Keanu On "Constantine" Sequel Chances

audience likes what he's done so far in the first film opening February 18th.

Reeves told IESB that "My contract didn't have a second film in it.  But myself and some of the producers and Francis Lawrence fell in love with the guy.  I fell in love with the guy.  I had one of the best times I've ever had working on this project.  So we would talk about 'What could we do? What happens to Constantine?'  You know, we'd think, 'He's a heroin addict in Morocco, and he's got this spell, and he's killing people, but he's trying not to kill people, so he keeps knocking himself out.  Then [producer] Akiva Goldsman was like, 'No!  He wants to stop Revelations'.

We'd do these kinds of things.  Ultimately, it's up to the audience.  That would mean that the studio would have the resources to go forward with it.  I would love to play Constantine again as long as I worked with the same people, definitely Francis Lawrence and Akiva Goldsman, and everyone involved in this project because I could not imagine doing this without them."

Thanks to 'Robert' & 'Gustavo'.

Constantine�@Review

January 30, 2005
Source: themoviereporter.com
Author: Antony Teofilo
Visit the IESB galleries with over 5000 images from red carpet premieres and studio releases
On February 18th, Keanu Reeves dons the mantle of John Constantine, the popular comic book anti-hero of the HELLBLAZER series.

At war with the powers of Heaven, Hell, and all the realms inbetween, Constantine is out to find a way to redemption, even after he has committed an Unforgivable Sin.

Reeves, who gives a surprising and well-constructed performance despite major changes to the settings of the books, wants to come back as Constantine, as long as the audience likes what he's done so far:"My contract didn't have a second film in it. But myself and some of the producers and Francis Lawrence fell in love with the guy. I fell in love with the guy. I had one of the best times I've ever had working on this project. So we would talk about 'What could we do? What happens to Constantine?' You know, we'd think, 'He's a heroin addict in Morocco, and he's got this spell, and he's killing people, but he's trying not to kill people, so he keeps knocking himself out. Then [producer] Akiva Goldsman was like, 'No! He wants to stop Revelations'. We'd do these kinds of things. Ultimately, it's up to the audience. That would mean that the studio would have the resources to go forward with it. I would love to play Constantine again as long as I worked with the same people, definitely Francis Barnes and Akiva Goldsman, and everyone involved in this project because I could not imagine doing this without them."

Mining 'Matrix'

Mining 'Matrix'
By CHARLES TAYLOR

Published: January 30, 2005

The verbal and visual language of cyber fantasy seems to be a collaboration of Rem Koolhaas and Ralph Kramden. Within neon-bright futurist cities exist the dimmest, grungiest retro interiors. Technological advances sit alongside technological rot.

You can get another glimpse of that visual language in the trailer for the next big fantasy release, the director Francis Lawrence's "Constantine," the story of a supernatural detective adapted from the "Hellblazer" comics created by Alan Moore. If you're not paying close attention, you could mistakenly think that you've stumbled onto one more "Matrix" entry. It's not just the presence of Keanu Reeves as the detective, John Constantine, right. It's also the way the trailer seems to echo the first "Matrix": Mr. Reeves's writhing body as he submits to electrocution recalls the moment when Neo swallows the red pill; Rachel Weisz, her hair pulled back in some shots and outfitted in sleek gray-and-black ensembles, recalls Carrie-Anne Moss; Djimon Hounsou, wearing the kind of hat that might be called dog-park chic, appears to be filling the role of patiently explaining guru, as Gloria Foster did with the Oracle. More generally, the trailer has the same depressive color scheme - drab, washed-out rooms alternating with anonymous cubicled offices - and objects and bodies move as if the air were something you drink to get more fiber.

Hollywood is devouring itself at such a rate that it doesn't take long for everything new to be old again. The things that were so thrilling a mere six years ago in "The Matrix" have become clichés. (In "Elektra," the heroine's leaning out of the way of bullets that ripple the air as they pass is pure thievery.) So it's an open question whether Warner Brothers, the studio behind both "Constantine" (due Feb. 18) and the "Matrix" films, is consciously aping itself with the new trailer or whether such copying is inevitable. The studio may be trying to remind people of how much fun they had at "The Matrix." If only it can keep them from remembering what thudding disappointments the sequels were.

Walk of Fame

Date: 2005-01-31
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Address: 6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Getting There:MAP

Keanu Reeves is one of Hollywood's most sought after and busiest leading men. Raised in Toronto, Reeves performed in various local theater productions and on television before relocating to Los Angeles. His first widely acclaimed role was in Tim Hunter's "River's Edge."

