The Strange World of Matrix Co-Creator Larry Wachowski

And How the Artistic Failure of the Matrix Sequels Probably Has Nothing to Do with His Sex Life

According to a year-old article in Rolling Stone magazine and various other gossip-centered web sites, Larry Wachowski-one half of the brother team responsible for the truly awesome film Bound and the overrated film The Matrix and its perhaps underrated sequels (in terms of they weren't all THAT much worse than the original)-has become involved in the world of S&M by engaging in a relationship with a kinkstress mistress and dressing up as a woman and even, possibly, considering a sex change operation. The facts of Larry Wachowski's sexual experimentation and transgender exploration have been pretty much confirmed. What is less open to confirmation, of course, is that Wachowski's sexual proclivities are to blame for the perception of a drastic drop in quality in the sequels to The Matrix.

The story of Larry Wachowski reminds me of nothing so much as Ed Wood, Jr. Ed Wood, of course, was the cinematic genius behind such movies as Plan Nine from Outer Space, Bride of the Monster and Glen or Glenda. The latter was an exploration of one man's attraction to angora sweaters in particular and cross-dressing in general. It is said-and was reimagined in Tim Burton's biopic about him-that Ed Wood often dressed in women's clothing on the set while directing. In reading criticism of Ed Wood's filmmaking-typically viewed as spectacularly incompetent-it is interesting to note that no serious commentary ever links his lack of creative ability to his interest in wearing women's clothing. Why should there be any linkage; one thing has nothing to do with the other.