By Steve Murray
You gotta love Keanu Reeves. Even when you hate him.
Lately swathed in karmic calm as Prince Siddhartha in "Little Buddha," he's on the verge of action-hunk stardom with "Speed," opening Friday. Best known as half of the "Bill and Ted" team, the dude has a knack for choosing cool films. Too bad he's often lousy in them. Looks super, sounds surfer.
"Much Ado About Nothing" (1993, PG-13) - Reeves plays villainous Don John in Kenneth Branagh's sun-struck version of the Shakespeare comedy. As a heavy, he's pretty much a 98-pounder.
"My Own Private Idaho" (1991 R) - As an Oregon hustler, Reeves mangles some more Shakespeare (interpolated bits of "Henry IV") in Gus Van Sant's grunge epic. River Phoenix, who's fabulous, co-stars.
"Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992, R) - Reeves and Winona Ryder go neck-and-neck for worst British accent in Francis Ford Coppola's over-the-top vampire opera. (He wins.)
"River's Edge" (1987, R) - Reeves is at his natural best in this ode to slacker angst, playing a teen who draws attention to the murder of a schoolmate.
"Point Break" (1991, R) - Reeves as a surfer? What a stretch.