One of my all-time favorite movies from the 1990s/ever is Speed. It came out when I was 10 years old, and I have always regarded it as one of my “origin story” movies for why I’m such a big fan of action movies. Speed turns 30 this year. To mark the occasion, there was a special screening on Tuesday at the Beyond Fest American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles. Sandra Bullock showed up alongside Keanu Reeves and director Jan de Bont. While backstage, all three took some time to answer questions about the movie.
Speed, the iconic thriller led by the superstars back in 1994, celebrated its 30th anniversary by reuniting Reeves, 60, and Bullock, 60 on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The special Los Angeles screening was part of Beyond Fest at American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre. Joined by Speed director Jan de Bont, 80, in a talkback onstage, Reeves and Bullock were all smiles as they remembered filming the Oscar-winning action hit.
“We knew we were doing something wacky,” said Reeves of playing SWAT officer Jack Traven, who boards a bus rigged to detonate a bomb if its speed drops below 50 mph.
“I was behind the wheel of a projectile, so I was just happy to be alive at the end of the day,” joked Bullock, who played Annie Porter, a passenger on the bus who helps to prevent its explosion. I mean I was new to the whole game so I wasn’t aware of what was happening or what felt right or what was not supposed to feel a certain way, but I was just, you’re just in it.”
Speaking about how the actors were really “smashing into things” during filming, Bullock added, “So I think as an actor and, as I was a newbie, I was behind the wheel wanting everyone to be safe. It was special.”
For de Bont, Speed’s stars were integral to its critical and commercial success. “I have never been so proud of those two actors, what they did for me and quite often unnatural to them,” said the filmmaker.
“What they had to do is just unbelievable. But the relationship that those two created together is absolutely amazing,” he continued. “And seeing it back on the screen tonight, it was so real. They were absolutely perfect. All the emotions were right, all the laughter was right, all the smiling, the little smoothing.”
“It was really, really cool. And I had to tell them how great they both were,” he continued. “I mean I realized more now how great you guys were at the time. I have to say busy, but now I really say, ‘Oh s—,’ and it’s so good.”
The award-winning Speed spawned a poorly received sequel in 1997, Speed 2: Cruise Control, starring a returning Bullock, Jason Patric and Willem Dafoe.
““We knew we were doing something wacky.” LOL Keanu, never change, you are the best. Anyway, man, I love these two together! I may be preaching to the choir here, but Speed also made me a lifelong fan of both Sandy B and Keanu, and I cannot even tell you how refreshing it is that the two of them ended up being decent human beings. And can we talk about how good they both look! Sandra doesn’t look a day over 40! I need to know what products she’s using. In the past, both actors have said that they’d be game to work together again. I do not need another Speed sequel, but I am itching to see them in a movie together! I saw The Lake House in theaters, but I honestly cannot remember much about it, hahaha. In the meantime, I think I have a Speed rewatch in my future this weekend. It’s been a few years, so I’m overdue.
Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves Reunite 30 Years After 'Speed' for Anniversary Screening in L.A. https://t.co/ZTEEMFm58T
— People (@people) October 9, 2024
Can't stop thinking about Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock at the Speed 30th anniversary screening last night. pic.twitter.com/wRFXfWVOPI
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) October 9, 2024
Getting to be so close to Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock was special. pic.twitter.com/taxoSmptVO
— The Moonlight Warrior 🌙 (@BlackMajikMan90) October 9, 2024
Between Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, and Kamala Harris, 60 is starting to look pretty damn good. #Goals
For real. I wouldn’t give any of them a day over 50. I’d guess that Sandra and Gwyneth are the same age, if I didn’t know better.
They both seem like truly lovely people, bless them.
I’m not a big action movie girl, but I love Speed and rewatch it every now and then. It’s a nail-biter!
(Oh, and The Lake House is charming. Go watch it again.)
I second the Lake House recommendation. It’s really very good and both Reeves and Bullock give lovely performances. I watched it a couple of Christmases ago and it’s ideal holiday fare.
Thank you both, I’ve never bothered watching it so I’ll give it a go.
Not them together but in recent years I’ve re-discovered The Net (SB) and Chain Reaction (KR) and really enjoyed both, particularly The Net as a point in time when we were still figuring out what having data held electronically might mean for the world.
Iirc, the disappointing thing about the lake house was that they were barely on screen together. So yeah, they should do another movie.
I love this movie and it has been re-watched several times over the years.
A friend is introducing her teenage kids to the films of our youth and we watched Speed together when I visited them this summer as of all the things they’d watched so far that was by far the family favourite.
It helps that they are both decent people, so many films I used to love are now tainted by what we know about the actors involved.
Oh that bomb on the bus, and officer Jack Traven.
*swoons*
Those two look so good together, still getting along, and giggling at the other’s jokes.
Keanu recently suggested they’d make a third Speed movie and call it Slow, or something similar. I don’t quite remember the exact phrasing he used to describe what he was envisioning for them, but I seem to recall it was about two old people in a retirement home.
And while I didn’t love the Lakehouse, I liked it — and I got to experience the craziness that was the London premiere, red carpet and afterparty at the Sanderson hotel included.
I also liked Sandra in the net and while you were sleeping. And the proposal . Betty white and Sarah scenes were fabulous
Edit. Sandra
Too bad Reeves did not return for speed sequel
I loved that film too! It’s crazy how young they still look. Any day where Keanu pops up on Celebitchy is a great day. I love that man, he just exudes kindness and goodness.
Just started Speed lol.