From the moment I watched this film I wanted to write about it, so here is my very belated verdict. I must admit though, that I actually started writing this a few months ago but got work on a feature film, so am now picking up where I last left off. Christopher Nolan has been in the spotlight since his phenomenal comic-book adaptation of Batman. Every single comic-book film I've ever seen (aside from Kick-Ass, and the original Spiderman films...yes the 80's versions), have been terrible in my opinion. Lots of people have raved about comic book films, etc. but perhaps I just grew out of that phase of my life during my teens.With this in mind, Christopher Nolan's Memento first caught my (and possibly the film-world's) attention through his thought-provoking "Memento" (2000), with its unique narrative playing from the ending to the beginning. Ten years have passed, and Nolan returns with an almost entirely unique script that he has secretly been working on for years, describing the film as a "contemporary sci-fi action thriller "set within the architecture of the mind."
Inception is one of those films that's fairly hard to describe without ruining the plot. As must be mentioned that this is the first and only review that will contain spoilers. With this in mind, if you have not watched the film, I strongly suggest that you rent/buy the film on DVD as it is definitely worth the investment.
Dom Cobb (Leonardo Di Caprio) is a highly trained thief, the best possibly professional in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state (The dream state being when the mind is at its most vulnerable). "Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists [Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Ariadne (Ellen Page), Eames (Tom Hardy), Saito (Ken Watanabe) and Yusuf (Dileep Rao)] have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move" (Warner Bro's).
Watch the following trailer to get a taster of the film:
I have to admit that the first time I watched the film, I sat there in awe. From a psychological point of view, it hit every single button in my brain. I absolutely loved it. It contained aspects of NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), a subconscious practice which has always fascinated me. The was so thought-provoking that when a friend mentioned that she hadn't seen it, I didn't hesitate to go back to watch it again...not to mention the fact that this 9 year old kid sat next to me, eating nearly every noisy sweet/snack known to man, throughout the first sitting.
Christopher Nolan first pitched the film to Warner Bros. after the completion of his third feature, Insomnia (2002/I), and was met with approval from the studio. However, it was not yet written at the time, and Nolan determined that rather than writing it as an assignment, it would be more suitable to his working style if he wrote it as a spec script and then presented it to the studio whenever it was completed. So he went off to write it, thinking it would take "a couple of months", but it ultimately took nearly eight years (IMDB).With this film in particular, I will be giving my views on acting performances, as opposed to storyline. It can be mentioned that my high rating for this film come from the phenomenal story, effects and engrossing action that provides an experience to the viewer. From an acting point of view, I think that the only people who performed extremely well were Tom Hardy and Leonardo Di Caprio. Di Caprio needs no introduction or explanation in my opinion, as his roles have defined his capabilities as a versatile, realistic character in almost any scenario.
"The name of Leonardo DiCaprio's character is the same as that of one of the main characters in Christopher Nolan's first feature film, Following (1998). Further, both the characters have the same profession - they supposedly play thieves (IMDB)From the moment I watched Tom Hardy's performance in Bronson (2008), I couldn't believe the person giving the behind-the-scenes interview was the same person who acted in the film. He is possibly the most versatile actor, and (you heard it here first), the next Johnny Depp. Hardy possesses this rare ability to look different in everything he acts in, not too dissimilar to Depp. He is definitely one to look out for in the coming years.
Another commendable mention can be said for Ken Watanebe, of whom I have been a fan of since The Last Samurai (2003). I believe that he played the role of both friend and foe extremely well. Michael Caine didn't seem to really require the need to stretch his acting as in Harry Brown (2009), but was convincing enough. I thought that whilst Marion Cotillard (who won the Best Actress Academy Award for her role as Édith Piaf in La Vie en Rose) is usually a good actress, I felt she couldn't really grasp the role completely. It just didn't seem like a believable relationship between her and Cobb (Di Caprio).
Unlike his performances in Brick (2005) and The Lookout (2007), I felt that Joseph Gordon-Lovett underperformed in this film. James Franco (Spiderman 3) was originally scripted for the role but was unable to play the role due to scheduling conflicts. In a way I think this was for the best, as although he is a great actor, Joseph was much better suited for this particular role. Joseph has been a great actor from an early age (3rd Rock From The Sun), but he seemed almost wooden/stiff and scripted when communicating his role in this film; which for me is a shame, and whether these were specific instructions from Nolan or not, I'm unsure if it was a positive move.
According to IMDB, "Evan Rachel Wood was Christopher Nolan's first choice to play Ariadne, but she turned it down. Nolan considered casting Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams and Emma Roberts, but chose Ellen Page instead." I bet Wood is kicking her heels at missing out on this film now. Ever since I watched Hard Candy (2004), I believed that there was something special about Page. In that film she completely commanded the attention of the viewer with her sterling performance. I do believe however, that Inception, she merely came across as a wooden, moody teenager (not too dissimilar to her Juno role). I feel that her true strengths were not utilised to the best of her ability, which is quite a shame.
From an effects point of view, the zero-gravity scene still has me perplexed as to how they actually made it. It was too fluid for strings and no bubbles for water, therefore the only thing I can think is that they built a set in a plane and let it free-fall. I guess I will have to buy the special edition DVD with the "making-of" tied into a 2nd disc, in order to find out.
One of my favourite composers ever Hanz Zimmer provided some insight into his choice of music for the "slow, gloomy, blaring trombones in the main theme of the film score [which] are actually based on an extremely slowed down version of the fast, high pitched trumpets in the beginning of the Édith Piaf song "Non, je ne regrette rien," which is used as a plot device in the film. Furthermore, when music is heard by someone who is currently within a dream, the music is perceived as slowed down. Thus, the main theme of the film score is almost exactly what the beginning of "Non, je ne regrette rien" would sound like to a dreamer. This thematic device is brought to its logical conclusion when the song plays at the end of the credits, signaling that the audience is about to 'wake up' from the film."Story-wise (now I'm sure this will cause some debate), the ending was flawed because if you thought about it, it means he was either asleep from the beginning, or he was awake and Christopher Nolan just wanted to piss us off and falsely confuse us. Some say if u stay to the end of the credits, you actually hear the pin drop, but I can't confirm this as I have not checked this out personally.
In any case, the only thing I thought was lazy was the snow scene as it was an exact replica of a James Bond film (with Pierce Brosnan). Furthermore, throughout the film, the characters continuously explained and plugged the importance of mazes and confusing the inner brain. Instead, all they did was go through a GINORMOUS VENT outside this supposed maze. What could have been more effective is if they entered this so-called maze, show how complex it was, then when it became impossible to breach due to time constraints, would use/find a vent above them that would bi-pass this maze. Without this, I believe that the breaking-in depicted in this film was somehow a little too easy.
Anyway, despite these very, very minor faults, I've rated this brilliant 148 Minute film 9/10. Christopher Nolan really did bring something special to our screens. It was thought-provoking, engaging, imaginative and incorporated all walks of psychology that I find so interesting. I can't remember a film that had me sat almost upright throughout, trying to figure out what level of dream each of the sequences represented and how they correlated with the original dream level. With this in mind, I wish more films were as engaging as I find it a fairly untapped form of filmmaking.
Oh and for those interested, I came across this extended movie ending for those who wish to find out what really happens!
One more very interesting fact about this film is that "According to Cinematographer Wally Pfister, Warner Brothers executives approached Christopher Nolan about making the film in 3D, but he refused the idea, claiming "it will distract the storytelling experience of Inception" (IMDB). What are you thoughts on this? Have great week.
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