Redefining reality one layer at a time

Rating: Null/10 (16 July 2010)

Where to begin to discuss a movie where only superlatives apply? Acting, brilliant, especially the principals, DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, and incredible supporting turns by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe.
At once, idiosyncratic, sweeping, thrilling, and as layered as a master's chess match, Christopher Nolan has excelled in his sheer brilliance at redefining cinema, and the unfolding of a story as nuanced as the perfect acting within it. In a way, this is fitting, for this is a movie within a movie, realities within realities.
There may be a handful of detractors, but this movie deserves the praise, the rating it already reflects on IMDb, and the acclaim it is receiving. In a way, it has the feel of "Memento", to the extent that time is a conceit within the movie. However, despite glorious cinematography, global locations, and state of the art effects, this movie never insults its audience, and doesn't rely on any resolution that isn't firmly a part of the established parameters of the story.
I don't believe in waxing poetic over a movie, unless it is a deserving classic, presents some thought provoking commentary, or is something that has never been seen before. The latter is so rare in cinema, that such a movie usually comes to define a generation, or mark a moment in film history. This is that movie. This is the "Star Wars" of this new era in film-making. Once upon a time George Lucas reinvented the science fiction genre, and made cinema history in the process. Christopher Nolan has matched this newly imagined movie making, and in doing so, has set the bar extremely high for anyone looking to combine action, drama, thriller, mystery, love story, espionage and re-imagined reality.
After walking out of this movie, you may question what is, or isn't, real. Are you awake, or dreaming? Christopher Nolan may cause you to question just what you think you know.
A ten if ever there was one! A must see!!