His long list of credits include "Hardball," "The Gift," for which he received critical acclaim, "Sweet November," "The Replacements," "A Walk in the Clouds," the hit thriller, "Devil's Advocate," "Little Buddha," and "Much Ado about Nothing." Reeves was also seen in "Bram Stoker's Dracula," "My Own Private Idaho," "Point Break" the very popular "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and it's sequel, "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey."

SUNDANCE DIARY

SUNDANCE DIARY
Cool cameos and stylish dance steps
Ruthe Stein

Thursday, January 27, 2005
Park City, Utah -- The unusually high turnout of movie stars at the Sundance Film Festival is a sign of how cool it's become to appear in independent films. The coolest thing is to take a small role to help an indie get financed, which is what Mr. Cool himself, Keanu Reeves, did on "Thumbsucker." He appears as a caring dentist concerned about a teenage patient's inability to keep the widest digit on his hand out of his mouth.

I asked if he'd drawn inspiration from other actors who've brandished drills, from Sir Laurence Olivier in "Marathon Man" to Steve Martin in "Little Shop of Horrors." "Um, no," Reeves replied, laughing, "though those performances have been important to me just as somebody who wants to learn about acting." To prepare for "Thumbsucker," he hung out in an orthodontist's office. "I got to play with some of the tools. The first time I used one on Lou Pucci (as the teen), I almost knocked his eye out.'' Reeves makes a brief appearance in another Sundance entry, "Ellie Parker," performing with his band, Dogstar, at the House of Blues.

KEANU REEVES' DIFFICULT SUNDANCE

Hollywood heart-throb KEANU REEVES is finding it hard to enjoy the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL in Utah this week (ends28JAN05), because his younger sister KIM is seriously ill.

The SPEED star's sibling was diagnosed with leukaemia several years ago, but friends tell gossip site PAGESIX.COM her conditioned has deteriorated in recent weeks.

Reeves is in Park City to promote his latest movie THUMBSUCKER, but has kept a low profile outside press junkets.

A source says, "His sister is very sick. Her leukaemia is not getting any better."

Meanwhile the Buddhist actor has become a surrogate father to a friend's son, who is having problems caring for the youngster.

The source adds, "He has taken a little seven-year-old boy under his wing and has become a father figure to him."

27/01/2005 17:49

Bullock, Reeves Reunite for Romance

By Liza Foreman

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Sandra Bullock (news) and Keanu Reeves have signed to star in "Il Mare," a romantic drama that marks their first reunion since their 1994 thriller "Speed."

A remake of the Korean feature "Siworae," the Warner Bros. project follows a lonely doctor (Bullock) who begins exchanging love letters with a frustrated architect (Reeves), but they then discover they are separated in time by two years.

Argentinean filmmaker Alejandro Agresti ("Valentin") will direct from a script by David Auburn ("Proof"). Production is set to begin production in March in Chicago.

Reeves will be seen in the upcoming Warners release "Constantine." Bullock stars in the upcoming "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

The Perfect Circle's "Passive" Song Featured in "Constantine"

From Rebecca Murray,
Your Guide to Hollywood Movies.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz Star in "Constantine"Virgin Recording artist A Perfect Circle�fs explosive new single "Passive�h will be the featured song in the upcoming motion picture "Constantine," from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures, starring Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz. The supernatural-thriller, which marks the feature directorial debut of famed video director Francis Lawrence, will open nationally in the U.S. on February 18, 2005. �gPassive,�h the second single from APC�fs critically-acclaimed album �geMOTIVe,�h is set to impact active rock and alternative radio on January 18, but the song is already burning up the airwaves, with major market airplay in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington. Sponsored LinksRachel Podger CDs

The Brothers Strause, visual effects supervisors for Constantine, and well-known video directors in their own right, are set to direct the upcoming �gPassive�h video.

�gPassive�h was the result of an intense songwriting collaboration between APC�fs Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel and Nine Inch Nail�fs Trent Reznor and Danny Lohner. �gIt's a song that I've been working on for a long time,�h says Keenan. �gOriginally it came from a couple riffs that Danny had written , and it's been through 20 incarnations.�h The track is one of two original compositions on �geMOTIVe,�h an album that Keenan describes as �ga collection of songs about war, peace, love and greed.�h

The album includes legendary protest songs by John Lennon and Marvin Gaye, along with such insurgent classics as Fear�fs �gLet�fs Have A War,�h Depeche Mode�fs �gPeople Are People,�h and Memphis Minnie�fs blues stomper, �gWhen The Levee Breaks�h (made famous by Led Zeppelin). APC masterfully spans an array of genres – hardcore punk and heavy metal, new wave and Delta blues, folk rock and rhythm & blues -- to convey feelings of anger, rebelliousness, hope, and despair.

