Rated: R
Studio: Warner Bros.
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne,
Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano
Directed by: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Written by: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Personal Bias Alert: likes sci-fi; believes it should be evaluated independent of its sequels
8.5 of 10
Like
it or not, The Matrix has to go down
as one of the most influential films of its time. It invented new methods of cinematography and
introduced Eastern action choreography to the American masses, changing not
only the way Hollywood envisioned action sequences, but also having widespread
effects on television and video games as well.
Fifteen years later, its mark can’t be denied, but the great thing about
going back and reevaluating this film is the reminder that underneath that ingenuity
is a story as solid as they come.
In
case you were born under a rock, The
Matrix follows hacker Neo aka Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) as he finds
out that humanity has been enslaved by machines, and the world as he knows it
is nothing but a computer simulation.
Having been ‘awoken’ by a band of rebels led by the cryptic Morpheus
(Laurence Fishburne) and the tough Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Neo finds out
that he may be destined to save humanity and upgrade his wardrobe.
All
joking aside, the visual effects, wardrobe, and everything else that populates
the screen is as slick as they come, leaning heavily on the timeless cool of
black leather and mirror sunglasses to create a cyberpunk look that still
impresses today. Some of the larger
visual effects don’t hold up too well, but the sheer amount of smaller work,
from the streaming green code of the Matrix to the reflection shots inserted on
character’s sunglasses, culminates in such a spectacularly interesting world
that momentary downfalls are forgiven.
Rarely
is a world so stylishly envisioned given a budget large enough to execute that
vision, and the credit for getting that done has to start with the
Wachowskis. Say what you will about the
quality of their later work, but they routinely make films that don’t look like
everything else. Here, they managed to
bring together the disparate filmmaking pieces to create two distinct
worlds: the sleek near-reality of the
Matrix and the gritty plainness of the waking world. Think about it, every department had to
create two worlds for one film, and they are both so fully realized that the
Wachowskis must have had a clear vision for each one.
Underneath all this eye candy is a solid
action center, drawing from the hero’s journey formula to create a familiar but
satisfying story. The beats are almost
textbook, from the thrilling opening action sequence to the titillating training
section, but this basic story allows the Wachowskis to devote their exposition
time (which is still quite lengthy) to the explanation of their quirky world.
The world of the Matrix may not be straightforward,
but it isn’t exactly original, either.
It owes much to the ideas laid down by classic sci-fi writers like
William Gibson and Philip K. Dick, as well as various religious and
philosophical works. What’s impressive
is how many ideas the Wachowskis were able to mash together to make what is, in
essence, a basic sci-fi horror scenario:
that humanity has become enslaved to their own creation. It’s a delicate balance to find the right mix
of familiar and new concepts that will keep the audience engaged but not
overwhelmed, and The Matrix pulls off
this challenge with flying colors.
In
the end, the astronomical success of The
Matrix was due to the Wackowskis’ ability to blend a familiar story with a
slick visual style and a twist of sci-fi.
It’s a lot of pieces to balance, but the Wachowskis have never been ones
to make simple films, and The Matrix
is their magnum opus. It’s an ultimate
triumph of mass-appeal sci-fi entertainment, and it’s earned its place in the
annals of film history.
Other Notes:
Ø Taking
a mystery pill from the guy wearing sunglasses indoors and talking in circles
is never the right choice.
Ø Yay,
creepy body horror! I completely forgot
how much of that there is in this film.
Ø Fun
fact: The Matrix was the first DVD to sell more than a million copies.
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