Mr. T-Shirt

In “Keanu’s Eccentric Adventure” (June 5), Kristine McKenna wrote:

“Reeves still dresses like a rebellious teen-ager--faded jeans and a T-shirt--despite the fact that he’ll turn 30 in September.”

Can you please tell me what is rebellious about faded jeans and a T-shirt? It is almost impossible to buy jeans that are not faded. Faded jeans are sold at the Gap, at Kmart, at Bullock’s. The middle-aged Russian students I teach wear faded jeans and T-shirts (it’s probably the only thing they can find to buy).

Was your reporter so desperate for something to say?

J. GALLENTINE

Los Angeles

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I understand the temptation to fawn over a subject one admires, but Kristine McKenna could have reined in her idolatry for Keanu Reeves a bit.

Reading the article, you’d never know that the overwhelming consensus is that acting in period movies like “Dracula” and “Much Ado About Nothing” is, to put it kindly, not Reeves’ forte. I admire Reeves’ desire to stretch and work with top directors, but his best work has been in contemporary stories--”River’s Edge,” “Permanent Record,” even “Parenthood.”

Aside from the late River Phoenix, no other actor has been able to so deeply and sweetly capture the emotions of the Pearl Jam generation. But rather than capitalize on his truth, Moviedom has simply let him play dress-up. Now, he’s going the stiff action hero route in “Speed.” Talk about wasted youth.

JOHN GRIFFITHS

Los Angeles