorized as a suspenseful psychological thriller, though this classification may be subjective. The story revolves around Keanu Reeves portraying serial killer David Allen Griffin and James Spader playing FBI Special Agent Joel Campbell. The plot bears resemblance to the style of Alfred Hitchcock or the narrative structure of “Red Dragon,” with a focus on a game of cat-and-mouse between a killer targeting young women and the detective pursuing him, as he relocates from Los Angeles to Chicago.

As a devoted cinephile, I must admit that “The Watcher” didn’t quite live up to its potential. Instead of weaving a gripping serial killer tale, it found itself falling short of expectations. Critics were unforgiving, expressing disappointment that Keanu Reeves’ character was not given the depth it deserved. In the words of renowned film critic Roger Ebert, “Reeves, as the antagonist, is saddled with a role that requires him to say only what serves the plot; his character lacks dimension and personality beyond being a mere plot device.

It’s a relief that The Watcher didn’t halt Keanu Reeves’ Hollywood journey. He reprised his role as Neo in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, which, though they had mixed reviews, were massive hits at the box office. Since then, he has been a preferred actor in Hollywood, appearing in films such as Constantine, A Scanner Darkly, The Lake House. His career reached even greater heights with the success of the John Wick series.

Reeves is set to work on multiple upcoming ventures. One of these is a reprisal of his role as John Wick in the upcoming spinoff titled “Ballerina”. Additionally, he’s scheduled to appear in Jonah Hill’s dark comedy “Outcome”, the comedy “Good Fortune” written and directed by Aziz Ansari, and lend his voice to Shadow in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”.

2024-09-07 16:31

The Watcher Was Mauled by Critics

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