‘Matrix’ Depicts A Hellish Future

Fri., April 2, 1999

Chris Hewitt Saint Paul Pioneer Press

Once movie characters start yapping about “paradigms” or “continuums,” I start to tune out.

It happens fairly early in “The Matrix”: Laurence Fishburne begins yammering about the matrix, a system of numbers that guides the world, explains the relationship between illusion and reality, and offers vital clues as to why Keanu Reeves still has a thriving career. Reeves, by the way, plays a guy Fishburne thinks may be a messiah, sent to save the world.

(Interesting factoid: Reeves has played a guy who saves the world at least four times. Is there any actor less likely to save the world? Discuss.)

Overlong and over-violent, “Matrix” is in roughly the same ballpark as “The Fifth Element,” and it’s not a ballpark I respond to, filled as it is with technobabble, elaborate martial arts, wiggly membranes and very dark rooms (do they not have light bulbs in the future?).

“The Matrix” Location: Lincoln Heights, Newport, Spokane Valley Mall, Post Falls, Showboat Credits: Directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski; starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne Running time: 2:11 Rating: R

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‘Matrix’ Depicts A Hellish Future

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