Keanu Reeves: Most Triumphant

The Movies and Meaning of an Irrepressible Icon

By: Alex Pappademas

Narrated by: Alex Knox

A tribute to and exploration of the magic behind one of Hollywood’s most legendary and unknowable stars, Keanu Reeves, and the profound lessons we can learn from his success.

There can be no doubt: Keanu Reeves is a phenomenon. He’s at once a badass action star, a hunky dreamboat who People magazine has called “the internet’s boyfriend”, a vintage motorcycle enthusiast, a niche art book publisher, a living meme, and a legend. He seems to upend every rule governing celebrity in the 21st century. But how?

In Keanu Reeves: Most Triumphant, cultural critic Alex Pappademas attempts to address Keanu’s unmatched eternality and the other big questions raised by his career arc. Sharp, funny, deeply researched, and fully celebratory of the enigmatic actor, this is the first book to take Keanu’s whole deal as seriously as it deserves. Yes, even Johnny Mnemonic, where Keanu mind melds with a dolphin. Along the way, Pappademas reveals the lessons we can learn from Keanu about Hollywood, our broader culture, and even life itself.

©2022 Alex Pappademas. Published in 2022 by Abrams Image, an imprint of ABRAMS, New York. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Worth Your Time, Even If You Aren't a Big Fan

According to Wikipedia, Keanu Reeves has appeared in, either as a lead actor, as a supporting actor, as a voice, or in a cameo role, in some 90 films, documentaries, and TV shows since his debut in 1985. Of those, the number of appearances I've seen personally could be counted on one hand. Five, to be exact. So, not a big fan, but I will say that I've enjoyed Keanu the small number of times I've seen him on the screen. So, did this deep dive into every phase of Keanu's 37-year career spark my interest in the man and make me want to see more of his films? The answer is yes, most definitely. I liked how author Alex Pappademas delved into the details of Keanu's amazing variety of roles over the years. One thing you can say about Keanu is that although he hasn't seemed to have much range as an actor, especially in terms of his voice and accents, he has never shied away from new and challenging roles. Pappademas makes a good effort to explain the long-lasting, often passionate, appeal of the "irrepressible icon," and explore connections between Keanu's roles and trends in our culture, but the book holds no great revelations. Reader Alex Knox finds just the right voice, pace, and rhythm to keep the chapters flowing well and humming along nicely. Thanks to the strong narration, the ten-hour run time feels like a lot less. Even if you're not a big fan, and just a little bit curious about the impact of Keanu Reeves, you'll find "Most Triumphant" well worth your time.