A Dream within a Dream

Rating: Null/10 (10 August 2011)

Christopher Nolan, who I believe embodies the neo-noir genre beautifully, departs from his characteristic style in this one-of-a-kind epic. This surreal narrative is incredibly involving, inviting the audience in without them even realizing the complexity of the plot. Nonetheless, after it seems that the film's different "layers" pile upon each other, they are perfectly brought to a poignant close, for Cobb and Fischer especially. The audience can only emerge from the cinema questioning reality itself.
As far as the acting goes, DiCaprio performs his best role as Cobb, who essentially is in an emotional close-up throughout the film. Overall, the cast could not be better - and they all deserve recognition, but DiCaprio stands out as extraordinarily admirable.
The Productions Team deserves the most applause for this production, for so many of the films fantastic effects that bring the subconscious and surreal into existence on screen, and before the camera. I was most impressed to learn that very little of the featured special effects in the film, such as the flooding castle or the exploding café, were generated by computers. Even down to the Free-Fall Hotel and rotating corridor, all of it was constructed, which gives the film a creepily realistic appearance, while creating the impossible - which is what Inception is all about.
This, in my opinion, is Nolan's greatest work, in complexity, scale, and overall satisfaction. He cuts no corners, and the whole is many times greater than the sum of its parts could possibly be. Inception will always rank as one of my favorite films.