With his younger brother Andy, Larry Wachowski saw their first screenplay produced when "Assassins" (1995) made it to the screen as a vehicle for Sylvester Stallone who played an assassin who is being hunted by another younger hit man (Antonio Banderas). While the final result (with a script polished by yet another writer) was found uneven by critics and was a box-office disappointment, it nevertheless gave the Wachowskis entree in Hollywood.
Born and raised in Chicago, the Wachowskis jokingly claim to have begun their collaboration as toddlers. Both dropped out of college to pursue showbiz and both overcame some major hurdles to complete a far more unusual undertaking, "Bound" (1996), which they co-directed, co-wrote, and co-executive produced. The film, a modern twist on the film noir genre, starred Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon as criminal lesbian lovers on the run. The brothers, both married, downplayed their involvement somewhat and turned the focus on the actresses cast. While they claimed it was not difficult for them to create believable gay women protagonists, no doubt the gay community's negative reaction to perceived negative portrayals of lesbian and gay characters (as in 1991's "The Silence of the Lambs" and 1992's "Basic Instinct") was taken into consideration. The press, both before and after its premiere, was generally positive and the film found a limited, albeit 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 successful. After a wait of nearly four years, part two, "Matrix Reloaded" (2003) hit movie screens.