The Matrix

Directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, The Matrix follows computer programmer Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) as he’s drawn into a mysterious underworld by Carrie-Anne Moss’ Trinity and Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus. There’s little doubt, ultimately, that The Matrix, which kicks off with an engaging yet deliberate opening stretch, grows more and more absorbing (and downright electrifying) as it moves into an exposition-heavy midsection that slowly-but-surely reveals its myriad of secrets, with the Wachowski siblings augmenting the irresistibly sci-fi-forward narrative with, for example, stirring performances, eye-catching visuals, and a raft of enthralling sequences and set-pieces – with the latter certainly represented quite keenly by the picture’s top-notch (and thoroughly exciting) action interludes. (And this is to say nothing of a riveting, impressively tense mid-film scene detailing a core protagonist’s shocking betrayal.) The proliferation of engaging (and periodically iconic) moments, such as the spellbinding lobby fight, ensure that The Matrix remains just as potent as ever all these years later, which cements its place as a first-class blockbuster that’s generally as intellectually rewarding as it is viscerally captivating.

***1/2 out of ****

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