Movie Review: "Inception"
Friday, July 16, 2010 at 12:33PM | By Franck Tabouring 
Seen on: July 12, 2010
The players: Director: Christopher Nolan, Writer: Christopher Nolan, Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe
Facts of interest: None. Just go see it!
The plot: DiCaprio plays a man who specializes in extraction - stealing secrets from deep within someone's mind while they are asleep.
Our thoughts: Christopher Nolan’s utterly brilliant sci-fi thriller “Inception” is undoubtedly the best blockbuster of the year, and it will go down as one of the most original movies of the new decade. It also goes down in history as one of the most mesmerizing big-screen experiences I’ve ever had, because there’s not one scene in this masterpiece that won’t blow your mind. It’s THE movie to see this summer!
One of the film’s biggest strengths is its original concept, which is why I won’t reveal too much when it comes to the intriguing plot. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb, a guy who specializes in the art of extraction, a method that allows him to steal secrets from people by invading their subconscious while they’re dreaming. Cobb really is the best there is, but he wants out, and that’s not as easy as it seems.
Cobb’s only chance at redemption is a mysterious man named Saito (Ken Watanabe), who offers him freedom if he successfully performs inception – the impossible task of planting an idea deep within a human’s mind. Confident enough that he can pull it off, Cobb assembles a team of experts, ready to embark on an adventure into a dangerous dream state that could change his real life forever.
And so the incredible adventure of “Inception” begins. The film runs for an impressive 150 minutes, but the pace of its plot moves so fast, you wish you could just keep watching on and on. Nolan is a true genius when it comes to create compelling films boasting fascinating stories, and this one pulls you right in and won’t let go off you until long after the end credits roll.
“Inception” is exactly what Hollywood needs these days. The movie is based on a completely original idea that has been perfectly executed, and the storyline, though complex enough, has all it takes to constantly surprise cinemagoers all while keeping them both entertained and making it easy for them to connect with the characters and fully immerse themselves in the experience.
Nolan may mess with your mind here, but you know you want him to. You want him to take you on a unique journey filled with glorious twists, and that’s exactly what you get. “Inception” is based on an idea as crazy and ridiculous as you can imagine, but Nolan does the most perfect job at having you suspend your disbelief without a problem. Pretty much every scene in this movie leaves you stunned…
It’s the story that makes this movie so great, but there’s more to the brilliance of “Inception.” One important factor is the technical aspect. Nolan is a perfectionist when it comes to playing with production values, and I’m not lying when I say this film is visually stunning. Wally Pfister’s cinematography kicks butt big time, the special effects will knock your socks off, and the direction and editing are flawless.
Did I mention the brilliant score by Hans Zimmer? That alone adds an incredible depth to the scenes, and in my book, it’s one of the strongest scores I’ve heard in a long time. Then there’s the superb acting, led by a superb Leonardo DiCaprio, who’s in complete control of his complex character. The guy has come a long way, and his work should be recognized yet again. He’s brilliant, to put it simply.
DiCaprio is also supported by an excellent cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is better than ever as one of Cobb’s team members, and so are Ellen Page, Tom Hardy and Watanabe. Marion Cotillard and Cillian Murphy are also part of this phenomenal experience, and let’s just say they’re as awesome as everyone else. The acting alone makes this a thrilling film. Anything else? No, just go see for yourself…
Freaky quote: "Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange." - Leonardo DiCaprio
The final word: I could’ve went into more story and thematic detail, but that’s not the point of this review. The point of it is to simply get you excited and go experience “Inception” on your own. No need to spoil it, right? I will head back to see it at least once more, and I can only urge you to be part of this experience. A film like this one doesn’t hit the screens that often. Let’s enjoy this while it lasts. Hey, it’s a masterpiece!
Article by Franck Tabouring
Reader Comments (4)
I am so relieved to hear this movie is good. It's not out here yet, but I've been waiting for this movie for over a year now, and I'm glad to hear it lives up to the hype.
It is indeed a masterpiece.
I love how Inception is immune to spoilers: If you knew how it ended, that would tell you nothing unless you knew how it got there. Bit like the dreams eh? And telling you how it got there would produce bafflement. The movie is all about process, about fighting our way through sheets of reality and dream, reality within dreams, dreams without reality.
I agree with your review of 'Inception' 100%. On every level this movie is nothing short of movie execution brilliance. Not only does it demand a second viewing (I thought that I still didn't "get" about 10% of it the first time around, and then I went back and discovered that I actually didn't "get" about 30% of the movie the first time around) it was WAY better the second time around. This is one of those extremely rare instances of a film where there are no scenes that could have been "cut" on the editing table and have the movie still work. This script took 8 years to write and 2 years to produce, as a film, and you are going to know where your $10-15 bucks went when you see it. (To pun a line from "Pulp Fiction" about shooting good heroine). I am a screenwriter too (written 6, working on 6 more) so I know what kind of effort goes into writing something like this, and this is the kind of thing that either makes you want to give up as a writer, or do it even more. There is no line, no shot, no visual device, or no scene that absolutely doesn't need to be there, and everything serves to drive the story forward and flesh out the main character of Cobb. While many films have about 3 major setups and payoffs, this movie has probably closer to 20 or 30. This is one of those very rare instances where the action and special effects actually take a back seat to the story, and the effects, action, and cinematography are amazing in their own right. I can understand why a lot of people might have a "luke warm" reception to 'Inception' but in all cases I think it's because this is a movie that requires you to pay attention, and it also invites you to think. This story is firing on all 8 cylinders and is brain candy for anyone that loves the craft of film. I immediately added 'Inception' to my personal list of top 10 favorite movies, of all time, and this is the kind of movie that reminds me why I love movies - and love good writing - in the first place. God, if I could only be THAT good. Even if you don't want to peel away the layers of 'Inception' like a Russian nesting doll, there is still plenty of punch on 'level number 1' - the mental bank heist. I am super critical of all movies because I love really GOOD movies and 'Inception' is what it's all about. 10 out of 10. One word of advice: See it in IMAX if you can, because this movie was born for IMAX. Have fun! Peace.