Hollywood heart-throbs Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey Jr have been whipping up support for their new animated thriller, A Scanner Darkly, one of the more unusual offerings premiering at the prestigious film festival.
The official screening gave fans a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the handsome Matrix actor, who admits he usually prefers to keep out of the limelight. In his latest role the Canadian citizen plays an undercover narcotics cop on the verge of a breakdown, whose condition worsens as he is ordered to spy on his friends.
A Scanner Darkly, which uses cutting-edge digital technology to recreate live action in an animated format, is directed by American Richard Linklater. The film is set in the near future in California, when America has become a surveillance police state struggling to win the war on drugs.
Keanu's co-star and former hell-raiser Robert joked that "25 year of drugs research" helped him prepare for his role in the sci-fi movie as Barris, one of the narcotics officer's druggie friends. The Oscar-nominated actor, who has spent lengthy periods in rehab in the past, turned his life around when he met Gothika producer Susan Levine. He married her in August last year.
UK audiences will get to see the pair's new flick in August, but can catch Keanu before then when he teams up with his Speed co-star Sandra Bullock in The Lake House, due out in the UK on June 23 and in the US on June 16.
Meanwhile, Good Night, And Good Luck star Robert is busier than ever and due to appear with a host of beautiful leading ladies, including Drew Barrymore in Lucky You and Nicole Kidman in Fur, later this year.
Photo: AFP
Photo: George Pimentel
