It’s been 18 years since the release of the last Matrix movie, “The Matrix Revolutions.” Canadian actor Keanu Reeves, now 57, returns to resurrect his screen persona Neo / Thomas Anderson in “The Matrix Resurrections,” the long-awaited fourth film in the hit franchise that began with “The Matrix” in 1999.
Those movies redefined a genre.
The new film follows Anderson, who faces the option of returning to a world of two realities: one everyday; the other what is behind. To find out if your reality is a construction, you must choose to follow the white rabbit one more time.
Reprising her role as Trinity is Canadian actress Carrie-Anne Moss, who stars alongside newcomers Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Christina Ricci.
When it comes to action franchises, Neo and Trinity have long been hailed as that partner. In “The Matrix Resurrections,” it is humor, heart, and humanity that drive the narrative, with an endearing love story brought to life with Neo and Trinity.
Out in Toronto for the Canadian premiere last week, Reeves opened up about his long friendship with Moss in an interview.
“It was really lovely. I think people can relate to the idea of having a dear friend and not seeing them for a long time and then coming back to reconnect. It’s like you never left. That’s what we had. It was really easy, comfortable to reconnect, roll up your sleeves and go to work. “
There is a meeting scene in a coffee shop where Thomas sees Trinity. It is an emotional moment for both the actors and the audience. The chemistry is powerful and palpable.
Speaking about that poignant moment, Reeves said: “I was certainly full of emotion with the scene in ‘Resurrections’ where Thomas Anderson and Trinity are having a cup of coffee and as she walks away … not revealing too much, but watching Trinity leave. And walking out the door was very emotional. “
Reeves, who was born in Beirut and raised in Toronto, has been in the acting business for more than three decades and is known for being the hardest-working actor in Hollywood. He said he was delighted to get the call from co-writer / director Lana Wachowski to make another “Matrix” movie.
It’s been over 30 years since Reeves played the physical role of Neo in the first movie. Was there something you didn’t think you would be doing in the new one at 57? He smiled at the question.
“Jumping off a building”. For an impressive action scene in the film, the actor actually jumps from a 43-story, 170-meter-high building, alongside Moss.
“I didn’t expect to be doing that. It was in the script. I assumed we would do it with CGI and support. But Lana really wanted to make it happen. I mean, we were obviously wired. We cannot fly. But yeah, it was exciting. “
Reeves has long been known for his role in “The Matrix.” If each character is a bit of the actor who plays them, how much of Keanu is there in this resurrected version of Anderson / Neo? Reeves paused to reflect. “I would ask the question, ‘What is the matrix? What is the truth?’ I would say that is very close to me. I really enjoy that part of the Thomas Anderson / Neo character. I feel like Thomas Anderson is the one with the question and the feeling, and Neo is the one who starts to kick in. ‘What can happen? How can you find the answers? How can you make the connections? How can you help?’ So it’s great to have those two sides of the character. “
In the new narrative, the characters grapple with issues of reality as they ponder the question of “What is real?” Reeves has also immersed himself in issues of reality and technology, and finds hope in it.
“I think of the ‘Matrix’ movies as tools. They are entertaining, there is action; ‘Resurrections’ is fun. I find them as cautionary tales, like this may be the consequences of our technology in our interactions with machines and with each other. And I find them hopeful.
“In ‘The Matrix Resurrections,’ Lana has explored artificial intelligence and programs that become sensitive and exist in the real world. There are comments about the kind of combination of technology and humanity, how we interact. I feel like it gives us ways of looking at our own lives, questioning constructions of control, inspiration of how we want to be, who we want to be, how we want to interact.
“And I think one of the messages of the movies is that love is the key.”
Reference-www.thestar.com