A film which doesn't underestimate the viewer

Rating: 9/10 (30 August 2010)

As a film-goer, it feels great not to be underestimated. It doesn't happen very often, but you can trust Christopher Nolan not to do it once. Although I'm not someone who watches films because of their director, I was and will be willing to make an exception with Nolan - especially after Batman Begins and, more importantly, The Dark Knight. Inception had all the elements which enthralled me with Nolan's previous work: the enjoyably intricate plot, great pacing and faith in storytelling instead of special effects (although, in this case, the fantastic effects were there to support the narrative).
I love the fact that the film lacks stock characters, and that the focus of the film stays on the inception mission throughout the film instead of slipping to trite plot "twists" in order to draw audience. That is so hard to come by, and I always appreciate it. Inception doesn't offer easy solutions and let the viewer just sit there and take it all in.
The cast was, needless to say, superb. I was a bit prejudiced against DiCaprio as I had had enough of him already during the Titanic era, but in Inception, he was terrific, very intense. As for the female leads, Cotillard and Page, I have nothing but praise. They were not cast for their sex appeal, which I don't mean as an euphemism for unattractiveness - they were there for their powerful presence and credibility, which is, again, rare and goes to show that this film has more than just superficial potential. Funnily enough, a day before seeing Inception I watched the 90's teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I'm so glad to see him back on screen in this great company.
I went to see this film with my father who's very rarely impressed by films not regarded as 'classics', and very refrained from praise. His first word after the Inception screening was 'breathtaking.' I was completely quiet on the way home, and by the time I got there, my thoughts raced with acclaim and I had already adopted the film to my Top 5 list and Nolan as one of my favorite directors. Inception is a film that you can't leave at the movie theater, because you know that you have just seen a future classic.