The Butterfly dreaming that its a man

Rating: 10/10 (16 July 2012)

"I'll tell you a riddle. You're waiting for a train. A train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you, but you can't be sure. But it doesn't matter. How can it not matter to you where this train will take you?"
I loved how Marion Cotillard spoke those lines - she had this slightly deranged tone - which made it perfect. (Marion is the actresses who played Mal, Cobb's dead wife.)
This review will reveal practically the entire story. So be warned.
I liked it. I liked it because it was well directed, had great pacing, excellent action sequences, great lines, and great acting. Cotillard gave an outstanding performance - the sheer venom coming from her in the basement scene was so intense!
The story flowed smoothly - so seamlessly that one didn't notice the absurdities and there were plenty of them.
But the hallmark of a great film is that you keep the audience entertained and enthralled... that Nolan caught our imaginations using a spinning top shows his genius. He created a believable world where people can enter into other people's dream and various states of consciousness all through a "hair band", some tubing, a special suitcase and of course, duct tape. Nolan really pulls the rabbit out of a hat made of thin air.
When I saw the previews, I was initially skeptical and thought it was going to another Matrix wannabe. But I was so pleased with the film that I watched it twice, loving it more the second time.
Synopsis: the story is about this dream thief, Cobb (Leonardo Dicaprio), who lost his wife, Mal, and blames himself for her tragic fate. He is able, through special technology, to enter into people's dreams and steal their ideas or plant new ideas into their brain.
He gets an offer from Saito, a fabulously wealthy Industrialist, to sabotage his rival's plans to dominate the energy industry.
In this whole process Cobb (which in Urda means "dream") and his friends undergo a series of harrowing chase and fight sequences; somehow Cobbs's dead" wife gets involved because his perception of her is hidden in his sub-conscious.
OK! Here comes the big spoiler: Its all just ONE BIG DREAM. From the very start to the finishing end. The entire story is a big dream sequence - Its filled with implausible, unreal scenarios – the sort of things that happen in a dream. Cue R.E.M's song "Losing My Religion".
Cobbs never in reality enters the dream world of Saito who later personally saves him from his ex-client's hit men, and then goes to his rival's son to plant an idea into his mind so that he can be reunited with his children.
The only thing that is real is Cobb and Mal can't be together and he can't be with his kids.
Think about it:
1. Why would Saito, the Japanese Industrialist who is ranked No. 2 in the Energy Industry have been sitting alone on a train? He's so rich he can buy an entire airline yet he's driving around in the back alleys of an African 3rd world nation, risking his own life, to personally rescue Cobb from a gang of trigger happy mercenaries?
Fisher is suppose to be one of the most richest men in the world. Where is his entourage, his bodyguards? His PA? Can't his staff hire another private jet? He's the heir to the world's largest and most powerful Energy company and yet, he's forced to ride coach to the most important event in his life.
2. Crucial lines are repeated by different characters. Why did Saito repeat the same line as Cobb's wife: "I want you take a leap of faith with me." This is not a coincidence. But it would make sense if the entire plot occurred if Cobb was dreaming this all up.
3. Cobb's children - they don't age. Not even in real life. In the end sequence, we see Cobb's children again - in the same pose in the garden, and wearing same/similar clothing. Yes, another coincidence? I don't think so. Even if Cobb cannot go to America to be with his kids what is there to stop his father-in-law from taking them to a safe foreign location so that Cobb can be reunited with them?
4. And probably the most important clue: Mal, his wife, says it herself or rather Cobb's subconscious is trying to warn him that he is still dreaming. The specific line is: "No creeping doubts? Not feeling persecuted Dom? Chased around the globe by *anonymous corporations* and police forces. The way the projections persecute the dreamer. Admit it. You don't believe in one reality any more...."
Yes, draw the dots and you'll conclude its one big dream.
So its a dream within a dream within a dream within a dream within a dream... And Alice wandered into the Hall of Mirrors and saw a million, million reflections of herself. "Which one is me?" She asked. "All of them and yet none of them." said the White Rabbit.
The idea that the whole plot is a dream sequence can not be stated outright, otherwise it would spoil the whole story.
And therein lies the genius of Nolan – he weaves a story is based upon hair-bands, a spinning top, fantastic preposterous chain of events - and yet, its so believable, so real.
On a side note: this may provide an opportunity to write a sequel to the movie. Inception 2: So Cobbs is with his kids in the garden, but then sees Mal walk by, his children call after her. (... dead pause ...) Wait a second, she's dead. But if she's here then... (focuses on Cobb's horrified expression) : cue brass theme music now.