Lana and Lilly Wachowski are among the most iconic and greatest filmmakers in modern cinema. The directors' biggest claim to fame is their 1999 classic, The Matrix. The movie is a stunning sci-fi project that helped change the landscape of Hollywood going forward, thanks to its stylistic action sequences, captivating visuals, and fight choreography. They've also helmed other intriguing sci-fi films with stunning visuals like Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending, and Speed Racer. However, those movies didn't live up to The Matrix in terms of critical reception or financial success.
It's widely believed that The Matrix remains the best work of The Wachowskis' careers, even if the sequels that followed were lackluster in comparison. However, a deeper look into the filmography of The Wachowskis reveals that the best movie they ever made is actually something much smaller from several years prior, which doesn't even fall into the sci-fi category. That film is Bound and it manages to be a brilliant film without relying on special effects or high concepts.
That's not to say that The Matrix relies on those things, because it's indeed a remarkable movie that deserves all the acclaim it received over the years. What it shows is that, as good as The Wachowskis are in the sci-fi realm, they might've been at their best with the more intimate Bound.
It doesn't often get mentioned among the best movies released during the '90s, but Bound deserves to be in that conversation. It likely gets overlooked because of the small budget and box office, being made for around $6 million and only bringing in around $3 million. That makes it more of a hidden gem than the most iconic releases of the '90s like the aforementioned The Matrix, Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, Pretty Woman, Toy Story, or others in consideration for the decade's best.
However, everything about Bound makes it a movie that should be discussed as one of the best. The story focuses on Violet, played by Jennifer Tilly, and Corky, played by Gina Gershon. Violet is looking to get out of her relationship with a mobster named Caesar (Joe Pantoliano) and she enters an intense affair with Corky, an ex-con, as they hatch a plan to steal $2 million of Mafia money. It's a relatively small story that stands out in the filmography of The Wachowskis.
Although Bound wasn't a major box office success, it was heavily appreciated by critics. The movie sits at an impressive 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was beloved at the Toronto International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, and others. Bound also won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film - Wide Release in 1997.
That smaller scale of Bound is what helps it feel extra impressive. The world knows what the Wachowskis can do with a legitimate budget. The Matrix looks spectacular on its $60 million budget, with the sequels getting more than double that number. While their other films weren't as successful, there's no denying how visually incredible the likes of Speed Racer and Jupiter Ascending are.
With Bound, The Wachowskis showed the great things they can do with a minuscule budget. It doesn't need to utilize visual effects like a sci-fi movie, yet it gets the most out of what it has. Rather than try to tell a larger story, Bound keeps things grounded in a confined space. The vast majority of the plot takes place in an apartment. That allows the performances to carry things and the Wachowskis pull some tremendous efforts out of the cast.
It's difficult to call Bound the best movie by The Wachowskis since The Matrix exists. As noted, it's one of the best films of the '90s and one of the greatest sci-fi movies in history. However, while its greatness can't be denied, it isn't quite as accessible as Bound. To watch The Matrix, the viewer needs to be fully immersed in the world and pay close attention to the little details of a complex story in a world that takes time to fully build.
Bound is a much easier film to sit down and watch. There aren't any major sci-fi concepts to consider and there isn't a deeper world to learn about. As great as those things are, sometimes you want something a bit easier to consume. Bound fills that need because it tells a relatively simple and straightforward story. When you're making that kind of movie, it's important that every aspect of it is engaging and well-done, which Bound succeeds at.
Everyone should see The Matrix at least once, but it is quite a journey to go on. Anyone can throw Bound on and watch something extraordinary with a gripping story and intriguing characters. Either way, you're watching a true classic of the decade, which both prove how great The Wachowskis are.
While the box office intake of Bound doesn't reflect a popular or successful movie, time has been very kind to the project. Bound has gone on to become a cult classic over the past three decades for several reasons. First, the popularity of The Matrix made more and more people seek out other projects made by the filmmaking siblings. That led people to find Bound, which was their debut and their only release before the arrival of The Matrix.
Another big aspect of the cult status of Bound is how it has a strong LGBTQ+ following. It is often mentioned among the greatest films to ever feature lesbian characters and a lesbian romance at its core. Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon, along with the Wachowskis, are considered queer icons and Bound is a big reason for that. On top of those things, Bound is just a fantastic movie and in the end, greatness is something that will always shine through.
It's fair to argue The Matrix as the best work of the Wachowskis' career, but anyone who says Bound can also be considered right. It's an LGBTQ+ staple, a critically acclaimed classic, and a beloved film featuring some terrific performances.
