In 1999, a certain sci-fi action film came along that completely blew people’s tiny little minds and revolutionised the entire special effects industry in Hollywood.
by Eoghan Doherty
No, not Angela’s Ashes.
It was, of course, The Matrix.
Starring Keanu Reeves as the futuristic hero, he is the man who leads a double life as mild-mannered computer programmer Thomas Anderson and the hacker known as Neo. Directed by the Wachowski Brothers (or the Wachowski siblings as they’re now known – Larry had a change of heart, or a change of something at least, and is now Ms. Lana Wachowski), The Matrix has left a legacy that is still apparent in film today. Whether it’s parodies of its distinctive use of bullet time slow-motion and spinning cameras in films like Shrek and Scary Movie or whether it’s influencing the content and look of modern day blockbusters like Inception and Wanted, The Matrix has sealed its place in cinematic history.
Right from the moment the film ended and everyone left, nodding sagely, stroking their chins thoughtfully and pretending that they’d understood the last 136 minutes of The Matrix, you knew you’d just witnessed something special. Plus it gave you the opportunity to say fancy, impressive things like “yeah, I felt that that really reminded me of Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation.” Sure it did buddy, sure it did.
As well as its impact on today’s film-making process, The Matrix also helped to launch and further the careers of a number of its stars including Hugo Weaving as the evil Agent Smith and Carrie-Anne Moss as the leather-clad Trinity. *Drools everywhere*
For Keanu Reeves though, who had made a few dud films in a row during the 90s, The Matrix finally gave him the opportunity to dust down and reuse his confused “wha?” tilted head face, 9 years after he had last mastered it in Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey.
The legacy of The Matrix isn’t just limited to action film-making effects and serving as a career launch-pad for its stars though. It’s also entered popular culture and, at one stage or another, we’ve all pretended to “know kung fu” and beckoned people towards us Morpheus-style. There’s also always the classic move of turning away from an empty cutlery drawer in your kitchen and saying dramatic things like, “there is no spoon.” We all do that, right? No? OK.
And then of course there’s that lobby scene, one of the greatest ever shootouts seen on the big screen, complete with kick-ass rock soundtrack provided by the Propellerheads. Yes, obviously we all thought we looked cool in school the next day in our new Doc Marten boots, oversized sunglasses only the Viper could get away with and a huge leather jacket that 14 cows died to make. Sorry cows.
The Wachowskis went on to make two more Matrix films but the less said about them the better. In case you are interested though, here’s a wee taste of the weird, confusing old man known as the Architect, portrayed brilliantly by Will Ferrell:
The Matrix – one of the greatest sci-fi action films ever made.
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