The ‘90s were a glorious time. That may be a bit of a generalization, but for the purposes of reflecting on the power of Hollywood at the time and its willingness to back mid-budget, practical action films, we’re choosing to cast a halcyon glow over the era. One of the standout films from this genre and time period is “Speed,” which celebrates its 30th anniversary next month. In honor of this milestone, Kris Tapley recently spoke with the film’s stars, Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, for his “50 MPH” podcast dedicated to excavating “Speed” lore.
“I just remember a vehicle full of really kind and fun people,” said Bullock in reflecting on the making of the film. Commenting on its success — grossing 10 times its budget, winning two Oscars, and becoming regarded as one of the best action films of all time — Bullock added, “It was unexpected. And the fact that it continues to, in an unexpected way, still strike up conversation amongst many different generations, makes you feel really good. Nostalgic in a very sort of bittersweet way. Because you don’t – lightning doesn’t strike like that twice, and it struck and no one expected it to strike like that, I don’t think.”
Continuing with this sentiment, Reeves said, “All of the artists who worked on it and the crafts people who worked on it, there was a warmth to everyone and a sincerity, and I think that in the fun, in the high-concept, the highbrow-lowbrow of the film, that that quality of all of the performers and the craftspeople and artists on it kind of emanates from the film, you know?”
Discussing the audition process for the film, Bullock admitted she knew she wasn’t the first choice for her role — but she wasn’t afraid to go all-out to prove her worth.
“We did some floor acting. Some carpet-burn acting,” she said. “What was I going to say? No? Yes! It was all yes. But I also wasn’t the first choice. I wasn’t the second choice. I don’t think I was the third choice. But I was a choice, and I was so excited and happy to be there and, look, some of the best moments of my life, I wasn’t the first choice.”
“Speed” also marked Reeves’ first serious foray into action filmmaking — we’re counting “Point Break” as a crime film — a genre and form he would continue to shape over his career with franchises like “The Matrix” and “John Wick.” But at the time, Reeves was still learning about how it was all done.
“I think we had a lot of time playing with different cameras,” said Reeves in remembering what he learned on the production. “Because we had multiple cameras and things and Jan would set up, like, you know, like, 11 cameras and things and some of that kind of ‘how to act in space’ and know what lenses were doing and kind of playing with, like, knowing that a little bit. I think, you know, working with Sandy and being in that moment, you know, making — being able to pretend at such a believable way at heightened circumstances. You know, going into that bandwidth of, like, ‘Oh, my God! Oh, my God! What are we doing?’”
Bullock believes this practice of maintaining “heightened” perspective is what added to the romance between her and Reeves’ characters despite not having a ton of screen-time to flirt or woo.
“We didn’t really look at each other in this movie except for maybe three times, three or four times where there was just — because we were constantly battling the elements,” she said. “And I think that’s what made it so electric, too, is that, watching it, I guess you want them to connect. So, that was really clever, a really clever setup to sort of, you know, keep people apart. Foreplay, I guess.”
