Six impossible things before breakfast

"The Matrix"
Overall Rating: ***½


What makes little sense as a philosophy class conversation topic can work as an action/sci-fi film. "The Matrix" is a good case in point; in my Introductory Philosophy Class (and to quote Dave Barry--"I am not making this up"), the teacher asked the question, "How do you know the world you think you perceive is real?" Putting aside Descartes, as a disembodied philosophic problem, this "what if" is a bit too absurd to go very far--I think someone asked the obvious "Well, why would someone create such a deception?" two seconds in the discussion. Yet with a sci-fi dress-up to provide a few explanations, the premise provides an interesting movie.

Early in "The Matrix," we see a woman being cornered by dozens of police officers. She is able to easily kill about half-a-dozen officers--but worries at the sight of the Men in Black who have shown up. Fleeing from these mysterious secret agents (both they and she are able to leap from building to building, for example), she seeks out a pay phone. When she gets there, she can see a garbage truck preparing to ram the phone booth. Committing a seemingly irrational act, she races to answer the pay phone, despite the truck bearing down on it. Yet, when the MIBs arrive on the scene, her body isn't in the rubble. All this seems to have little bearing on the hacker Neo (Keanu Reeves)--who soon gets cryptic instructions to "follow the white rabbit;" but in "The Matrix," what seems to be ain't necessarily so.

The world of "The Matrix" is a strange cross between Art Bell and Alice in Wonderland. It's not fair to call it original. "Dark City" had a very similar plot, but where "Dark City" simply scored high on the weird quotient, "The Matrix" is an interesting movie. In addition to the frequent, overt references to Alice in Wonderland, numerous--and generally appropriate--classical references add some dimension; Morpheus, the Greek god of sleep and dreams, is a perfect hacker name for Laurence Fishburne's character, for instance. Throw in an internal conflict for Neo, specifically, his own disbelief of the situation he's in, and you have a movie that's certainly better written than most action films.

Not perfectly written, however. There are still many unanswered questions when the film is over. I could ask several regarding "the Oracle," another enigmatic character in the film. The end also falls somewhat flat--resorting to a "rabbit out of the hat," then leaving a major point of the plot open--specifically, the film only implies that humanity will be saved from the threat it faces in the film. Considering the 2+2=5 world depicted, these problems are not as severe as they sound--but in an action film more dependant on writing than most, they are disappointing points.

Still, the stunts and special effects will not let down any action film fan. Nor will Keanu Reeves' performance, which is better than his performance in "Speed," since he has to pull off an internal conflict in dealing with a very confusing situation. The best performance, however, easily is delivered by Laurence Fishburne--who is enigmatic and imposing--just as his character demands. Fishburne is in command of "the Matrix."

It probably goes without saying that "The Matrix"--an R-rated action film--has a great deal of violence, along with plenty of strong language, and some references to sex and drugs.

"The Matrix" is a much better film than I expected it to be. It's strange without being too strange. It's also entertaining. My advice would be to follow the white rabbit--if it's going to see "The Matrix."

Title: "The Matrix"
Release date: March 31, 1999

MPAA rating: R
Overall rating: ***½

Aprox. run time: 135 min.
Directors: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Writers: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss (plays "Trinity")


Original URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Mansion/7045/Matrix.htm
Added to blog site: 7/28/09