Fine, but Flaky

Rating: 7/10 (1 December 2010)

Inception is a fine film, but it cannot match up to the hype. I am not going to explain much of the film here because it will ruin a plot built on surprises. Leo Caprio plays 'Cobb', a man possessed of a desire to return to the US to see his children, but is currently barred from the USA. God knows why he can't just move his kids to live with him in an altogether nicer country, but seemingly he can't. His passport to his dream is to enter the dreams of others and steal ideas, using some unexplained technology. Think Existenz, and you'll be on the right track, however Existenz did this a lot better IMO.
Now, the cast is very good and Nolan conjures strong performances from every one of them. The cinematography is world class and where effects are used, they are striking and superb. But there's little emotional engagement with the characters, even the always brilliant DiCaprio fails to make us care for him. Add to this a flaky set of rules about the universe they inhabit, and it starts to get a little shaky. One gets the distinct feeling that Nolan changes and bends his own film architecture to suit the plot, rather than allowing the plot to flourish inside the film. He falls short of writing himself into a corner but nonetheless, this constant bending of the rules of the film prevents us from achieving total suspension of disbelief. On more than one occasion I was sat there thinking, "that's all well and good but this latest statement contradicts earlier statements about such and such.."
I can't give anything away on the above, but you'll see it for yourself, I am sure of that.
I'd like to watch the film again to clarify a few points but some rather rambling exposition early in the film puts me off a little. I am sure that'll change and this is certainly a film that'll reward repeat viewings.
I thought that Shutter Island was a far more delicate and engaging treatment of similar subject matter, with a superb and decisive denouement, whereas Inception rests on a fair few clichés.
Definitely superior to your typical Hollywood blockbuster but not the work of genius the Internet would have you believe it is.