�gThe commentary on �ePassive�f seemed very apropos for this album,�h says Keenan. �gThe song is very much about apathy. I think a lot of the problems in this country have to do with people willingly staying asleep. They're allowing this administration to manipulate their decisions without actually getting involved in those decisions.�h

The song�fs message about passionately sticking up for what you believe in is a central theme of Constantine. Based on characters from the DC Comics/Vertigo �gHellblazer�h graphic novels, the film tells the story of John Constantine (Reeves), a man who has literally been to hell and back. When he teams up with skeptical police detective Angela Dodson (Weisz) to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists just beside the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles. Caught in a catastrophic series of otherworldly events, the two become inextricably involved and seek to find their own peace at whatever cost. The film also stars Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale and Peter Stormare.

�gIf you really believe in something, step forward�h says Keenan, reiterating the ultimate meaning of �gPassive.�h "Voice your views, and let's help move everything forward."

GRAPHIC LANGUAGE

You've heard of Cannes and the Sundance Film Festival (news - web sites). But if you're into the sci-fi/superhero genre and movies like "Spider-Man" or "The Matrix," there's another annual event that's even more important - Comic-Con, a gathering of comic-book aficionados that happens every July in San Diego.

Hollywood is certainly getting chummy with Comic-Con: Last year, Keanu Reeves, Jude Law and Sarah Michelle Gellar (news) went to San Diego to meet the geeks.

And George Lucas chose Comic-Con 2004 as the place to unveil the title of his new "Star Wars" movie, "Revenge of the Sith."

That's because the Comic-Con geeks are suddenly sought-after tastemakers.

In what must be sweet justice for many a formerly alienated adolescent boy, this year's biggest movies are all about comics, cult characters, sci-fi and fantasy.

It's inspiring to read about these in January, when studios are releasing decidedly low-expectation fare such as this Friday's "Elektra." (According to chud.com editor Nick Nunziata, the best we can hope from that one is "a movie to make fun of.")

It will get even better in 2005. Here's a preview of the best of what's in store.

Constantine (Feb. 18)
Keanu Reeves

This dark fantasy thriller about the bad-tempered supernatural detective Constantine (Reeves) has been controversial. Many fans who know Constantine from the "Hellblazer" comics were worried that Hollywood would defang the character, whom Nunziata calls "a real chain-smoking, hard-drinking git."

But first-time director Francis Lawrence took 25 minutes of footage to Comic-Con last year - "right into the lion's den," he says - and many fanboys were surprised at how scary it looked.

"I liked the scene where Constantine is performing an exorcism on a little girl," one wrote on aintitcool.com. "The demon inside of her literally tries to rip out of her body through her neck."

Join the discussion: www.insanerantings.com/hell

Linklater's live-action/animated sci-fi film

January 07, 2005 - A few new images from Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly are now online at Ain't It Cool News ? you can click the thumbnail versions below to go there and check 'em out.

Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson and Rory Cochran star in the adaptation of Philip K. Dick's sci-fi novel.

As you'll see in the images, Linklater is utilizing the same filmmaking technique that he used in Waking Life ? shooting the movie live-action and then animating over it.

The film's producer, Tommy Pallotta, tells AICN that fans can expect much more realistic/less abstract animation than in Waking Life. He says most of the animators working out of the film are coming out of the realm of illustration and are graphic novel artists. It shows.

A Scanner Darkly is the story of Bob Arctor, a dealer of a lethally addictive drug called Substance D, and Fred a police agent assigned to tail and eventually bust him. To do so, he has taken on the identity of a drug dealer named Bob Arctor. And since Substance D ? which Arctor takes in massive doses ? gradually splits the user's brain into two distinct, combative entities, Fred doesn't realize that he is actually narcing on himself.

Warner Home Video to Release Over 50 Film Titles on HD DVD

Warner Home Video to Release Over 50 Film Titles on HD DVD; Home Video Leader Plans Release of New and Catalog Titles Beginning Q4 2005

2005 International CES

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--Warner Home Video (WHV), which distributes the largest film library of any studio, will announce today at a press conference at CES 2005 that it plans to release over 50 new and catalog titles, including selections from New Line Home Entertainment and HBO Video, during the launch of HD DVD, the next generation digital video format, commencing in the fourth quarter of 2005.

