THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

US, 2021, 148 minutes, Colour.

Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Ann Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jada Pinkett Smith, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Christina Ricci, Lambert Wilson, Andrew Caldwell.

Directed by Lana Wachowski.

While mathematicians and philosophers were comfortable with the word, Matrix, it wasn’t part of everyday language. But, 1998, the release of The Matrix, and it is part of ordinary vocabulary. Then there were two sequels, reinforcing the first, admired as welcome sequels by some, attacked as not being as good as the original by others.

Which is, perhaps, a dicey statistic when considering a fourth Matrix film, especially after a gap of 18 years. Well, here it is, focusing on Keanu Reeves Tom Anderson, best known as Neo, the One. (After his becoming so well-known in the Matrix trilogy, Reeves has become in many film fans minds, John Wick, a trilogy there but also a fourth film in the offing.) And, the question as to whether Carrie-Anne Moss will be back as Trinity, whether Laurence Fishburne will be back as Morpheus, or Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith, black suit, dark glasses. A yes to Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne seen in a number of flashbacks, and the news that Hugo Weaving had a clash of commitments (glimpsed momentarily in some of those flashbacks) but was not available to resume his character.

Only one of the directing Wachowskas is back, Lana. But, the production design gathers up all the tradition of the previous films – and then some.

The issue as always been about the Matrix and the existential questions of what is fiction and what is reality. And, where do we as ordinary human beings live? Are we Digital Sentients (now there’s an interesting term) or human beings trapped in the destinies of computer games. Since the screenplay raises these questions again, we are continually tantalised throughout the narrative as to what is the real world, what is the imagined world, what is personal dream, what is game programming controlling the life of the protagonists. And this is what happens to Neo/Tom throughout the action.

He has retired from prominent public action, is employed by a company of computer gamers, works away at his desk – but, some of those who knew him in the past, as well as a new generation of admirers, want to find and resurrect him, Morpheus included, younger, perhaps ageless, form (Jonathan Groff) and a hyperactive warrior, Bugs (Jessica Henwick).

Which means then that we are moving from one reality to another, seeing Neo/Tom plugged into a machine, living out his fantasies, the search for Trinity and finding her in the form of a housewife with children, Tiffany, mending motor bikes, moments of torture, moments of fighting, of power-repelling bullets, all those strengths and qualities he has had from the earlier films. At times we see Neo/Tom with his long hair and beard. At other times, momentarily unrecognisable, he has lost his beard, retaining stubble, and his head shaved. And, as always, the question, who is real?

The screenwriters exercise a shrewd wheat at the beginning (though not shrewd enough to ward off the naysayers), by referring to the previous films, to discuss sequels, especially sequels after a long period. But, this is what computer game designers can do, re-create, re-vivify the past stories. There is some humour in this self-referential discussion, meaning that we are to take this very seriously, but perhaps not too seriously.

But, there is a very serious character, a psychoanalyst, played by Neil Patrick Harris, seen at first in counselling sessions with Neo/Tom, but gradually being revealed as one of the controllers.

Those who have never seen any of the Matrix films, the plot is somewhere between lucid and incomprehensible. But, with all the effort going into this new version of Matrix with all the different resurrections, it is a pity that the fans seem to be so condemnatory.

1. The status of the initial The Matrix? The impact of the two sequels? Now a gap of 17 years, the fourth film and its impacts?
2. The work of the Wachowskis, this film directed by Lana Wachowski? Drawing on the original films and scenarios? The return of characters? The return of Neo with Keanu Reeves, Trinity with Carrie Ann Moss, the versions of Morpheus and Agent Smith?
3. The 21^st century, the visuals, the special effects? The ordinariness of some sequences, the offices for computer games, for business management? Thomas Anderson and his ordinary life? The contrast with the matrix sequences, the visuals, other worlds, costumes and decor? Musical score?
4. The initial discussion about the matrix stories, computer games, the possibility of rearranging the stories, even of making sequels? The light touch, but serious?
5. Neo and his faint memories, becoming Thomas Anderson, the coffee shop, the encounter with the woman, her story, marriage and family, stern of memories that she was the basis for Trinity?
6. The fans, Bugs and Morpheus, creation of the pods, the starship, Anderson and Tiffany in the pods? The different scenarios, reliving, changing, interventions?
7. The appearance of characters from the past, not ageing, their stances?
8. The psychiatrist, Anderson and his sessions, the growing influence of the psychiatrist, the pills, the control, the revelation of his role, dominant, evil power, confrontation?
9. The drama, physical, psychological, the aim to restore the original Matrix, the role of Smith, business, Agent Smith? Conflicts, the emergence of the psychiatrist, revelation as The Analyst, his playing with time, control?
10. The different planets, the different worlds, aspects of the Matrix, Niobe and her influence? Sati, her story, her mother, going into action? The presence of Bugs, her character, goals, collaboration with Anderson?
11. Anderson, becoming Neo again, Tiffany and her family pleading to her to return, her coming to consciousness as Trinity? The defeat of Smith? The subjugation of The Analyst?
12. Going to the top of the skyscraper, the risk of flying powers, Trinity discovering hers, safety?
13. Future prospects for the Matrix?