The film of your dreams

Rating: 10/10 (19 July 2010)

Christopher Nolan is a genius. Yeah, I said it and I mean it. Nolan is producing the most consistently great films and in the current world, he is one of the best directors out there. In a summer film season that has generated little excitement, with the exception of Toy Story 3, Inception is a reason to head to the theater.
Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an Extractor. That means he slips into your dreams and steals your secrets. Having developed a reputation as the best at what he does, Cobb is approached by Saito (Ken Watanabe) to accomplish a rare feat, planting an idea in someone's mind, or inception. Normally I give a little more detail in these summaries, while always remaining spoiler-free, but this is all I'm offering up. If you want to see Inception, and you should, I suggest avoiding learning as much as you can about the film's story. There are great articles all over the internet about Inception but resist temptation. Going into the film, I planned on knowing as little as possible. I avoided articles like the plague and limited myself to the first teaser trailer and the unavoidable television commercials. This film deserves your full attention and going in with as blank a slate as possible is the best way to view it.
Just take a second to look at the cast list. Leonardo DiCaprio is the lead and emotional center of the entire film. If you don't believe that DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors working today then there is something wrong with you. He gets better with every film he makes and with Shutter Island and now this film offering his two best performances of his career, with the possible exception of What's Eating Gilbert Grape, the guy deserves all sorts of Oscar gold. The film rides on his shoulders and DiCaprio carries it regally. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is thankfully developing quite the film career, is great as Arthur, the Point Man. His acting is spot-on and he shines in the action role. By doing a great deal of his own stunts there is an authenticity to his performance that doesn't go unnoticed. I could write an entire column on the cast alone. Tom Hardy, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy and a short treat of an appearance by Michael Caine, there isn't a weak performance in all of Inception. Every actor brings his A-game. With a film concept that is quite abstract any misstep by the cast could result in nothing less than a distraction. Each character is infused with a believability and honesty that surrendering yourself to the world of the film is done without a second thought.
Before discussing the brilliant direction of Christopher Nolan, I think it is just as important to give credit to the people that helped to create the world of Inception. First, is cinematographer Wally Pfister. The film literally takes place in a dream world and Pfister captures it beautifully. Pfister is a longtime Nolan collaborator and the two have found a way to bring the images of the mind to the screen, sucking you in with such ease. I found myself thinking that the film was so visually appealing that it could work silently, but I quickly stopped as Hans Zimmer's score wrapped me in its warm arms. Amazingly, Zimmer composed the entire score without seeing the film, yet thanks to some cinematic god, he appears to have shared the same vision as Nolan. The score elevates the film to such an extent that it is hard to imagine one without the other.
The current film climate is crowded with unoriginality. I cringe as film's based on board games are green-lit or another parody film comes to fruition. Often I find myself, like an old man, yearning for the originality of yesterday. This is why I am thankful for Christopher Nolan. He is able to create a world that is both fantastic and tangible. It is difficult to compare Inception to another film since there is nothing else like it. The film's story and structure is complex, however under the direction of Christopher Nolan every component works.
There are few directors currently making films that are consistently as brilliant as Christopher Nolan. With Inception, he offers up his best and most satisfying to date. I cannot find a flaw in the film. The acting is superb. The score is engaged in a beautifully symbiotic relationship with the film itself and the cinematography is breathtaking. The most important aspect of any film is the story and Inception delivers. It is safe to say that the film's story is one of the most original and fascinating of any film in the past decade. This film is what others should aspire to be. To find a film that is thought provoking, exciting and aesthetically pleasing is rare. The film is the result of every cinematic puzzle piece falling into the right place. Inception is a shining beacon of originality and excellence.