Inception is near perfection.

Rating: 10/10 (17 July 2010)

After a night's reflection (and much discussion) I reward Christopher Nolan's masterpiece "Inception" a perfect rating, one of only a handful of movies I've ever given that rating to. The man who blew me away with "Memento," "The Prestige," and "The Dark Knight" has easily solidified himself as the greatest filmmaker of the last decade in my opinion.
How good is "Inception?" It's already in my top 10 movies of all time. It might even be top 5. Time will tell if it holds up as well on repeat viewings, but I was blown away many times in the theater in ways I haven't felt since I saw the original Matrix. This film features special effects that you seriously have to see to believe. It has a superbly crafted plot, complicated enough to demand the viewer's full attention but presented in a way that doesn't cheat or degenerate into nonsense. Much like the plot itself, there are many layers to the film that manages to combine so many well known genres, rolling it all together into one of the most unique experiences I've had. It is almost like experiencing two or three amazing movies at once.
It's easy to tell how much work and dedication went into the making of this film. Christopher Nolan has a lot on his mind and it's rare to find a movie that simultaneously pulls off being such an entertaining summer blockbuster while existing as a work of psychologically challenging art. A perfect cast of characters are paired with an amazing score by Hans Zimmer, and "Inception" flies through it's extended running time by taking the intensity meter up to 11 and leaving it there for over half of its runtime. The viewer barely has a chance to catch their breath while taking in all the twists, turns, and to borrow a phrase from Neo, "Whoa" moments. It is easily the best film to come out since The Dark Knight. You have simply never seen something quite like this before.
Christopher Nolan has gained so much respect by demanding attention to detail from his audience, never insulting them, but always staying a few steps ahead. It's rare for a film to live up to the hype (which I'm no doubt adding to with this review) but trust me when I say this is the kind of movie that makes a great barometer for other critics. To put it bluntly, I can't trust a movie review from someone that can't enjoy this movie on some level.
As this thrill ride of a film was coming to a close, and the theater audience was reacting to the final frame, I confirmed to myself what I had thought several times during the film: "Inception" is something special.