Excellently Executed and Engaging

Rating: 9/10 (27 August 2013)

Start with a simple idea, and let it grow naturally in a persons mind until they are consumed by the concept. This is the basic premise of Christopher Nolan's 2010 film, Inception. Leonardo DiCaprio leads the cast featuring names such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Ellen Page and Cilian Murphy. The team (DiCaprio, Gordon-Levitt, Hardy and Page) are hired to plant an idea in a business mans (Murphy) mind through his dreams. There are plenty of twists and turns in the complex scheme which evolves throughout the story. The dangers of being killed in the dream, being discovered by the dreamers subconscious and being followed by DiCaprio's own image of his dead wife (Marion Cottilard) are constantly in mind as the group travels deeper and deeper into the maze of dreams upon dreams until they reveal the possibility of falling into limbo.
An engrossing concept and complex plot structure makes the film amusing to think about, however it also opens the script up to a few minor inconsistencies now and again. The script is overall very well paced. The story is well set up, and the tone is established equally well. Cinematography and special effects in the dream sequences are phenomenal. The images and scenery manipulation involved becomes another character in itself.
The score for the film is memorable and recognizable. The only downside to the musical background is that there are a few moments where the music is overpowering and overplayed in the scene. The delivery of the script is as impressive as the concept that it began with. The actors deliver the dialogue capably and with great timing. Ellen Page seems a bit monotonous at times which takes away from the dialogue. Hardy and Gordon-Levitt play off of each other in a way that offers breaks in the tension, but it also leaves the serious tone well established. DiCaprio and Murphy are the two stand outs as far as the acting goes. While I am not a big Leo fan, I must admit that without him in this role the film could have fallen apart at the seams.
The concept which the movie delves into is amusing to think about even after the film ends. It almost parallels the way movies work. An audience watches a film, and a scene or line becomes lodged in the viewers mind. As time passes they are reminded of the main idea and an emotion develops from that. Before there is any time to realize what has happened, that idea becomes truth to the viewer. This movie is worth seeing for any person interested in thought provoking films as well as any action fans.