The Wachowskis chose a chancy project for their directorial debut, "Bound" (1996), a romance-thriller featuring Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon as criminal lesbians in love. Drawing on influences as varied as Billy Wilder ("Double Indemnity" 1944), Roman Polanski ("Chinatown" 1974) and Sam Raimi ("The Evil Dead" 1983), the brothers set out to create a modern film noir that would invert the genre. With its elaborately stylish camerawork and intriguing story, "Bound" fell into the category of work that one either loved or hated. Receiving generally appreciative reviews, it found a limited, but appreciative audience.
On the other hand, "The Matrix" (1999), the proposed first in a trilogy of futuristic spectaculars that borrowed heavily from such diverse sources as the Bible, "Alice in Wonderland", Hong Kong action flicks and mythology, proved a popular success. Over a period of more than five years, the brothers developed the story for this comic book come to life, penning 14 drafts and overseeing the design of some 500 storyboards. The arduous shoot required the actors (including Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving and Carrie-Anne Moss) to undergo extensive physical conditioning so the film's innovative, special effects-driven set pieces would have a unique visual flair. The meticulous planning paid off as the film opened at Number One and quickly grossed over $100 million, virtually assuring that the other parts of the trilogy would be successes. After nearly a four-year wait, "Matrix Reloaded" (2003), the second installment, hit theaters.