By Mr. Will Wong
Fans of The Matrix Trilogy have made no mystery about their excitement for fourth film in the Series, THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS from Creator Lana Wachowski. And we’re here to alleviate any worries about it delivering on its promise. Capturing faithfully many of the elements that fans love so much of the Trilogy, this latest installment delivers a heartfelt love story, mind-blowing action and visuals, taking us to where Neo (Keanu Reeves) would be today after all he’s been through.
Taking place some 20 years after the events of The Matrix Revolutions, we find Neo (Reeves) living a mundane life as a Game Developer, albeit a very successful one. Warner Bros. want him to create a fourth installment of his iconic video game, which he doesn’t wish for, though should he not be involved with it, he will witness others take something that is his very own and run with it. He struggles with unsettling visions that go through his mind inexplicably and sees a therapist (Neil Patrick Harris) who helps him make sense of these dreams, prescribing him pills to cope. Neo comes across a woman who looks exactly like Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) at Simulatte, a local coffee shop. The two strike a familiar connection, but don’t quite recognize one another. A new version of Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) surfaces, giving Neo a pill which once again places him into The Matrix. Everything begins to make sense again, though he has a new dangerous enemy to contend with. He joins forces with a group of rebels who report to Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith) and together they must find and save Trinity, though this poses the question whether Trinity wants to be reunited with Neo?
While THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS once again is a high-concept Sci-Fi Action Blockbuster, its heart very much lies in its compelling love story. Neo is incomplete without Trinity and Wachowski delicately explores his mental well-being in the world today. He gives his all to find Trinity and it is impossible not to root for him as he struggles to find what it is he is living for. Reeves navigates Neo‘s exhaustion and grief with great sensitivity, but handles the Film’s demanding action sequences with finesse. Moss, while hardly seen enough here, slays with a kick-ass presence in the Final Act and Wachowski helps us see this world not only through Neo’s eyes, but also hers more than ever.
Jonathan Groff as Neo‘s former arch-nemesis Smith, inherits the role from Hugo Weaving and shows us range we’ve never seen before from this star of Frozen and Glee, absolutely nailing the brute force and cool collectiveness required of the role. Jessica Henwick is commanding as Bugs, our eyes into this new world, idolizing Neo but soon herself will have her own legion of those idolizing her. Wachowski makes some smart choices with modern sensibilities which make this connect with devout fans of The Matrix and also a new audience.
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release THE MATRIX: RESURRECTIONS December 22, 2021.
*Please exercise caution observing COVID-19 protocols if seeing this in-theatre*
We were thrilled to be among the first audience in North America to see this at the Canadian Premiere of the Film. More here, including Keanu Reeves’ appearance.
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