The Matrix (1999) Warner Bros./Sci-Fi-Action RT: 136 minutes Rated R (sci-fi violence and brief language) Director: The Wachowskis Screenplay: The Wachowskis Music: Don Davis Cinematography: Bill Pope Release date: March 31, 1999 (US) Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Julian Arahanga, Matt Doran, Belinda McClory, Anthony Ray Parker, Paul Goddard, Robert Taylor, Marc Gray, Ada Nicodemou. Box Office: $171.4M (US)/$466.3M (World)
Rating: ****
Although it’s been more than 20 years since The Matrix made its debut, I still find it impressive on both a visual and intellectual level. It’s concrete proof that you can make a successful movie without dumbing it down for mass consumption. I had to watch it more than once to absorb it all. It’s, at once, a dazzling technological achievement and a smart kick-ass sci-fi action flick. You get some great kung fu fights to go along with an intelligent plot full of weighty philosophical ideas. Oh yeah, you also get to hear star Keanu Reeves (Point Break) say his trademark “whoa!” exclamation. That just seals the deal for me.
Keanu plays Thomas Anderson, a mild-mannered computer programmer leading a double life. By night, he’s a hacker known only as Neo. He’s been trying to get to the bottom of enigmatic messages referring to something called “the Matrix”. He finally makes contact with a leather-clad woman named Trinity (Moss, Memento) who tells him to talk to man called Morpheus. The next day, he’s chased and captured by a team of men in black suits led by an Agent Smith (Weaving, the LOTR trilogy). They’re aware of his secret life and want him to help them nab Morpheus. When he refuses, they force him to comply.
Eventually, Neo is taken to Morpheus (Fishburne, Boyz n the Hood) who lays some heavy news on him. After giving him a chance to opt out (red pill or blue pill?), Morpheus shows Neo things that completely blow his mind. He explains that reality is an artificial construct (aka “the Matrix”) created by sentient machines after they took over the world in the early 21st century. Instead of wiping out humanity, they harvest them for their bioelectric power. They’re kept inert in pods while their minds are plugged into a computer-simulated reality. Morpheus leads a band of rebels comprised of people he “unplugged” and freed from captivity. Their objective is to defeat the machines, destroy the Matrix and restore the world to its former glory. Furthermore, Morpheus believes Neo is “The One”, a prophesied Messianic figure that will ultimately free humanity.
Before he can begin to fulfill his destiny, Neo will have to go through training- i.e. computer programs uploaded to his brain- and have a talk with “the Oracle” (Foster, Leonard Part 6), a prophet who will tell him what his future holds. By the time crew member Tank (Chong, Panther) is done with him, Neo is proficient in all forms of martial arts. In addition, he finds out that you can bend all the laws of motion and gravity while in the Matrix.
Most of the action plays out in the Matrix. When not doing battle with Agent Smith in VR, they’re on the run from “Sentinels” (machines programmed to kill humans) in real reality in Morpheus’ flying ship Nebuchadnezzar (in reference to the king from the Book of Daniel in the Bible).
It’s my turn to say it. WHOA! Written and directed by the Wachowskis (Bound), The Matrix is a towering accomplishment on every level. The special effects were innovative in 1999. Scenes where characters dodge bullets (aka “bullet time”) or hover in the air mid-fight to deliver karate kicks still look cool. It flawlessly integrates special effects and animation in realizing its vision of cyberspace. Agent Smith is able to morph with other bodies similar to the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Neo and Trinity convincingly run along walls and leap very long distances. The fight scenes, choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), are amazing as is the wire work utilized to make the actors do the impossible.
In the 90s, Keanu proved his worth as an action star in movies like Point Break and Speed. The Matrix is right up there with those titles. He’s totally believable as Neo, a hero in the making as long as he comes to believe in his new abilities. Moss is similarly terrific as Trinity, a bad ass heroine to beat all bad ass heroines. The opening scene, which shows her outrunning police and agents in the Matrix, is a great way to start things off. Fishburne does good work as Morpheus, a Zen master sort whose every statement is uttered with profundity. Weaving is positively menacing as the villainous Agent Smith, really a program designed to eliminate threats to the Matrix. Joe Pantoliano (Memento) has some great scenes as a crew member who might be hiding something. In her one scene, the late Foster leaves a lasting impression as the not-your-ordinary prophet.
There are a lot of heavy philosophical themes in The Matrix. The characters spend a great deal of time pondering fate and the nature of reality. It depicts the dangers inherent in overreliance on computer technology, artificial intelligence in particular. It also has plenty of action and thrills. I don’t even mind that it falls back on conventionality in the final act with Neo and Trinity staging a rescue inside the Matrix. It’s actually pretty cool. I really, really LOVE The Matrix. I think it’s great fun. It’s great fun that makes you think. It’s the perfect blend of intelligent sci-fi and weekend action flick.
P.S. The Matrix is an ideal choice for a preteen’s first R-rated movie. It’s violent, but not graphic. It doesn’t have too much bad language. There’s no sex or nudity. I know of a lot of kids that saw it when it came out.
