I was watching the movie Much Ado About Nothing from '93 and thought it was kinda cool to see Robert Sean Leonard and Keanu Reeves in it. Then I realized, they had very different career trajectories after this point and are an interesting study in what makes hollywood tick.
Keanu Reeves sucks. Even if you like him, you have to concede the fact that he was awarded a Golden Rasberry for Much Ado About Nothing. At this point however, he was ready to break out having starred in Bram Stoker's Dracula and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Robert Sean Leonard was ready to break out too. He was great in Dead Poet's Society and also landed a leading role in Swing Kids. He also really stole the show in Much Ado About Nothing.
Leonard was clearly the more talented actor, but his career suffered financially because he decided to go onto the stage and get nominated for a Tony. After going onto Broadway, it took him a while to get big parts again because he had left when his stock was high. He revived his career by getting nominated for two more Tony's and using that as a platform to get the role of Wilson on House.
And Keanu Reeves? He was off starring in a little movie called Speed. Although even in that, he was never great, he capitalized on his stock and invested it in action movies such as The Matrix and Constantine.
The lesson? Hollywood and its viewers are fickle and have a short memory. You may not want to "sell out" by going the Keanu Reeves route, but sometimes you have to so you can be comfortable later in pursuing your artistic integrity.
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