"We're proud to continue our longstanding tradition of innovation and leadership in home video by debuting an exciting selection of new releases on HD DVD that will be accompanied by time tested favorites from our extensive library," said Jim Cardwell, President, Warner Home Video. "HD DVD is the future of home entertainment and is the format that will lead us into the high definition entertainment era. It will create new and exciting opportunities for consumers to enjoy their favorite movies, TV series, sports programming, children's entertainment, documentaries and other specialized titles with unprecedented picture and sound quality, advanced navigation and interactivity and increased security."

The press conference will feature a dazzling demonstration of HD DVD highlighted by an exclusive first look of clips from Warner Bros. Pictures pre-theatrical releases to be issued by Warner Home Video on HD DVD. These HD DVD clips will include footage of Christian Bale in Batman Begins, Keanu Reeves in Constantine and Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

"Warner Home Video's endorsement creates a deep and diverse base of content support for HD DVD," said Marsha King, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Warner Home Video. "It ensures that consumers will be able to enjoy an impressive collection of their favorite movies, TV series and other entertainment as they have never seen them before -- in high definition and with HD DVD's rich features."

Planned HD DVD releases from the extensive Warner Home Video library include such recent theatrical releases as Ocean's Twelve, The Polar Express, and The Phantom of the Opera as well as titles from the hugely successful Matrix and Harry Potter franchises.

New Line Home Entertainment and HBO Video, owners of such esteemed motion picture and television titles as Rush Hour series and The Sopranos respectively, also plan to issue releases in conjunction with their distribution partner Warner Home Video in support of the launch of HD DVD.

"New Line Home Entertainment has always been at the forefront of industry innovation, and our involvement in the launch of HD DVD signals our continued commitment to the evolution of home entertainment," said Stephen Einhorn, President and Chief Operation Officer, New Line Entertainment. "In support of HD DVD and to provide consumers with a compelling new entertainment experience, we're planning to issue a selection of our most exciting films in the format including such titles as Se7en, Blade, Rush Hour and Austin Powers."

"HD DVD represents an exciting new development that will significantly enhance the consumer's home entertainment experience," said Henry McGee, President, HBO Video. "We are backing the launch of HD DVD with a line-up of releases from HBO's highly acclaimed programming including the first season of The Sopranos and the miniseries Angels in America and From the Earth to the Moon."

Warner Bros. boasts the largest library of any motion picture studio with over 6,500 feature films, 40,000 TV episodes and 14,000 animated titles (with over 1,500 classic animated shorts). The library includes such world-renowned franchises as Superman, Batman, Friends, E.R. and The West Wing, as well as such contemporary theatrical hits as Oceans Eleven, Mystic River and The Last Samurai. The studio is expected to announce the release of an increasing amount of its content on HD DVD as its involvement with the format continues.

About Warner Home Video

With operations in 89 international territories, Warner Home Video commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment Company, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

About New Line Home Entertainment

New Line Home Entertainment markets New Line Cinema and Fine Line Features theatrical films on DVD and VHS, including the premium DVD brand infinifilm(TM).

The Company also distributes feature films and non-theatrical programs acquired or produced by New Line Home Entertainment and New Line Television. Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is the leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical films, such as The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy, the Blade series and the Austin Powers franchise. New Line Cinema licenses its programming to ancillary markets, including cable and broadcast television, as well as in all international markets. New Line Cinema is a Time Warner Company.

About HBO Video

HBO Video markets an extensive array of programs ranging from HBO's critically acclaimed and groundbreaking series The Sopranos and Sex and the City to theatrical features such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the number one romantic comedy of all time. The company catalog contains hundreds of titles including the multiple Emmy Award winning miniseries Band of Brothers, children's programs like I Spy, based on the best-selling book series, and innovative movies from HBO films including Elephant, winner of Palm D'Or, and Sundance Festival award winners American Splendor and Real Women Have Curves.

