Review: Inception

Plot: Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an Extractor, a very specialized thief who steals information for his clients from their competitors dreams. When Saito (Ken Watanabe) the head of a multi-national conglomerate offers to clear Cobb's nefarious past if he can plant an idea in his competitor's mind, Cobb seizes the chance to get back to his family. But Inception comes at a high price and soon Cobb finds that the task could cost him his friends, his future, and his sanity.

Review: The dictionary defines the word "wow" as an exclamation of admiration or amazement. I dare anyone to see Inception and not come away with that simple but profound word ringing in their heads. Believe the hype ladies and gentlemen, director and writer Christopher Nolan's latest masterpiece is sheer genius, a momentous piece of cinema that will captivate you from the opening credits to the final scene. In an ocean of movie clap-trap that panders to the lowest common denominator, Inception is a bright life boat in the sea. A thinking man's movie, Inception is the cinematic equivalent of television's LOST.

I have to say it's going to be very hard for me to do this review without giving away too much. Inception is just too exquisite a film and the plot points so crucial, that to give away too much of the story is a disservice to the potential moviegoer. So bear with me if I hold back a little when it comes to story and script. In truth Nolan's script is so brilliant and vibrant, so rich in it's combination of subtlety, catharsis, and revelation that to try to describe this film to anyone who hasn't seen it is quite literally like trying to describe a half remembered dream. The dialogue is real, vibrant, sophisticated, and engrossing. Mark my words, if Christopher Nolan doesn't win the Academy Award for best original screenplay at the Oscars next year, somebody is drinking Drano. In fact I suspect a lot of Oscars might be flowing Inception's way, among them actor, supporting actress, directing, cinematography, and special effects.

Inception to me is proof positive why there needs to be an Academy Award for best ensemble cast. Everyone in this film is brilliant, even minor characters like Miles (Michael Caine) and Yusef (Dileep Rao from last year's Avatar). Ellen Paige, who plays the Architect Ariadne, made a bold choice by doing this film. As the new member of the team she brings a nuanced and fresh look to the job and ends up being Cobb's conscience in several important ways. I really think this movie will change the thinking of those who only see her as Juno. Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe's characters cannot be overlooked either. Both lend a gravitas and emotional punch to their roles that is vital for the plot of Inception. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hardy are great as Arthur and Eames, the Point Man and the Forger respectively. Their thinly veiled competitiveness and antagonism make for some great moments in the film.

The real stars of Inception however are Cobb (DiCaprio) and Mal (Marion Cotillard). Their relationship is so complex and complicated, so full of layers and raw emotion that it's a wonder any duo could pull this off. Yet somehow they both do. Academy Award winner and French actress Cotillard proves again why she's a force to be reckoned with in any language. Her turn as the emotionally conflicted and tormented Mal is one of the best I've ever seen. And what can I say about Leonardo DiCaprio? No one does tortured like Leo. (Just see Shutter Island if you don't believe me.) His role as Dom Cobb is just another in a long line of memorable characters for the acclaimed actor stretching back to The Basketball Diaries. If there is any justice in the movie universe he will win an Academy Award for this film. Cobb is a dark, tortured man who yearns to be with his family while at the same time losing his grip on what's real and what's a dream. DiCaprio captures the essence of Cobb flawlessly.

A lot has been made about the special effects in Inception. They are as good as advertised, particularly the fight scene in the hotel hallway. What's surprising too is how the action flows from the story rather than (as is too often the case in Hollywood blockbusters) the story flowing from the action. Every scene has a functionality to it. In fact some of the chase scenes in particular remind you of films like The French Connection and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Attribute that to the great direction of Christopher Nolan. Everything in Inception packs an emotional punch, whether it's an intense argument or an assault on a snow covered hospital. His great film Memento looks tame by comparison.

Kudos to editor Lee Smith as well. His use of slow motion and jump cuts reinforce the dream aspects of Inception. It's a perfect marriage of form and function. And in an era where the scores of films detract from the picture, Hans Zimmer's music only enhances it. The rousing bass notes and focus on the brass instruments reflect the grandiose nature of Inception.

Despite the acting, directing, writing, music, editing, and action, the heart of Inception is in its story. Think The Sting meets The Matrix. But even that is unfair because Inception is such an original film. It speaks to the fundamental ideas of what's real and what's fantasy and what happens when our fantasies become our realities. It tackles the very mysterious and hostile worlds of dreams and the subconscious, not easy subjects to write about let alone translate to film. Freud and Jung would have been salivating if they could have seen this film.

I've seen Inception twice already and what I think will truly make this film stand the test of time is the layers it possesses. You can watch this film a hundred times and still find something new. And odds are it will be just as entertaining. In a vast, dark wasteland of horrible summer films, Inception proves to be not just the best movie of the summer but the best movie the year so far.

My rating: A HUGE 10/10