Warning: Contains Spoilers.
How can you restart a movie franchise after you’ve completely written off the main characters years ago? You just have to find a way – because the movie studio who owns you is forcing your hand. So, you use that as inspiration for the main plot to get things going again.
The Wachowskis, who made the original Matrix trilogy starring Keanu Reeves as Neo / Thomas Anderson, have publicly acknowledged that when third film The Matrix Revolutions was made, that was it. There was no more story to tell. But 18 years after Reloaded and Revolutions and 22 years since the the first film, how do you explain to your audience that it wasn’t their overall decision – but the studio?
At the start of Resurrections, we start with a familiar beginning, echoing the opening of 1999’s The Matrix. But something is not the same. The dialogue and movement is the same, but image-wise, it’s different. We’re then introduced to Bugs (Jessica Henwick) who is watching everything unfold, such as the moment where Trinity nearly gets caught by the police in a run-down Hotel. But it’s not Trinity. The fight scenes are the same, the running-across-the-rooftops are the same, but not. While observing from a safe distance, Bugs is aware that what she’s watching is right, but not right. Operator Sequoia (Tony Onwumere) chimes in to move Bugs along, until the timeline changes, and Trinity-not-Trinity gets caught on the roof, Bugs runs into an Agent, only to discover it’s a newer incarnation of Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). It’s not until they make the leap out of the Matrix, we finally meet present-day Neo. It’s not Neo. It’s computer programmer Thomas Anderson (Reeves), who has won multiple awards for his computer game trilogy based on The Matrix, called The Matrix. What we have just watched, is a game – coded by Anderson.
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We catch up on Anderson, who is successful, rich, and part of the biggest software companies in the world. His co-workers are a bunch of silicon valley douchebags, thinking their shit don’t stink. His boss, Smith (Jonathan Groff) talks out of his arse a la Anderson’s boss from the original Matrix, mentioning that Warner Bros. who owns the software company, wants to make a sequel to his successful Matrix trilogy games and even if Anderson resists, they’ll make them without him. (Yes, the movie starts becoming self-aware.) It’s also revealed that Anderson has based these games on his dreams, which have been troubling him so much where he struggles to define reality and creativity. His therapist (Neil Patrick Harris) has been prescribing him with blue pills to help centre himself. After a montage of meetings and tongue-in-cheek ribbings at Warner Bros and the culture of millennial programmers, Anderson heads to his local cafe where he sees Tiffany (Carrie-Anne Moss), a married mother who is a complete stranger, but Anderson feels an odd connection. So odd, that he’s wondering why his Matrix games feature her likeness. Later on, he finds out “Tiffany” has similar interests to Trinity.
Back at the office, upon a fire alarm is triggered, he receives a text message from someone unknown to head into the bathroom. It’s not until he enters, he discovers it’s a physical Morpheus from his games. After an ambush from the SWAT team, and more elements of deja-vu, Anderson tinkers further on the edge of reality and losing his mind. After what appears to be a freak-out, things aren’t quite what they seem. It’s just up to Anderson to work out what is real and what’s not, and how far the rabbit hole he will tumble.
Resurrections is a visual delight and a little confusing. But that’s the point. With the theme of deja-vu and self-awareness, Director Lana Wachowski flies solo with this project, with minor elements of humour, and deep diggings towards Warner Bros. themselves with a message saying “They made me make this film. If I didn’t, I lose my creative control.” If you’re aware of the Wachowski style, it’s not the first time self-awareness and piss-taking has entered any Matrix project. Take the ending of the 2005 Matrix game The Path Of Neo.
The first 30 minutes or so of Resurrections nearly acts like a parody of itself, losing the potential edge of being taken seriously. But just as you’re about to give up, you’re fully transported into the world. You could watch all of the original trilogy to give yourself a refresher, but Resurrections does the mini catch-ups for you. Even better if you’ve played the video games Enter The Matrix, The Path Of Neo, and The Matrix Online. But you don’t need to worry about them too much.
Resurrections does its best to explain and fill the gaps on why things look a certain way, as well as patching the gap the ending of Revolutions gave. It’s a clever approach, but you can’t help but think it’s a big “f*** you” to the studio heads from Wachowski. Personally, I hope it leads to more, but just without the self-awareness.
The Matrix Resurrections in cinemas from Boxing Day 2021.
4 / 5
Cheat Sheet:
There is a post-credits scene, but it’s not worth it. I think it’s been designed to be “Meme-worthy”, so feel free to avoid it as it does take the shine off the proper pre-credits end.