PLANNED WARNER HOME VIDEO HD DVD LAUNCH TITLES

1. Above the Law
2. Alexander
3. Angels in America (HBO)
4. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (New Line)
5. Batman Begins
6. Blade (New Line)
7. Catwoman
8. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
9. Constantine
10. Contact
11. Dark City (New Line)
12. The Dukes of Hazzard
13. Eraser
14. Executive Decision
15. Final Destination (New Line)
16. Friday (New Line)
17. From the Earth to the Moon (HBO)
18. The Fugitive
19. Gothika
20. Hard to Kill
21. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
22. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
23. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
24. House of Wax (2005)
25. The Last Samurai
26. The Mask (New Line)
27. The Matrix
28. The Matrix Reloaded
29. The Matrix Revolutions
30. Maverick
31. Million Dollar Baby
32. The Music Man
33. Mystic River
34. Next of Kin
35. North by Northwest
36. Ocean's Eleven
37. Ocean's Twelve
38. Passenger 57
39. The Perfect Storm
40. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
41. The Player (New Line)
42. The Polar Express
43. Red Planet
44. Rush Hour (New Line)
45. Se7en (New Line)
46. Soldier
47. The Sopranos (HBO)
48. Spawn (New Line)
49. Swordfish
50. Troy
51. Under Siege
52. U.S. Marshals
53. Wild Wild West

Diane Keaton Talks About "Something's Gotta Give"

From Rebecca Murray,
Your Guide to Hollywood Movies.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Academy Award-winning actress Diane Keaton is garnering critical acclaim for her performance in the romantic comedy �gSomething�fs Gotta Give,�h co-starring Jack Nicholson and written/directed by Nancy Meyers.

Diane Keaton plays a mature mother who finds herself nursing perennial bachelor Harry Sanborn (Nicholson) back to health after he experiences heart problems while on a romantic getaway with her daughter (played by Amanda Peet). Harry normally goes for younger women but soon finds himself strangely attracted to someone closer to his own age. Keaton�fs character also works her magic on a younger doctor (Keanu Reeves), placing her smack dab in the middle of a complicated love triangle.

DIANE KEATON (�eErica�f):

Do you understand the appeal of dating a younger man and would you go there? Could you go there?
I once went there but I have to say it was a kind of a strange thing for me.

I didn�ft really like it very much and I don�ft think he liked it either. It was too odd. It was sort of like, �gYeah�c No�c�h Was that a societal thing?
No, I don�ft think it is. I don�ft think societal. There is that aspect to it, of course. You are absolutely right. But I think just even the intimacy of it and the fact that there�fs so much that you can�ft really share with each other in some way – the experiences that you�fve been through that they can�ft really understand because they�fre not there. You know, you�fre separated by so many things. It isn�ft also just age but the kind of work you do. If you�fre successful, you�fre separated by that, which is an odd thing. It feels weird, but it�fs true. So it wasn�ft for me.

Is that a 'been there-done that' type of thing for you?
Yes, sort of. It�fs sort of interesting when you put it that way because you think �gBeen there, done that. Oh dear.�h Yes.

How delicate a balance is it to be funny in a scene where your character doesn�ft know she�fs being funny?
It�fs a strange balancing act and I don�ft really know why. But it�fs like Nancy�fs [Meyers] former husband, Charles Shyer, said to me on �gBaby Boom.�h I was kissing Sam Shepard and he said, �gDiane, it�fs a comedy.�h That was the direction, �gIt�fs a comedy.�h I was taking it too seriously; it�fs just tonal. It�fs a delicate little line. You sort of go, �gOh, it�fs a comedy.�h And you could lighten it up in a way, but it�fs still real. I don�ft know how or why some people know how to do it, but they do. They kind of have the knack for it. I think that because it�fs what I have done all my life, I kind of get it.

You and Jack Nicholson have great onscreen chemistry. Can you talk about what it was like to shoot that love scene with him?
Well you know, working with Jack is sort of like standing in front of the Grand Canyon. I don�ft know, there�fs too much going on there and you�fre just this little speck on a precipice. He�fs like this huge, massive kind of structure. He�fs one of the Seven Wonders of the World. That�fs the way it feels. It feels like that because I think there�fs something about the way Jack uses language. It�fs like he�fs a master of the word, and the love of the word. A kiss is like you put the words away and you�fre just standing there and you�fre just sort of, �gOh, it�fs just you and me and we�fre really going to just experience this without saying anything.�h It�fs just beautiful. I loved it and I wish that I could do it again because it�fs like you just carry that with you. It was kind of a form of heaven.

Is he a good kisser?
Yes, I love kissing him. I didn�ft mind doing a lot of takes and Nancy always likes to do a lot of takes. I didn�ft have to say anything. I just had to show up and expect a lot of kissing (laughing).

