If you only see two movies this year, see Inception twice.

Rating: 9/10 (2 November 2010)

Writer/Director Christopher Nolan's follow up to the blockbuster Dark Night was always going to be highly anticipated. But with Inception he has more than delivered. In fact he has created a movie unlike any other. It combines action, drama and suspense, with intrigue, romance and it's also a bit scary in parts. But somehow it never seems overdone, which is a testament to Nolan's skill. Dom Cobb (Leonardo Di Caprio) is a master of a new form of corporate espionage called extraction – stealing people thoughts from their subconscious while they sleep. This ability has made him both sought after and a wanted man unable to go home. A powerful businessman (Ken Watanabe) offers him a job - that could wipe the slate clean and get his life back - involving inception: planting (rather than stealing) a thought in a competitor's mind while he sleeps. This is a complex film with multiple layers, and requires a fair bit of concentration. From the first seconds to the very end it bombards you with fascinating twists and turns, incredible special effects, thrilling action sequences, and thought provoking characters. With such a rich tapestry of cinema on show here, you could easily see this movie more than once. Di Caprio gives another great performance. He both suits the role and does a lot with it. Joining Cobb's adventure are his team played by Ellen Page (Juno), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Dileep Rao, who are all great. Their characters are probably not developed as much as I would like, but in this film there simply isn't time. Tom Hardy is particularly good as the tough, cool and suave Eames. I think we will be seeing a lot more of him. And Marion Cotillard is again excellent. There's even notable actors in small parts like Michael Caine, Tom Berenger and Pete Postlethwaite, which is a nice touch. Like The Matrix or Memento, this is a movie that will be discussed and debated. It's thought-provoking, visually stunning and highly entertaining. It's been a long time since I saw a movie that left the audience gasping at the end. If you only see two movies this year, see Inception twice.