Anyone who had “Keanu Reeves becomes beloved cinematic treasure, a la Sir Anthony Hopkins and Dame Judi Dench” on their BINGO card a couple decades ago might’ve doubted whether they would ever cover that square. And yet, over and over throughout his remarkable career, Reeves has proven to be an undeniable gem — something Milwaukee Film will celebrate throughout November with its own jewel of an idea.
The deliciously titled “Keanuthon” (sponsored by Milwaukee Record) will bring 17 of his films to the Oriental Theatre in a resume-spanning lineup that runs from 1986’s River’s Edge to 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4. The latter will help cap the month as part of a John Wick marathon that screens all four movies starting at noon Nov. 30.
Watching Reeves’ magnificence unspool in front of you is pretty great by itself, but Milwaukee Film decided to go just a wee bit bigger for one of the entries. On Nov. 21, in conjunction with a showing of Johnny Mnemonic: In Black & White, director Robert Longo will be right there in the theater and join fellow director/Nō Studios founder John Ridley for chat about the film’s 2021 re-release and Longo’s more recent work, including his ongoing exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Here’s the full lineup of Keanuthon films:
- Nov. 1 (6 p.m.) & Nov. 2 (9 p.m.) — Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
- Nov. 1 (8:30 p.m.) & Nov. 2 (6 p.m.) — Point Break
- Nov. 2 (3:30 p.m.) & Nov. 3 (4:30 p.m.) — My Own Private Idaho
- Nov. 6 (6:30 p.m.) & Nov. 7 (6:30 p.m.) — The Matrix
- Nov. 7 (9:30 p.m.) & Nov. 8 (6:30 p.m.) — The Matrix Reloaded
- Nov. 8 (9:30 p.m.) & Nov. 9 (6:30 p.m.) — The Matrix Revolutions
- Nov. 10 (6 p.m.) — The Matrix Resurrections
- Nov. 14 (7 p.m.) & Nov. 16 (9:30 p.m.) — River’s Edge
- Nov. 16 (4 p.m.) & Nov. 17 (4 p.m.) — Something’s Gotta Give
- Nov. 21 (6 p.m.) — Johnny Mnemonic (w/Robert Longo)
- Nov. 22 (9 p.m.) & Nov. 23 (6:30 p.m.) — Bram Stoker’s Dracula
- Nov. 23 (3:30 p.m.) & Nov. 24 (3:30 p.m.) — Dangerous Liaisons
- Nov. 29 (7 p.m., 9:30 p.m.) — A Scanner Darkly
- Nov. 30 (noon) — John Wick marathon
That’s not the only thing Milwaukee Film has up its sleeve for November. Jumping back further into cinematic history, the organization will put a spotlight on Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, the British filmmaking duo who — as Milwaukee Film programming director Kerstin Larson put it — “might not be the household names that Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles are, but once you see their sweeping narratives and lush visuals, they will be unforgettable.”
- Nov. 2 & 3 (noon) — The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
- Nov. 9 & 10 (noon) — A Matter of Life and Death
- Nov. 11-13 (7 p.m.) & Nov. 15 (3 p.m.) — Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger
- Nov. 16 & 17 (noon) — Black Narcissus
- Nov. 23 & 24 (noon) — The Red Shoes
Also, on Nov. 19, Milwaukee Film will partner with fellow local organization Latino Arts on a special screening of Going Varsity in Mariachi. The 5:30 p.m. event will feature the documentary set in the competitive world of high school mariachi, plus a live performance and talkback with the Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil — the flagship ensemble of the Latino Arts Strings Program.
For more information about everything Milwaukee Film has planned for November, visit the organization’s website.
