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The Force is With the Matrix
by Bruce Cantwell
The Matrix makes the kind of visceral connection with its audience that The Phantom Menace doesn't because, ironically, it cashes in on much of what made the original Star Wars Trilogy a success.
The story incorporates such stalwart themes as trust in the force, the return (or premiere engagement) of a messiah, a Judas figure, and the ever popular struggle for freedom. |
The Wachowski brothers, whose Bound impressed me, make good choices. Based on a modern comic book, the film is strong on visuals and story, weak on character development which is really perfect for Keanu Reeves.
| Reeves' best performance may have been Ted in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. He is extremely believable as a dimwit and neither of his dual characters, burnout programmer Thomas Anderson or burnout hacker Neo have more than a room temperature IQ. |
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As in Speed, Keanu Reeves is teamed with a feistly female sidekick Carrie-Ann Moss who can kick ass without threatening mushy kissing scenes. The good actors: Lawrence Fishburne and Joe Pantoliano are reserved for the secondary roles to shore up the film's infrastructure. |
| Fearless leader Morpheus (Fishburne) takes on the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi to train his Neo-phyte and introduce him to the secrets of the Matrix. He makes a great comic book hero with bald head, designer sunglasses and full-length leather coat. He's also a good sparring partner for Neo in the kung-fu sequences.
As the traitorous Cypher, Joe Pantoliano is at his sleaziest. Bald headed, sporting an oily goatee, the mental image of him slobbering over shipmate Trinity (Moss) turns the stomach. He torments Reeves with the same relish he tormented the similarly limited Tom Cruise in 1983's Risky Business. |
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With a good story in place, one can relax and enjoy the spectacular special effects which aren't quite up to those in Phantom Menace but aren't required to carry a leaden script.
 
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