Qualifications
First my qualifications. I am a true fan of the cinema, a big difference from a film snob mind you. I love the medium in all its glory and and in all of its shame. I believe there is inherent value in even the worst movies. Even if it is to say, “this is not how you do a movie.” My immersion factor is probably one of the highest known to man. I didn’t lose immersion even in Carnosaur 2. Beat that! Well any way lets get this thing started.
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Inception
If you follow me on twitter you may have seen my overly annoying reaction to this movie Screaming it from the mountain tops as it were. Well some of that was in jest. But after the giddy glow of the post orgasm has faded, I still find myself thinking fondly of what I experienced in this movie. A good sign.
Is Inception Nolan’s Masterpiece? Is it going to sweep the Oscars? Is it the greatest of the great things invented by man, so you have to decide to not see it because so many people like it and you hate that?
Nyet.
What we do have here though is an incredibly competent, well made movie, that manages to hit the viewer on multiple taste buds at once. It has a multi-layered plot, drama, a charming caste, mystery, good action, beautiful imagery, and it makes you use a lil bit of your brain too.
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Synopsis
I’m not going into the plot to much. Since that defeats the purpose of going to see the movie.
What we have here is a world were people can go into your dreams. And by doing so they are able to steal information from your mind. Enter our Mr. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) a man that specializes in going into others dreams and extracting sad information.
From there the plot expands on multiple fronts. From delving into Cobbs back story, to explaining the world of Dream Extracting, to Laying out Dream rules. And some nice but minor “The implications of it all” philosophy. And then running up to the main plot.
That of the “Big Job” if you are familiar with television tropes.
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Substance
I must say. It was a joy to experience this world. It was a film were the more the movie went on the more it engaged you, just in pure entertainment alone. It was quite nicely crafted and had many layers to it.
The pacing was one thing I can say was perfect. Disorienting at first (like waking up from a dream), then languid as introspection and the build-up to the run occurs. And then this Pressure as the plot delves deeper and deeper the closer we get to the breakthrough. If I am using my metaphor correctly. Good use of tension.
The music nicely compliments the movie in many places. And is probably one of my favorite soundtracks this summer. Good job Hans Zimmer. In fact I am listening to it as I write this review. It helps pull you into the movie at times, and others helps ramp up the action. Also setting the pace for the more calm or confrontational scenes.
I have to say also, this is probably one of the best caste movies I have seen in a long time. All of the actors in this movie gave rather great performances. Not anything Oscar worthy, despite me being a Major DiCaprio fan. But The film is just just highly competent. Perhaps it is just the nature of the summer movie, were we are used to such mediocrity that a fairly decent performance wows us. The last movie I saw was Iron Man 2 and well, while it was good, it had summer movie over the top outlandishness in it.
The Dynamic Trio! Aurthur <3, Cobb <3, and Eames <3 <3
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Congrats to
Leonardo DiCaprio (I am a DiCaprio-Fanboy)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Really was a treat, he played straight man to Leo’s gruff edgy)
Marion Cotillard (A great femme-fatale)
Ken Watanabe (my Boy!)
Tom Hardy (Tom Hardy’s performance as Eames was, well, I may be in mancrushlove with him now)
Ellen Page
Cillian Murphy (No one ever gives Cillian much notice but the dude is actually pretty good)
Special shout-out to some of the bit actors as well. All great.
Dileep Rao
Tom Berenger (Havent seen Tom in years was great to see him)
Michael Caine
Lukas Haas
Pete Postlethwaite
Indeed I had to coin a term for this caste. Called the Ouroboros of Awesome, as they kept stealing the scene from each other, while not diminishing the others.
Mmm mmm. Ms. Cotillard
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Negatives
About the only thing that detracts from the movie, might be the music. Which is weird as I just got through praising it earlier. But even if good and used well through out, at some places in the movie, (Few thankfully) it can be oppressive. And can seem to go on too long where it might not have been needed. Just my opinion.
Confusion Factor
Whenever a movie comes out with a semi-complicated plot, there is chance for you to run into the “I didn’t understand it, so I am pissed” factor people. Let me tell you though the movie is layered, and multi-plotted it is in no way hard to follow. Even though some have said there are plot holes, I haven’t seen anything that you couldn’t piece together yourself.
There is some subtlety to some of the rules of the world of course. And definitely some ambiguity to happenings in the film. I know some people cant handle ambiguity, but it spells things out fairly well I thought. It does require you to make your own judgement at a few points though which is healthy for you.
If you have any theories or things you want to talk about send me a comment.
A Clone? (Dont be facetious)
Some have tried to dismiss this as some sort of clone of existing movies. Usually done by dismissing it before even considering to give it a chance. For those who want to know. It shares little with Matrix, or Paprika, or Perfect Blue. About the only thing they share is that they deal with altered reality/dreams and are pretty damn awesome. Story wise and execution-wise its highly laughable to even think they could be similar.
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Verdict – 9/10
Finally a movie that satisfies on many levels. And doesn’t insult your intelligence either. Well made, well caste, well scored. Probably the must see of the summer, truthfully. I know I will be seeing it multiple times. Hope to see you there.
Opinions? let me know.
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