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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Just a bit over eighteen years have passed since the Wachowski sisters have given us a Matrix film. Lana Wachowski takes over as the director of the fourth film in the franchise, The Matrix Resurrections. She co-writes the screenplay with David Mitchell and Aleksandar Hemon.
In this review, I will be discussing The Matrix Resurrections. There will be no spoilers present, as the title of this article suggests. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion to avoid any potential reveals.
Plot Synopsis
Below is the plot synopsis for Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix Resurrections.
To find out if his reality is a physical or mental construct, Mr. Anderson, aka Neo, will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more. If he’s learned anything, it’s that choice, while an illusion, is still the only way out of — or into — the Matrix. Neo already knows what he has to do, but what he doesn’t yet know is that the Matrix is stronger, more secure and far more dangerous than ever before.
Cast of The Matrix Resurrections
Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprise their respective roles from the Matrix trilogy, Thomas Anderson/ Neo and Trinity. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II portrays Morpheus, while Laurence Fishburne makes an appearance as the character via archival footage.
Jessica Henwick plays Bugs, while Jonathan Groff plays Smith. Neil Patrick Harris portrays Anderson’s therapist, a man named The Analyst. Jada Pinkett Smith and Lambert Wilson reprise their respective roles from Reloaded and Revolutions, Niobe and The Merovingian.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas portrays Sati. New characters include Toby Onwumere as Sequoia, Max Riemelt as Sheperd, Brian J. Smith as Berg, and Eréndira Ibarra as Lexy.
The Crew of Resurrections
Daniele Massaccesi (Speed Racer, X-Men: First Class, Prometheus, John Wick: Chapter 2, House of Gucci) and John Toll (Braveheart, Almost Famous, Iron Man 3) replace Bill Pope as the cinematographers. Hugh Bateup and Peter Walpole serve as the production designers, while Lindsay Pugh is the film’s costume designer. Additionally, Dane A. Davis serves as the sound designer/ supervising sound editor.
Johnny Klimek (One Hour Photo, Land of the Dead, Deadwood, Sense8) and Tom Tyker (The Matrix Revolutions) score the film’s composition.
Carmen Cuba (The Butterfly Effect, Contagion, Sense8, Unsane, Bad Times at the El Royale, Guava Island, Fear Street: Parts One, Two, and Three, Stranger Things, Obi-Wan Kenobi) serves as the casting director of the film.
Discussion
Lana Wachowski’s newest sci-fi action film is everything a fan would expect from a Matrix film and more. She, Mitchell, and Hemon take elements that comprise the previous three installments and craft an entirely new narrative from that. In fact, I find this film to be rather cleaner than the 2003 films, Reloaded and Revolutions.
For starters, the visual effects are more up-to-date with the technology we have today. The plot is strongly affected by this, as its male protagonist finds himself as a video game developer for a trilogy called The Matrix, a huge step up from his being an Average Joe computer programmer in an office cubicle. Simply put, Resurrections is to The Matrix what The Force Awakens is to A New Hope — a whole step up from an all-time classic. There are some new twists that differ from its predecessors, although they need some getting used to.
While it may seem complicated to follow along, the film does have its moments of awe. One thing I do admire is the use of mirrors as opposed to the original film’s use of phones.
The fashion aspect (including hair, make-up, and costumes) of the film is epic. Whereas the original trilogy’s look reflected the late-90s and early-2000s, The Matrix Resurrections puts on a more “hipster” appearance. Bateup and Walpole’s production design, Pugh’s costume design, and Davis’s sound help make the film transform into such an appearance. There is something about it that is just so new to what we’ve seen in the Wachowski’s franchise before.
Performances and Character Developments
Reeves and Moss are lovely together as Neo and Trinity, and their return is why I anticipated the film. The Matrix Resurrections shows how these two characters are brought back to life since they were last shown to have died in Machine City. Reeves is a wonder as his character, although I wish we could get more screentime from Moss’s character.
I love Henwick as Bugs, a character who happens to bring something new to the table. Her live-action performances in Game of Thrones, Iron Fist, and The Defenders should already prove that she is worthy of merit in the action and science-fiction genres.
Abdul-Mateen II is quite different from Fishburne’s interpretation, such as the mannerisms and facial expressions here and there. This film’s younger-looking version of the character is neat and provides for a fresher look that deserves to appear in future installments a la The Terminator.
I enjoyed Groff’s appearance as Smith with what screentime he has. More so, Neil Patrick Harris is beyond incredible as The Analyst. (I just binge-watched all nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother over the past two weeks in preparation for its Hulu spin-off, How I Met Your Father, and I think Harris’s performance in this series, as well as the Harold and Kumar films, showed me that he has more to offer than just comedy.) Also, there is just no way you can outperform the legend that is Hugo Weaving. I am sorry!
Jada Pinkett Smith and Lambert Wilson return as their iconic characters from Reloaded and Revolutions. However, now these characters look bizarre this time around, and we have the passage of the narrative’s time setting to blame for that.
Final Thoughts
The Matrix Resurrections continues the Alice in Wonderland-inspired style of storytelling introduced by the first film. My main takeaway from the film pertains to both love and life, and it is best said by Smith during the introductory act. He says, “That’s the thing about stories. They never really end, do they?”
There is something potent and rare in the love that Neo and Trinity have for each other. If they cannot be together, then the whole world falls apart. Yes, this is definitely corny, but I think the writers are giving us something great when showing that things such as this are able to withstand the tests of time. This is also why I feel some fear in Harris as an antagonist.
In terms of a reboot/revival of the franchise, I love what Resurrections conveys. I hope fans can get at least two more installments because one just does not cut it. Overall, The Matrix Resurrections is worth watching if you are a true fan of the Wachowskis’ renowned franchise. Otherwise, go in and decide for yourself whether this is for you.
The Matrix Resurrections is available to watch in theaters and on HBO Max!
Have you seen this film yet? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know! For more action and science-fiction-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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