Utterly brilliant film from the bottom right the way to the top

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2010)

Inception, as if the other 85 reviewer's opinions haven't influenced you, is amazing. There really are very few positive words you could use that would even come close to describing what a triumph this movie is for Leo DiCaprio and obviously Chris Nolan.
A cast including talents like Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Michael Caine, Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy drag you into a story that could seem convoluted and "OTT" but never really seems to approach either of these as many before them have. Don't go into this movie expecting everything to be laid out in chapter and verse, this is a movie that keeps you on your toes so to speak. The details, no matter how small, are very important to the story and the overall understanding of the viewer.
The multi-faceted plot is a work of sheer genius; Christopher Nolan really does seem to have no limits to his ever growing talents. The plot in brief follows the "mission" of Dominic Cobb (DiCaprio) to plant a thought into the mind of business heir Robert Fischer (Murphy). The process of doing so being called Inception, thus giving the film its title. To do this Cobb must set up his team: Arthur (Gordon-Levitt) is what they call "The Point Man", his role is to research the target: Ariadne (Page), a gifted college graduate is drafted in as "The Architect", this role is vital as she is responsible for constructing the world of the dream and tasked with making it seem so real that the dreamer has no idea they are genuinely dreaming: Eames (Hardy), is the forger, as such he has the ability to forge the identity of anyone within the dream world: Saito (Watanabe), the man who hires Cobb to plant the idea and decides that the only way to be sure that Cobb has succeeded in the mission is to be there and be part of the team, and finally, Yusuf (Rao). Yusuf is part of the team in as much as he is in on the task and how things are going to be done but he is tasked with being the chemist, the one who stays outside the dream world and is tasked with waking them out of the "sleep" when the mission is complete.
The idea or thought that must be planted by Cobb is that wealthy business heir Robert Fischer must break up the business empire that his dying father has built. Saito wants this to be done to meet his own ends; he is a wealthy business owner and rival of Fischer. This is the main and most important facet of the story.
Another being that Cobb's wife (Mallorie) played by the fantastic Marion Cotillard, is appearing in the dream worlds as a projection of Cobb's subconscious and this is a major concern for the team as an uncontrolled projection can put the mission at risk. There is also a lot of back story about Mallorie and what happened between her and Dominic previous to the time in which the film is situated.
The final facet of the story is that in return for the completion of the mission Saito can arrange with customs that Dominic can return to the family home and to his children who he longs for more than anything in the world.
Everything in this movie is perfect and aimed towards building tension and excitement in equal measure. Hans Zimmer's score, similar to that of The Dark Knight and to some degree Shutter Island, is fantastic. With its extensive use of Johnny Marr on a 12-string guitar the tensions rises and the excitement builds and along with the visuals and special effects of the movie will leave the most emotionless cynic on the edge of their seat.
With fantastic performances from a fantastic cast, stunning special effects, multi-faceted plot, brilliant score and stunning camera work and settings, Inception has planted an idea in my head. This is a classic in the making and one of the few movies of its kind and its length that held the audience in the palm of its hand for its entirety. Inception is a complete gem and is a film that all other blockbusters will have to measure up to. I think Hollywood's directors and writers are going to have many a sleepless night.