Movies - TV
Keanu Reeves Prepped For Speed By Hanging Out With A Real SWAT Team
By SANDY SCHAEFER
In the film “Speed,” Keanu Reeves really nailed down how to portray LAPD SWAT officer Jack Traven, a straight-laced good guy who's there to do his job and mind his p's and q's.
Writer Joss Whedon told The Hollywood Reporter, "[Reeves] talked about [doing research for the role by hanging out] with the SWAT guys and how they were unfailingly polite.”
“[He said that] they're only about defusing the situation, they call everybody 'sir' or 'ma'am.' It was like click — that was it. I understand this character now,” Whedon added.
Whedon said Reeves saw Jack as a lateral thinker, not a hot shot, and the actor was going to do what felt right, even if the approach seemed odd.