A good action flick but not a masterpiece

Rating: 6/10 (15 May 2011)

To be as honest as possible with my review I did watch Inception a second time after reading all the FAQ, fans reviews etc to make sure I understood the film well enough. The second viewing just confirmed my first impressions: the film is enjoyable but it's so full of flaws, it's surprising to see it so highly praised, especially here on IMDb.
One thing right away that disappoint me is that the film keeps you guessing and wondering where it all will go but in the end it's under delivering on its promises. And you're left with a sentiment of having been manipulated for no reason. In Inception you're promised a blend of action, drama and even philosophy that never really lift off above their premises. Take for example the concept of "Inception", we're told at the beginning it's "the most radical idea" but in the end, it feels like a sales pitch because we don't feel anything special about it. Just because you say it's radical doesn't make it radical.
Now let's talk about the obvious flaws: 1. No character development, especially around Cobb they're all feeling cardboard. I don't think all films need character development but in a film that has some pretension at drama, it's a glaring flaw. Cobb is a bit developed through his relationship with Mel but it's never convincing or deep enough. BTW I think Di Caprio is mis-casted (again after Shutter Island) in a role of a grown-up man.
2. Plot holes everywhere. It's particularly glaring after a second viewing where you're left wondering why some of the characters do this or that. It's not like the first viewing where you were thinking it would be solved by further revelations. There is also some inconsistencies about how the dream world is supposed to work in this film. Sometimes it works this way, sometimes, to fit the story, it doesn't!
3. Weak motivations. OK some of them maybe just a MacGuffin but seriously I wish they would have find something more credible for their main job. And less morally flawed. That's another thing that speak volumes of our times: characters do morally questionable actions but they never seem to be aware of it. They just do what they want without thinking about it. Or there is always a "good" justification.
4. At the end, it doesn't really make you think. I know, it's an action flick. Or is it? It seems that many people gloss over the "many layers", the "complexity", etc. The director/writer also seems to have some pretension. But it's not even first grade philosophy, it's quite trite actually. And not complex at all, the characters are always exposing (often in a dull babbling way) what you need to know to understand the story.
In spite of these flaws there are also some redeeming features. Technically it's well made, but we know Hollywood is invincible about that, especially with such a budget. The director does a good job of keeping you seated through a narrative that always make you guessing what this is all about. But at the end you feel a bit manipulated because the carrot has no taste. There's good suspense and mystery. But next time they should hire a real writer. That's a thing that amaze me about some big budget flicks, they spend millions on CGI and almost nothing (so it seems by the result) on a good script. Like a car with a super powerful engine but no tires.