A Dream of A Movie
On the simplest level, it’s a caper flick, about a thief Cobb (Leonardo Dicaprio) trying to pull off one last score before leaving the business for good. The difference in this caper film Cobb, and his partner Arther (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are thieves that make a living stealing secrets from the subconscious. They sedate their prey, use their silver briefcase filled with a special machine that connects people minds.
The story begins with a tryout, the duo are trying to get information from the mind of Saito (Ken Watanabe), a rich businessman. They fail, but Saito is impressed enough to offer them a special job: not to extract information, but to implant an idea into the dreams of a competitor (Cillian Murphy), a complicated process known as inception. Inception is thought to be impossible. Cobb knows, from experience, that it can be done, he also knows the cost. If he can complete this job it’ll mean being cleared of a crime he was set up for, and seeing his beloved children, from whom he has been separated.
To do this almost impossible job Cobb must assemble a team. The team consists of – Yusuf (Dileep Rao), a chemist who will take care of putting everyone into a dream state; Eames (Tom Hard) a “forger,” who can impersonate people in dreams; and Ariadne (Ellen Page), an architecture student brought in to help construct the dreamscapes in which the inception will take place. Why does Cobb need an architect? Can’t he build his own dreams? Well he can. But he won’t, the reason why is a part of the story best discovered for yourself. Cobb’s wife Mal (Marion Cotillard), plays a huge part in his life and again it is something you will have to learn about yourself.
Nolan plays with a lot of things in this movie; of course, Perception and reality, but also time. In real life a second is a second, but in a dream a second is around 10 minutes, but when you go in a dream with in a dream a second will be 1 hour, and so on. Nolan layers dream upon dream upon dream, and we get a story upon a story upon a story. This creates a puzzle for the us to figure out, not to worry it is way more fun than it sounds.
While an architect like Ariadine can construct specific elements, there are always wild cards to be delt with, “projections” which a bits and pieces of your subconscious that take shape in your dreams. Sometimes these “projections” are amusing, but if the person has been trained to protect their subconscious they can be deadly. The effects used to make the dream worlds are of course computer generated, but it is done so well you can’t tell.
A movie like “Inception” are usually suspect. Can and will it live up to the hype? I have to say yes it lives up to the hype and then some. The effects are so crucial to the story and done so well, Nolan brings us into his world. I really felt like I was dreaming. This is a movie that you have not seen before, it is so creative and ambitious you leave wondering if and when you will see something like it again.
Buckeye Brad gives “Inception” an A+, such a great story, directed so well, I don’t think I will see a movie the rest of the year that will take me out of everyday life and into a story done as well as this. Go see it you will enjoy it, don’t think too hard or you will miss some of it’s wonder and charm.
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While I agree with your review, I'd like to add a few thoughts.
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 myself (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', in my opinion, 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.