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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
