Written by Staff Writer by Guest Contributor
The web abounds with stories of reunions that never took place, turned into cult classics and turn up uncredited. But sometimes, we find old stories pop up that nobody has ever reported on — and in those cases, we delight. Here, CNN revisits five of the best, from early beginnings to untimely endings.
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in the two-part “Speed” (1995). Credit: CNN
1. “Speed”
This seems like it was all supposed to happen — a sweeping police action thriller starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. The plot would find Bullock’s career-best performance. The director (Ronny Yu) would be Peter Berg, a future Oscar nominee for “Friday Night Lights.” Both Reeves and Bullock would be Oscar nominees later.
2. “Rising Sun”
Anthony Hopkins and Jude Law in the 1966 romance “Rising Sun” — a big-screen version of a cult film. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Helped along by a script with book-length flashbacks, this biopic of the late William Faulkner tracked the author’s life as it unfolded in New Orleans.
3. “The Suborbs”
Director Lars von Trier’s 2002 drama (“Dogville”) chronicled a woman’s violent journey through the mountains of Sweden. With its breakneck pace and a beautiful shower of subversives, “The Suburbs” seemed like an out-of-the-ordinary Hollywood melodrama.
4. “When Harry Met Sally”
Rob Reiner’s 1989 romantic comedy was initially about a gay couple’s passionate affair and sexually awakening their respective spouses. Peter Sarsgaard’s career-best performance was a down payment on Oscar love for him.
5. “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie”
Hong Kong director Johnnie To’s 1986 crime drama (“Crossfire”) had no visual cues, dialogue or narrative structure to match its slick genre design. “Killing” was a lesson in sound and manipulation.
