9 Keanu Reeves movies that reveal the many faces of John Wick

polygon.com:

For much of his career, Keanu Reeves had a reputation as a mediocre actor. Everyone knew he was amazing in action scenes, but people joked about how wooden he could be when required to emote. More recently, however, the same limitations that earned him this reputation have become qualities he is celebrated for, because no one else performs the way he does. Reeves is a beloved figure on screen and off, as Matthew Perry found out the hard way. This reappraisal of Keanu Reeves isn’t just due to his status as one of the internet’s favorite celebrities; it’s because there’s actually nothing mediocre about his performances.

Reeves is no chameleon, but his earnest space cadet thing is effective in so many different contexts. He’s played traumatized teens in River’s Edge and Permanent Record, romantic leads in The Lake House and Sweet November, and compassionate doctors in Something’s Gotta Give, Thumbsucker, and To the Bone. His persona is so defined that it’s all the more effective when he goes in the opposite direction and plays bad guys, like he did in The Gift, The Watcher, and The Neon Demon. Of course, he will always be best known for his action work — especially now that the John Wick franchise has defined the third act of his career. On the eve of John Wick: Chapter 4, we’ve compiled a list of some lesser-known performances that highlight his stealthily broad range.

Before we get to the list, a note on criteria. For the purpose of this list, “deep cuts” are defined as quality Keanu Reeves movies that were box-office flops and/or unpopular with critics when they were released. This means movies like The Matrix, Speed, and Toy Story 4 aren’t on the list, obviously, but it also means no Point Break, The Devil’s Advocate,