‘Spike Spiegel’ has been cast

By  T.S. Ross, tsross@modernfilmzine.com

Keanu Reeves is to play iconic anime character ‘Spike Spiegel’ in the live action “Cowboy Bebop” movie, set for a 2011 theatrical release. When I told fellow writer Michael Knox the news, his immediate reaction was, “Keanu Reeves as Spike? @%$! Thats like casting Michael mother f%$#@&^# Clarke Duncan as Charlie Brown!”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

I’m no hater of Keanu Reeves; when that rare time comes where he is cast perfectly in a role, he can really shine. His awesome portrayal of a hippie guru dentist in “Thumbsucker” instantly springs to mind. He stole every scene in that movie. He has also given us ‘Neo’ from “The Matrix,” and likable bonehead ‘Ted’ from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”

Ted is as shocked as we are.

However, Keanu as ‘Spike’ is about as ‘WTF?’ as his portrayal of ‘Jonathan Harker’ in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.”

Nothing says Spike Spiegel more, than a pair of devil horns.

Now I love me some “Cowboy Bebop”. The music, the style, the characters, all sublime. It is an anime that has influenced me personally as a film maker. Every time I watch an episode, I want to quickly grab a camera and make movies.

After hearing the big news, Spike decided to go on a binge.

Yet when “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie” was released, I had mixed thoughts about it. It is beautifully animated, but it takes its sweet time getting anywhere. It made me come to the conclusion that “Bebop” works perfectly in its original thirty minute format. Every episode felt like it’s own stand alone short film.

A live action movie might work, but why even make it? Music was “Cowboy Bebop”s greatest charm, but it’s slick stye also comes from it’s awesome animation. I can’t think of what new story can be told in live action, that animation wouldn’t do better.

Last but not least, with Keanu to be the lead, this movie is going to be a joke.  From what I’ve read from other sources, fans aren’t exactly dancing with glee. ‘Spike Spegiel’s character is already perfectly voiced through Steve Blum. We’re always going to have his voice in our heads. It’ll be awkward, to say the least, in having Keanu Reeves utter lines like “Hunger is the best spice they say,” without ruining Steve’s perfection.

And now for a T.S. Ross theory:

Live Action + Cowboy Bebop + Keanu Reeves = Most. Excellent. Failure.

After a couple drinks, there isn't THAT much of a difference...