Themes: Virtual Reality, Heroic Mission, Chosen One
Main Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano
Release Year: 1999
Country: US
Run Time: 136 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
What if virtual reality wasn't just for fun, but was being used to imprison you? That's the dilemma that faces mild-mannered computer jockey Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) in The Matrix. It's the year 1999, and Anderson (hacker alias: Neo) works in a cubicle, manning a computer and doing a little hacking on the side. It's through this latter activity that Thomas makes the acquaintance of Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), who has some interesting news for Mr. Anderson -- none of what's going on around him is real. The year is actually closer to 2199, and it seems Thomas, like most people, is a victim of The Matrix, a massive artificial intelligence system that has tapped into people's minds and created the illusion of a real world, while using their brains and bodies for energy, tossing them away like spent batteries when they're through. Morpheus, however, is convinced Neo is "The One" who can crack open The Matrix and bring his people to both physical and psychological freedom. The Matrix is the second feature film from the sibling writer/director team of Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski, who made an impressive debut with the stylish erotic crime thriller Bound. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
"What is The Matrix?" In the hands of writer/directors Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski, The Matrix proved to be an exhilarating comic book/Hong Kong/sci-fi treatise on the nature of reality for the Keanu Reeves crowd. With Sydney, Australia, standing in for an ominously green-tinged Any City, the initiation of Reeves' ace hacker Neo into the Real World by Laurence Fishburne's super-cool Morpheus and Carrie-Anne Moss' patent leather-clad cyber babe Trinity sets off the ultimate conflict between man and malevolent machine. Regardless of that conflict's philosophical bent, the real attraction became The Matrix's trailblazing special effects and bravura set pieces, including airborne kung fu, time-bending, bullet-dodging shoot-outs, and an ultra-stylized, slow-motion lobby fusillade. Along with sweeping the four technical Oscars for which it was nominated, including Best Visual Effects and Best Editing, The Matrix's sleekly kinetic action attracted legions of fans, turning it into not only a bona fide blockbuster (and an MTV Movie Award winner), but also a top-selling DVD. While its open ending hinted at further adventures to come, The Matrix's financial success guaranteed that the Wachowskis' plans for two sequels would indeed come to fruition. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
Marcus Chong - Tank; Paul Goddard - Agent Brown; Robert Taylor - Agent Jones; Julian "Sonny" Arahanga - Apoc; Matt Doran - Mouse; Belinda McClory - Switch; Anthony Ray Parker - Dozer
Credit
Hugh Bateup - Art Director, Michelle McGahey - Art Director, Richard Mirisch - Associate Producer, Carol Hughes - Associate Producer, Mali Finn - Casting, Shauna Wolifson - Casting, Geofrey Darrow - Consultant/advisor, Dan Cracchiolo - Co-producer, Kym Barrett - Costume Designer, Colin Fletcher - First Assistant Director, James McTeigue - First Assistant Director, Andy Wachowski - Director, Larry Wachowski - Director, Bruce Hunt - Second Unit Director, Zach Staenberg - Editor, Andrew Mason - Executive Producer, Barrie M. Osborne - Executive Producer, Erwin Stoff - Executive Producer, Dan Cracchiolo - Executive Producer, Andy Wachowski - Executive Producer, Larry Wachowski - Executive Producer, Bruce Berman - Executive Producer, Yuen Woo Ping - Fights Choreographer, Don Davis - Composer (Music Score), Bob McCarron - Makeup Special Effects, Owen Paterson - Production Designer, Bill Pope - Cinematographer, Joel Silver - Producer, Tim Ferrier - Set Designer, Judith Harvey - Set Designer, Sarah Light - Set Designer, Lisa Brennan - Set Designer, Godric Cole - Set Designer, Jacinta Leong - Set Designer, Marta McElroy - Set Designer, Deborah Riley - Set Designer, Andrew Powell - Set Designer, Steven Richard Courtley - Special Effects, Janek Sirrs - Special Effects, Jon Thum - Special Effects, David E. Campbell - Sound/Sound Designer, Gregg Rudloff - Sound/Sound Designer, John Reitz - Sound/Sound Designer, Dane A. Davis - Sound/Sound Designer, David Lee - Sound/Sound Designer, Glenn Boswell - Stunts Coordinator, Andy Wachowski - Screenwriter, Larry Wachowski - Screenwriter, Ross Emery - Second Unit Director Of Photography, John Gaeta - Visual Effects Supervisor, Tommy Johnson - Musical Performer
