Today’s quick review: The Matrix. Neo (Keanu Reeves), a talented hacker, has become preoccupied with a single question: “What is the Matrix?”. A mysterious woman named Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) offers to take him to Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an enigmatic man who has the answers Neo seeks. Morpheus confronts Neo with a terrifying truth: that the world around him is merely a simulation.
The Matrix is an ambitious science fiction movie with groundbreaking special effects, interesting philosophical themes, and a hefty dose of action. The inspiration for countless parodies and imitations, The Matrix delivers equal doses of speculative fiction and spectacle. The tone is one of grim determination: Morpheus and his crew fight nigh-invincible Agents of the system in an effort to awaken as many people to the truth as possible.
The premise allows for some mind-bending action. Their knowledge of the simulation gives Morpheus and his crew the ability to warp it around them, allowing them to accomplish feats of superhuman strength and agility. The combat is stylish, well-choreographed, and backed by innovative CGI. Between the martial arts, the wire stunts, and the heavy-duty shootouts, The Matrix has enough to make any action fan salivate.
The story is no less polished. The Matrix takes a strong science fiction premise and gives it free reign, with the budget to back up its ambitions. The Matrix explores a world where the truth is buried, comforting illusion dominates, and the only hope of victory is to confront an inhuman and unbeatable system. The writing remains solid throughout, building its tone and mystery during its first half and exploding into a flurry of action in the second.
The Matrix also has a number of subtle details that supplement its themes. The principal characters all stand out from the background of the mundane world in some way, from the leather outfits, sunglasses, and stoic demeanors of Morpheus and his crew to the tailored suits and cold expressions of the Agents. The time spent with Neo before his awakening is deliberately disorienting and banal, making the strange events around him seem all the stranger.
The acting fits the movie well. Keanu Reeves portrays the introverted hacker Neo, whose reaction to the events happening around him is shocked disbelief, which mellows into the same resolved detachment shown by Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne. Hugo Weaving delivers a memorable performance as Agent Smith, an Agent whose hatred of humanity oozes from every word. The supporting cast shows a bit more humanity but still fits into a similar mold; what the film lacks in pathos, it makes up for in a cast that can interact with the weighty setting on its own terms.
Watch The Matrix if you are a fan of action or science fiction in even the smallest capacity. The Matrix is a bleak but incredibly stylish film that delivers story and action in equal quantities. Skip The Matrix only if you dislike serious films or violence.
8.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 9.0 for outstanding quality and for being one of my personal favorites.