[Interview] “A Star’s Downfall—Even Keanu Reeves Can’t Escape It,” Keanu Reeves of “Boomerang,” Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer ②

▶ The interview with 〈Boomerang〉 co-stars Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, and Matt Bomer continues from Part 1.

〈Boomerang〉 is the story of a star whose life is exposed to scandal and public attention—but does it connect to real experiences?

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Cameron Diaz It’s not exactly a reflection of a personal experience, but I think it shows what happens when so many eyes are focused on someone. Right now, we all live in a culture where everyone wants to be seen by someone, and people even treat becoming famous like a goal. But Lee is a character who can’t even make that choice—he’s someone who’s been placed in that position since childhood. It shows the extreme situations he faces throughout his life under the public gaze, and just how limited the space is for him to live as a human being. In the end, I think it’s a story about “be careful what you wish for.” These days, everyone carries their own kind of “fame.”

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Matt Bomer I think cancel culture is a topic that’s already been covered in many works. It’s a problem that makes you look back at the past while also forcing you to think about the future. I think it’s meaningful to keep addressing stories like this.

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The film asks whether “redemption” comes from within a person or is given by society.

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Keanu Reeves I think it’s both. He apologizes, and you can feel the sincerity in the relationships. There’s an external process of receiving forgiveness from people—and at the same time, you find an inner place of stability.

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Is there a way to stay grounded while you’re in the spotlight for so long?

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Matt Bomer In our house, there’s nothing that corrects people the way teenage kids do. (laughs)

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How did you find a balance between comedy and drama?

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Keanu Reeves That balance was already in the script. The impressive part was that it was funny, yet emotionally true and honest.

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Cameron Diaz I don’t think comedy and drama are separate—they meet and touch each other. Because laughter and sadness can exist side by side. This film captures that balance really well, especially in how it shows the difference between what’s going on inside a character and what you see from the outside. That’s also the essence of celebrity culture. The whole atmosphere around celebrities has a kind of voyeurism. You treat a person like an object. But in reality, the person being portrayed is also experiencing something very real as a human being. I think this film shows that exceptionally well.

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Director Martin Scorsese appears in a very important role. It’s not just a simple cameo—his part is closely tied to the film’s themes. What was it like working with him?

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Keanu Reeves It was a truly special day. I had a few chances to meet him, but I never thought I’d get to act alongside him—even in my imagination. So it felt like, “Is this really happening to me?” (laughs) He plays Lee’s first manager—the person who supported Lee in his younger days. So he was incredibly kind. He had a little bit of that “wealthy father” kind of energy. Just spending those moments together was very special to me.

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He appears in almost every scene in the film—how did you feel once filming wrapped?

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Keanu Reeves The moments of “hanging out” with Cameron and Matt were really, really great. There were lots of improvisational moments as well as the script, and everything flowed perfectly. We were there for each other. When filming ended, it felt like, “Wow, we did it. We made it all the way here.” And I think Cameron said something too: “There’s always an Outcome (results, outcomes) for us.” (The original title of this film is OUTCOME)

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Cameron Diaz That’s really true. We had the absolute best team. (laughs)

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Cameron Diaz and Keanu Reeves—you appeared as lovers who fell for each other at first sight in 〈Falling for Minnesota〉 (1997), and now you’ve reunited for work again after nearly 30 years. What are your thoughts?

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Cameron Diaz Back then, I was about my fourth film as an actor, and I was really lacking in experience. Looking back, I’m even a little embarrassed about it. (laughs) I was really happy to be able to work together again with a bit more experience under my belt. Keanu is a warm person, always—back then and now. And it was great to see Keanu handle this character with such grace, up close—his drama and trauma that he goes through.

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Keanu Reeves Drama and trauma!

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Cameron Diaz Yes, drama and trauma. (laughs) Matt and I were also able to serve as a comedic buffer in there, so it was really enjoyable.

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As an actual actor and a star, what do you think Lee learned from this incident?

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Keanu Reeves That’s a tough one. (laughs) Watch the film to see. The one thing I can say clearly is that it’s important to be honest—with yourself and with others. If you watch it, many people will relate to it.

CinePlay, Lee Hwa-jeong, Guest Reporter