Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss return to the world of “The Matrix” in the fourth installment. Our JP reviews “The Matrix Resurrections.”
The Matrix Resurrections
Warner Bros. Pictures
- Directed by Lana Wachowski
- Written by Lana Wachowski, David Mitchell, Aleksandar Hemon
- Based on Characters by The Wachowskis
- Produced by James McTeigue, Lana Wachowski, Grant Hill
- Starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jada Pinkett Smith
J.P.’s Take:
Ever get the feeling you’ve been somewhere or done something once before? “Matrix Resurrections” bears that déjà vu effect, with a 22 year-old tale that’s been reborn. Only this time, Lana Wachowski has hit the reset button. With the “Matrix” film series, you can expect nothing less than ground-breaking visual effects and sprawling philosophical ideals. For the fourth round, however, don’t expect this outing to be the up-front stunner its siblings were at first. There is something deeper happening here that some may miss … if they’re not true fans.
The fourth installment isn’t so much concerned with the flash and dash of ole, as it is completing the mythos. You’ll find this film, in a roundabout way, picks up where “Matrix Revolutions” (2003) left off. We see Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) to be a brilliant game designer. Yet, he struggles with mental instability; believing the game he designed isn’t really a game at all but fragments of his true past. Upon further viewing, the first 30 minutes feels like you’re watching a tech based sitcom/drama and not a “Matrix” film at all. That’s the intriguing part of it; the underlying psychological mind trip you take knowing what’s happened previous.
There is a method to the madness in adding the “What the heck just happened?” factor to such a metapsychological film. Wachowski and co-writers David Mitchell & Aleksandar Hemon have masterfully woven in the message they wished to vocalize in such a way that makes viewers question: “was this all in Thomas Anderson’s mind after all?” But, don’t worry they don’t lead you down the rabbit hole (as the reoccurring theme suggests) without taking you by the hand. There are nicely placed flashbacks to jog one’s memory in case you haven’t fully digested the first three movies yet. And, it doesn’t stop there as it takes comical jabs at itself and the other three films as though they were Hollywood fodder, while making it seem as though we were all in on the fever dream with Anderson a.k.a Neo. Stay with me here. That is until Anderson meets Tiffany (Carrie-Anne Moss), who seems to spark some familiarity with Anderson. From there we spiral further down the rabbit hole in the most curious of ways.
Over the course of the 148 min runtime, much of the message and cool visuals and action sequences started to ware on me after a while. Not that I didn’t enjoy much of it, because it really didn’t need to continue on with explosion after explosion and bullet storm after bullet storm to impress the viewers anymore. There were even parts that may seem a bit dark to some, while providing you understand what the initial message is as a whole. This came about in the end action sequences where Thomas and Tiffany were making their escape. Yet, the message was clear here. I wish I could say more as the effect of these moments would be diluted and lose their effect if not seen firsthand by the viewers. The characters made their presence known, even if the true stars (Reeves and Moss) were the frontrunners. They provided support where needed.
For the most it’s possible that first time viewers may have mixed feelings about “Matrix Resurrections” if not well versed in the world of the first three. Those, whom have since soaked in the philosophies well enough, will immediately dig through this film to capture its true essence. I must give Wachowski and crew much kudos for not simply churning out a run of the mill follow-up, because this is another intelligent sci-fi flick that’s more than its visual appeal.