In defence of ‘Matrix Resurrection’

Film Review
Tinashe Kusema

UNDER normal circumstances, this write-up would have been a scathing review of the colossal disappointment that is “The Matrix Resurrections”.

For many, the film has ruined a once-beloved franchise.
It is now widely regarded as the biggest disappointment of 2021.

However, adding onto said reviews would be unfashionable for me.
I pride myself as someone who likes to swim against the tide, and I legitimately believe that the hate that the movie is receiving is a bit harsh.

Yes, the action is by far below par and the film is a victim of some lazing writing; however, there are a couple of areas in which the film did excel.

As a recap, Resurrections picks up some 60 years after the events of the last film (Revolutions), with Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) now trapped back in the Matrix.

Neo is now going by his old name Thomas Anderson and is a famous video game creator, while Trinity is now going by Tiffany and is now a suburban mother-of-three with a liking for motorcycles.

The two were resurrected after dying in the last movie and are used to power a new Matrix that is now under the control of the Analyst (Neil Patrick Harris).

A crew of free humans comes across a back-door entrance created by Neo subconsciously, and, through it, their captain, Bugz (Jessica Henwick), finds the new version of Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and free Neo.

Together they set about returning to the Matrix, freeing Trinity and taking down the Analyst.
Now, among the more common criticisms that have been levelled against this film is its terrible performance at the box office.

Working on a budget of about US$190 million, the film had grossed a paltry US$106 million as at January 2.

However, when you factor in the fact the film, just like most 2020 and 2021 movies, was a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic, it makes a lot of sense.

Most cinemas, local ones included, have been operating at half capacity in the recent past, and this obviously has a bearing on ticket sales and numbers.

Also, the film was released five days after the release of “Spiderman: No Way Home”, which divided the audience, or, in this case, stole most of the viewers.

Juxtaposed, the two films had contrasting advertising strategies in which the Spiderman movie was well-marketed while everything about “The Matrix Resurrections” was shrouded in secrecy.

Once you punch in all these numbers, US$106 million is actually a steal.
The film was released on HBO Max and did very well, attracting roughly 2,8 million views in its first five days of release.

Away from the monetary aspect, the film also did very well in the nostalgia department.
Today’s audience mostly comprises of millennials, and these are unlikely to have ever heard of The Matrix trilogy given the fact the first movie was released before most of them were born.

For the more seasoned viewers, the trip down memory lane was quite a thrill ride.

It was fun watching Reeves put down his John Wick garb and return to his Neo persona.
Yes, at times he did appear to have missed a step or two and didn’t really deliver in the action department, but time would do that do you.

Reeves was not the only cast member from the original trilogy to return, as the likes of Moss and Jada Pinkett-Smith (Niobe) are back.

There is even a memorable cameo appearance from Lambert Wilson, who appears as the French-speaking arms dealer, “The Merovingian”.

Among the new cast members, the ones that shine the most are the trio of Henwick (Bugz), Jonathan Groff (Agent Smith) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Groff and Yahya Abdul-Mateen get a raw deal as both critics and viewers seem to be comparing them to their predecessors, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving.

Of course, the two could not reprise their roles due to scheduling conflicts.
That being said, if I am to be totally honest, I found both Mateen and Groff to be more entertaining than Morpheus and Agent Smith.

The two brought a certain pizzazz to their performances, traits I don’t remember Fishburne and Weaving possessing.

Weaving and Fishburne were great, but, going forward, I think Mateen and Groff should carry on.
The film’s biggest success, ironically, has little to do with the actual movie, but director and co-writer and producer Lana Wachowski.

Now, for those not in the know, “The Matrix Resurrections” is nothing more than an attempt at a money-grab by Warner Brothers.

The Wachowskis and most of the returning cast members were actually given an ultimatum to return or see Warner Bros going ahead with the project with an entirely different cast and crew.

Now, Wachowski, in an act of defiance, recreates this exchange in the movie, with Neo forced to create a new Matrix game in the movie.

Warner Brothers actually get called out by name, and this, to me, was brilliant.
Most fans of the original trilogy did not want this belated sequel, reboot or whatever they want to call, and it was refreshing to find out that someone in a position knew, understood and shared our sentiments.

Here’s to hoping this is a done deal.

Like we did with Revolutions before it, we will choose to erase it from memory and only reminisce over the first two films (“Matrix” and “Matrix: Reloaded”). We have done it before and we can do it again.

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