Key Points
With The Matrix, The Wachowskis dont condescend their audience they demand attention, and reward audience trust..
The Wachowskis genre-mashing masterpiece has been one of the most influential movies of the modern era, influencing not just the way movies are made, but leaving an indelible mark on society itself, for better or worse..
The Wachowskis were not a known commodity, having only one film to their name, and while Keanu Reeves was a star, he was very much in a downswing after following up the blockbuster Speed in 1994 with a string of flops like Johnny Mnemonic and Chain Reaction..
But in the case of the Wachowskis (as well as Denis Villeneuve), its not so much about what the story is, but how its told, and thats where The Matrix succeeds with oodles of style and a groundbreaking new visual language thats as exciting today as it was in 1999..
In todays world, its almost impossible to imagine a narratively complex sci-fi movie like The Matrix starting in medias res with no opening scroll or expositional voiceover..