You and Jack Nicholson have known each other for a long time, haven�ft you?
I think we�fve been separated by time and experience. That is like a huge chasm. I think that Jack went on to become even more of a legendary actor and I went on to go up and down and up and down. I think that what�fs been interesting is that that�fs changed him in the sense that he�fs had to carry this mantle of greatness around with him, which is a huge overwhelming responsibility because every part, the demand to be great is on your shoulders. I don�ft even care, I know that this is rare and I�fm just going to go out there and do it. Nobody�fs thinking about, �gOh gee, you�fve been doing this a lot. You�fve been great and you�fve been nominated for an Academy Award.�h Well, how many times has he been nominated? 12, 13? It�fs like I don�ft have to worry about that so much. I think he is very graceful about that. I think that he respects the art of acting and the art of film. He�fs a great representative for all of us actors. That�fs what I think. I was just happy to be around.

Was there ever a question of you doing the nude scene?
Never a question. I knew that I had to. You read the script, you realize you have to.

Did you do anything to get ready for that? Anything special to get in shape?
No, I did nothing. I thought, �gIt�fs going to be a woman�fs body and that�fs the way it is.�h It�fs okay, it�fll do.

Can you talk about that scene in terms of its celebration of older women?
I think that that was Nancy�fs intention, and God bless her. I�fm just thrilled she picked me to be the representative. I�fm going to be the spokesperson now, huh? I�fm going to try.

When you saw the completed picture, how did it compare to your expectations?
I think we had high expectations because Nancy was a big taskmaster. Performers RightsPersonal experiences that lead to some information for performersperformer-rights.za.orgShe really wanted a lot from us. She demanded a lot emotionally from both of us. She was a very meticulous, detailed director in that Nancy was very precise about the words. I�fm a big slob so I was constantly being reminded that that wasn�ft the actual way it was written.

I think that I didn�ft really know. I just trusted Nancy�fs expertise about a movie that was so close to her heart. You can never forget that. This is Nancy�fs baby, her professional baby, and it meant a lot to her. I was buoyed by Nancy�fs confidence and also be her hawk-like eye on everything that had anything to do with the movie.

You do so much with acting, producing, directing, photography. Was there a point where you said that getting a part in the next movie isn�ft everything?
I had to ask myself that because I�fve had so many dips. I had to adjust myself to that, which I think had been really kind of a godsend in a weird way. I wouldn�ft wish it on myself again, but it happens all the time. I think it just forces you to look out toward other things that are not so self-directed. Do you know what I mean? That�fs kind of fun. It permits adventure. It gives you an opportunity to explore other means of expressing yourself.

Are you a different actor because you�fve been a director?
No. I think the two are two separate worlds. My feeling about being an actress is that the responsibility of telling the story, once you go to shoot, is not mine. My job is to do my job. I don�ft like to direct and protect myself when we�fre shooting. I like to just do my job and that�fs it. But when you�fre directing, it�fs the exact opposite, obviously. As a director, I feel like my job is with the actors, because that�fs the most important aspect of the films that I�fve directed is working with the actors, which is also the most dangerous aspect because I�fm terrified of actors, knowing full well that if they get too much control, they can wreck your intentions. I always like to just let them find their way and listen, and be a great audience, which I learned from watching Woody direct actors actually. Also Nancy is somebody who is a great audience. She�fs more of a specific audience with her words. Woody just wants to throw the words away. He doesn�ft find anything that he writes particularly precious. He�fd always say to me, �gLoosen up the sentence. Mess it up, stop it. It doesn�ft sound like a normal person talking. You sound like you�fre saying the words.�h Whereas Nancy also approaches it from a realistic way, but she also wants those words, her words. You�fre dancing around it a lot.

You joked about becoming the poster woman for older women. What is it about finding love later in life that makes it so enriching?
I think the fact that you�fre up against the wall. You don�ft have the time that you once had. So if you�fre here, right about where I am, the fact that you fall in love is so sweet. It couldn�ft be like more heavenly because you know that it can�ft last. When you�fre a kid you live under the illusion, which is the delusion that it will last forever. And of course it frequently doesn�ft.

You also got to kiss Keanu Reeves in this movie. Is that like another day at the office for you?
No, it�fs not another day at the office. I realize that this is probably going to be my last go-round. I�fm enjoying every second of it, okay? Every single second of it.

Do you have to work up to that?
You know you bring that up and I think that was one of my preparations for the movie, the realization that this was never going to happen again, so who cares? I�fm going to just go for it (laughing). I�fm going to just like all of it. I�fm just going to enjoy every aspect of the kissing and the hugging and the yelling and screaming and being in love because I know it�fs not coming my way again. I don�ft think so, do you? I doubt it.