Despite being 27 years old, this movie is gold!
Speed was exciting and tense throughout, living up to being an action, adventure, and thriller film! The three subplots in this 1 hr and 56 min film were well developed and included harrowing stunts that gave the audience back to back action all the way to the end.
The bus plot, which is the major selling point for this film, was quite fresh and innovative. Confining the scene to a bus raised my expectations for the actors and actresses on the bus, however I think the film does a good job in portraying the tension between the passengers, the anxiety and then cathartic relief after they survive one obstacle after another, and the stress that Jack Traven, the Los Angeles Police Department officer, feels. The angry outburst Jack Traven has was a nice touch to the tough guy act.
Compared to his acting in the Matrix film series, Keanu Reeves gives his character Jack Traven more emotion and charisma. Although he was a little aloof during his "obligatory flirting" with Sandra Bullock's character, Annie, I think Reeves sells the relationship a bit more towards the end. It's good enough based on his standard.
Overall, I think Reeves does a good job.
