The Matrix (1999)

Imaginative, epic, original, and completely one of a kind. It was a phenomenon in 99, and I hope it carries the same weight for the rest of film history. I have utterly loved The Matrix since I was eleven, and I don't see that going away. Every time I watch it, I always have the same feelings I did the first time I saw it, which can be simplified to one word: awe.

From the original story, the well composed shots, the sound design, bullet time, jaw dropping action sequences, and Keanu Reeves best role, you have the experience that is The Matrix. To this day I still find it to be a one of a kind experience that has not been seen before or after (especially in the mis-directed sequels). The film was an instant classic and has spawned a community of followers that love the film, so much so that some believe that the Matrix is real. Real or not, the film itself is the most modern classic in the sci-fi genre, and I hope will remain a classic for centuries to come.

Story
Computer hacker Thomas Anderson lives a double life under the nickname Neo. Cryptic messages begin appearing on his computer, telling him to follow the white rabbit. He follows a girl with a white rabbit tattoo to a trendy club where he meets a mysterious woman, Trinity, who takes him to meet the leader of her underground group. Their leader, Morpheus, tells Neo that he can tell him what the Matrix is. Morpheus gives Neo a choice between two pills: red to learn the truth about the Matrix, or blue to return to the world as he knows it. Neo takes the red pill and soon finds him self awakening, hairless and in a pool of goo. He is connected to many wires, which soon all disconnect and he is flushed out of his pod. He is caught and brought onto Morpheus' ship.

After Neo has recovered from shock, Morpheus informs him of the truth. He tells him that it is actually not the year 1999 and closer to the year 2199. There has been a battle between humans and machines since the 21st century. The sky has been turned black, and the machines use humans as a battery source. They have created an alternative reality, known as the Matrix, to keep humans occupied but still producing electricity. Morpheus and his group are free humans who try and unplug them to try and recruit them to fight the machines. He has unplug Neo because he believes he is "the One" who will bring about the destruction of the machines, and bring human freedom.

Neo begins training to that he may be able to fight off the army of Agents that are always after free humans inside the Matrix. He struggles with realizing or believing that he is truly the One. But Morpheus is confident that once he believes in himself, the Agents will be no match for him. After seeing the Oracle inside the Matrix, the group is ambushed by Agents and a SWAT team. They take Morpheus captive, and it is up to Neo & Trinity to rescue him. Neo becomes more confident in manipulating the Matrix in this rescue, and after dodging bullets much like an Agent, and nearly holding a helicopter, he becomes whole and realizes that he is in fact the One. Morpheus & Trinity escape and Neo is left to handle the main Agent, Agent Smith. They battle it out and Neo ends up dying due to bullet wounds. But after a kiss from Trinity in the real world, he becomes whole again and rebirths in the Matrix, thus destroying the agents, and ending the film.

Of course everything about the Matrix is grand in scale, but nothing in the film compares to the originality and scope of the story line. The Wachowski Brothers combined philosophy, religion, and an original sci-fi story to combine a complex but easily accessible story. Not only is it great on a surface level, with taking you into an alternative reality and a war between man & machines, but it goes much deeper then that. Believing in yourself and falling in love makes you whole, which makes Neo become the One. There is actually whole books on just the philosophy of the Matrix. Overall the Wachowski's seemed to have rolled all the great sci-fi ideas of the 20th century into one grand work of true art. It is a vision that has not been seen in many years before or since it's release.

Directing
There are a few good directing teams out in the industry. Most noteably is the Coen Brothers, but I would say number two on the list (most due to this film, not Speed Racer) is the Wachowski Brothers. Although they are now the Wachowski Siblings (Larry is now Lana Wachowski), I'm going to continue to call them Brothers since they were at the time of this film. Before they had done one film, Bound, which shows a few signs of their future work, but not really. The Matrix is great on all levels due to the directing, and it works for two unknowns because of one thing: passion. M. Night Shyamalan praised the Wachowskis' passion for the film, saying, "Whatever you think of The Matrix, every shot is there because of the passion they have! You can see they argued it out!" Which I completely agree with. They clearly came across a one of a kind idea and through their hearts & souls into every frame of the film.

From storytelling, structure, and depth, the film works on every level. And as director Joss Whedon stated, "It works on whatever level you want to bring to it." The Wachowski's are able to bring you into a new idea, take you down the rabbit hole, and by the end of the film you understood every part and are (hopefully) never lost. They never take it too far, but they never hold back. I think they made every right decision in the film and it shows in the final product. Overall the Wachowski Brothers did a beyond superb job that they have never been able to match.

Acting
Through my research I found out some interesting facts about casting. The part of Neo seemed to have been offered to almost every leading man in Hollywood. Here is a short list of the people considered for the role: Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Val Kilmer, Will Smith (which he turned it down to do Wild Wild West), Ewan McGregor (which he turned it down to do Phantom Menace), and even Nicholas Cage. But in the end Warner Bros wanted either Johnny Depp or Keanu Reeves. Reeves was cast mostly due to how tuned in he was to the concept and the film. It is hard to imagine the film with anyone else playing that role. I think it absolutely Keanu Reeves best role of his career both for character and his acting.

Keanu works as the role of Neo because he is allowed to be a little wooden, but at the same time curious of what is going on around him. I think this role fits perfectly into what Keanu can deliver as an actor. He doesn't have to deliver an Oscar winning performance, but he just needs to bring you into the world and make you root for Neo, which he accomplishes. The other actors of the film all bring solid performances, but nothing over the top or over dramatic, everyone is just right. You believe Laurence Fishbourne as the wise rebel leader, and you believe Carrie Ann Moss as the loyal #2 of the free humans. Everyone delivers and no one disappoints.


The Matrix is one of those few movies in cinema history that is a classic the instant you leave the theater. I know it will stand the test of time because if you have a great story and bring cinema to a new plane, then you will ensure that people will continue to watch and enjoy your film. The Wachowski's have yet to match the bar they set with this film, and I hope that some day they will be able to come back with something as carefully crafted and masterful as this film was. But if they are unable to they will have their place in sci-fi and film history with this one of a kind, imaginative vision of a dis-utopian future.