zoë rose bryant’s review published on Letterboxd:
The Matrix Resurrections takes some time to find its footing - and I do feel like the second act could’ve been stronger, as that’s when you really feel the film’s length - but when it hits its stride, it SOARS. Specifically, Lana Wachowski’s subversive storytelling is as enthralling as ever, expanding the franchise in fascinating fashion with creative meta commentary on the series’ legacy in pop culture and on the industry’s incessant desire to mine the past for new content instead of innovating as they once did.
It’s an ambitious approach that likely won’t work for everyone, but when has a Matrix sequel ever taken “obvious” twists and turns? In this era of anonymous franchise filmmaking, true auteurs like Lana Wachowski are unswayed by the urge to “appeal more to the mainstream,” maintaining their singular stylistic sensibilities above all else, and the artform is all the better for it.
Expectedly, Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reinhabit the roles of Neo and Trinity like they never left, and their captivating chemistry provides this series epilogue with its emotional core. The script’s unabashed sentimentality is another element that will evoke divisive reactions, but as a softie, I was more than satisfied. Frankly, as the world falls apart around us, there’s nothing more relatable than looking to love as the one thing left to live for, and I thought Lana really drove that point home with riveting execution here.
I’ll concede that the action isn’t perhaps quite as revolutionary as we’ve come to expect from the franchise, though I still thought it was suitably thrilling all the same, and the VFX were once again top-notch. I’m always astonished by how much the Wachowskis are able to continually explore in this world, and I appreciated being immersed once more. Time will tell where it ranks alongside the original trilogy, but as it stands, I had a terrific time revisiting some old friends, and I look forward to whatever comes of The Matrix in the future.
