Did Stanley Kubrick’s Influence Impact The Matrix Sequels?

When it comes to the fourth Matrix movie, It looked like the entire gang was getting back together.

But stunningly, the person not coming back is longtime Wachowski collaborator and friend, cinematographer Bill Pope. 

Pope talked with IndieWire and gave them the scoop... and in so many words, he blames Stanley Kubrick.

Wait, what?!

"Everything that was good about the first experience was not good about the last two," Pope said. "We weren't free anymore. People were looking at you. There was a lot of pressure. In my heart, I didn't like them. I felt we should be going in another direction. There was a lot of friction and a lot of personal problems, and it showed up on screen to be honest with you. It was not my most elevated moment, nor was it anyone else's. The Wachowskis had read this damn book by Stanley Kubrick that said, 'Actors don't do natural performances until you wear them out.' So let's go to take 90! I want to dig Stanley Kubrick up and kill him."

Wow. The idea of exhausting actors with takes has been around a long time. We know about David Fincher and the insane number takes he does, but this seems a disheartening side effect of that approach. It broke Pope, who was not used to working like that. 

He elaborated, "There is something about making a shoot that long, 276 shoot days, that is mind-numbing and soul-numbing and it numbs the movie," Pope said. "You think about 'The Hobbit,' where they [shot] one, two, and three, and the movies are just numbing. In the books, you don't feel that because you pick it up and put it down. In a movie shoot, it's too long. There's a limit from what you can take in."

So how did they plan on replacing Pope? 

John Toll, the Oscar-winning DP of Legends of the Fall and Braveheart, is serving as cinematographer for the fourth Matrix movie. 

Pope is waiting for the quarantine to end to finish shooting Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel. 

Where do you land on the "How many takes" conversation? 

Do you think a great actor can nail it in 3-5 (as long as it's good for camera/sound)? Or do you think it's necessary to wear them down toward naturalism? 

Let us know in the comments.