039 The Matrix (1999)

Retro Grade Podcast

“THERE IS NO SPOON.“

On this episode we cover one of the most influential sci-fi action films of all time: The Matrix (1999,) written and directed by the Wachowski sisters, starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lawrence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving.

Most likely, there is not a person reading this blog post that hasn’t experienced The Matrix in some way. Be it the film series itself, a parody of the film’s revolutionary special effects, the famous lines of dialogue working their way into every day speech, or it’s themes permeating into our meme culture through a virtual osmosis (for better and worse.) And just like every other movie that has such a huge footprint in our pop culture, it has a new sequel coming out with one of the directors of the original, Lana Wachowski, returning a the helm with some of the original cast, making it the perfect time to go back to where it all began.

We talk about how influential the film was in our personal lives, from Jorge being traumatized by the tracking bug scene and how Austin desperately wanted to find out what The Matrix was having his access to R- rated films very limited. And while we both liked the movie when we saw it, being mind blown by the special effects and growing up on the cusp of the age of the internet, we now have the experience with watching and studying film to put to words why this film was so revolutionary. What distinguishes the fight choreography in The Matrix from other Hollywood films? Why do the slow motion and “bullet-time“ scenes work so well in The Matrix?

We also do some digging on the myth that The Matrix was the first film to use the “bullet-time” effect and also the myth that The Matrix and Terminator being stolen from an underdog writer who had to sue to get her residuals. We talk about indisputable things like how amazing Hugo Weaving plays Agent Smith, how effective the film feeds us exposition, and the advanced and almost prophetic story about our relationship with technology.

To say The Matrix is a sci-fi action film might be accurate, but the film also borrows imagery and themes from Westerns, Anime, Cyberpunk, Philosophy, Spirituality, Kung Fu and the ever present question of identity that exists in all of the Wachowskis works. Since Lana and Lilly have come out as transwomen and our understanding of the transgender experience grows, going back to The Matrix with this in mind, is it possible to see the film as a trans allegory? Is Neo waking up in the “real world“ recognizing the disconnect from who the system tells him he is versus he who he actually is, a metaphor for his “egg” hatching? A metaphor for recognizing his self being exploited by a ruling class? A metaphor for realizing his own potential? Or perhaps all of the above? After all, The Wachowskis can only show us the door. It is up to us to walk through.

Joining us on this episode is friend of the podcast and professional in film distribution: Dillan Damodar!
Music is from Triune Digital and audio clips pulled from movies we will be reviewing in other episodes.

Artwork by @jannelle_o