Nolan produces yet another masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (19 July 2010)

To say Inception is good is an understatement. To say it is great is more insulting than complimentary. This film comes closer to perfection than possibly any movie I have ever seen. The story is flawless, the acting phenomenal and the special effects are absolutely breathtaking. Nolan wrote and directed an instant masterpiece with "Inception". After seeing the premiere, it didn't surprise me at all to see it jump right into the top 250, now sitting pretty at number 3.
The movie centers around a technological advancement in science which allows people to enter the human mind through dreaming. Through shared dreaming, our main character Cobb(DiCaprio) enters the dreams of major corporate entities to steal their most prized secrets. This maneuver is called "extraction", and starts the basis of the whole movie. While Cobb is the best extractor there is, he is haunted by past issues which ultimately prevents him from returning home to his family. Before he can return home, Cobb is tasked with one last job that requires doing the absolute impossible. "Inception", which is the premise of the film, requires a team of extraction specialists to enter someones mind and plant a false idea. In the world of shared dreaming, this is considered an almost impossible task. Without giving away too many details, Cobb assembles a team of the very best to perform the task of inception. The target is the son of a wealthy tycoon ready to inherit a fortune.
If this sounds interesting to you, and it should, then do not hesitate to see this film. The plot is very easy to follow, which allows all age groups to enjoy this film. What makes it amazing, however, is the complexities that the story holds. If you wish to dig deeper into Inception you can, and will be delighted at the amount of sheer detail Nolan included about his fantasy world. The idea of "dream sharing" is covered in great depth and with amazing detail. It may be difficult for everyone to grasp the "Whole picture" on the first watch, but that doesn't mean you wont understand whats going on. Thats the great part about this film. If you are looking for a casual good time, this film is for you. If you wish to watch something complex and beautiful, this film is for you. Very rarely does something that can appeal to all audiences come along, making this movie a real gem.
Lastly, I would like to give credit where it is due. The acting is simply phenomenal. Its believable, savvy, and emotional all at the same time. Besides possibly Blood Diamond or the Departed, this is easily Dicaprio's best film to date. He plays a very hard character to project; someone who is filled with contradictions, yet is still calm, concise, and mature. Ellen Paige proved to me she can actually act with a powerful and convincing supporting role. Gordon-Levitt(Arthur) surprised me a great deal in this movie. Seeing his previous work I was unimpressed(Brick, just to name one) but in this film he shows his true talent. He pulls off the calm, level-headed partner to the T. He pulls quite a bit of attention away from Dicaprio on the screen, which is in no way an easy task. I give him absolute props for his role. Tom Hardy, one of the best up and coming British actors in my opinion, brings the comic relief to the movie and does it with the usual swagger he commands. Lasty, Marion Cotillard impressed me yet again, not just because of her beauty, but because of the emotion she brings to her character. The cast is nothing short of perfect, and without them this movie would still be good, but certainly not what it is. It takes believable actors to make the material seem real.
I am writing this review to hopefully convince those skeptics out there to take a leap of faith. You wont be disappointed. "Inception" has everything a good film should have. Romance, suspense, great dialogue, plot twists etc etc. While it certainly isn't my "favorite" movie of all time, it sits pretty high on the list. Only a handful of movies in the past have had this sort of effect on me, and it should hold true for you as well. It will literally "blow your mind". :)