October 31, 2003

Whose Matrix Is It Anyway?

We're 5 days away from The Matrix Revolutions and I still haven't quite figured out how to review it. I think the best idea I've heard is Mark Wheaton's thought of reviewing all three movies together.

What has occurred to me most clearly is that The Matrix, as a series, has created its own rather remarkable schizophrenia… to both its benefit and detriment.

The first Matrix movie was a true phenomenon in a number of ways, the most significant to me being that it managed to be incredibly friendly for audiences who loved sci-fi action and for people who did not. This was literally the first occurrence of this phenomenon since Star Wars. It should be no surprise then that the film, despite a spring release date and domestic box office of "just" $172 million, is said to be the single most profitable film in the long history of Warner Bros.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the trilogy. First, The Wachowskis lost Joe Pantoliano over a salary issue. Then they decided to do two forward-moving sequels instead of going back to the pre-Matrix story, which they did in The Animatrix. But most importantly, they made a decision that is now, two movies later, clear. The Wachowskis created a Matrix Universe that is meant for the long geek haul and not to indulge the fans of the first film that really didn't like "these kinds of movies."

George Lucas took Star Wars in quite a different direction, still moving forward, but laying out a steady path towards a populist, classical ending. Both films use The Force as a key element, but while Star Wars embraces the psychological, The Matrixes go right for the religious. But as in the first film, The Wachowskis were not happy sticking to one vision, but seem compelled to mix religious ideas from across the map, attempting - for better or for worse - to reconstitute the various visions into their singular one.

As a result, while The Empire Strikes Back gave us a classic second act, getting the heroes in trouble, advancing the story, etc., The Matrix Reloaded tears up everything we assumed about Neo's ascendance to God-like status and the "evil" of the machines. Neo has doubts and confusion. The machines had become the victimizers as a result of being the victims. New characters, like the Merovingian and Persephone, brought up a whole new universe of questions.

Some said it was pointless, even going as far as saying that it was light on content. Others read the film like the Torah is read by Talmudic scholars, examining every detail from every possible angle.

As we anticipated Revolutions, there was some sense that Reloaded would be the ballast between two great, clear sci-fi action movies. But that does not seem to be where The Wachowskis were going. Love it or hate it, you can't honestly look at the Matrix trilogy without acknowledging that they are up to something.

My feeling is that the trilogy is really just the launching pad of the Matrix Universe. The tag line of Revolutions says it all… "Everything that has a beginning has an end." Revolutions is the end of one story. But it seems to be the basis for an entire range of stories that could never be explored fully in just six hours.

What aggravates me is that these movies are held to a standard to which they do not aspire… which is based on the first film. I was discussing one massive action sequence from Revolutions with a critic and he was saying that the sequence just didn't break any new ground, no matter how much bigger it was than any other such sequence in all of film history. My question was, "Have you seen a single groundbreaking action sequence since the first Matrix?" He couldn't come up with one.

But that's the rub. It wasn't that he couldn't appreciate the sequence. It was, in my opinion, that the first of these films gave movie lovers a rush that they hadn't had in a long, long time. That rush, in no small part, came from the perfect emotional circle of the original film. He saw the Revolutions sequence... it's size... it's spectacular intensity. He understood what he was seeing intellectually. but there was nothing in the action, in either sequel, that matched the emotional rush he got from the first film.

Neither Reloaded or Revolutions attempts that simple perfection. The films aspire to more... and less. I actually sympathize with those who don't wish to take this journey. Not in a "poor you" way, but in a sincere, "this is not for everyone" way.

The only trilogy that I know of that has ever aspired to as much as the Matrix series is Kieslowski's Red/White/Blue. I suspect that Von Trier's trilogy, starting with Dogville, will do the same. But as much as the Star Wars Universe has expanded over the decades, the original trilogy wasn't even close in its aspirations.

The story of Neo, Trinity and Morpheus will come to an end. But in every end, there is a beginning. It'll be interesting.

P.S.: Anyone who would suggest that the Matrix sequels were all about The Wachowskis lining their pocket deserves to be slapped in the face and challenged to a duel. The disrespect for artistry - even if you don't think these films work - makes me embarrassed to be in any way associated with film writing. The arrogance of those who don't create to go beyond their disappointment with the work - which is opinion - to accusations of bad intentions is simply disgusting. Consider those who do it. Question them. There is no shame in disliking any movie. But to accuse filmmakers who clearly have a story they want to tell is a form of artistic rape that should not be abided by readers.

EARLIER TODAY

Happy Halloween.

I guess it is somehow fitting that on a Friday with barely a movie release, I don’t have the energy to write a proper column. I spent the day seeing Christoffer Boe’s film Reconstruction, the Danish entry in the Oscar foreign language race and an interesting film indeed. Had a couple meetings about film festivals that are coming up next year. Saw Revolutions again, this time on the amazing and massive IMAX screen, where it is opening day-n-date next Wednesday. Found myself assaulted in an e-mail exchange by a delusional former friend and pseudo-journo (not Jeff Wells). And took my nephew to the non-IMAX all media of The Matrix Revolutions, which he, as it turned out, adored. At 14, he has taken to spinning critic’s language back at me in a constantly amusing way. He still doesn’t know a wide shot from a jump cut. But he’s young. He does love movies though.

Truth is, the personal assault is what took it out of me. This is a job best not reflected on too much. Doing it is the challenge. Reflecting on it always seems wrong. “We” are not the story. Reflecting on a life in journalism while living a life in journalism is akin to counting your money during the poker game. It just isn’t cool. When challenged, however, there is little choice but to reflect.

I am happy with my life. I am happy with the six years of this column. I love MCN.

I wish I knew what caused this rage in my old friend. I can guess. But none of us can really know the heart of another. His ability to hurt me with little more than libel and bad intentions reminds me how deeply I can feel. And I suppose that’s good. But it did suck all the energy out of my evening. And that’s not good.

I will recover after a night’s sleep… and a 10am screening of a Jewish Holocaust movie. Fun, fun fun.

I’ll have a regular column up by 5p today.

Boo.