SciFi blockbuster with brains

Rating: 9/10 (18 July 2010)

Way back in the 60s there was a sci-fi movie called The Fantastic Voyage where a disparate group went on an expedition through highly unlikely locations. I was reminded of that film as I watched Inception - there is some similarity in the general idea, but that's where it ends.
The basic scenario is straightforward enough - Dom Cobb, who specialises in stealing secrets from dreams - a specialised form of industrial espionage - is tasked with the much more difficult job of seeding an idea into a dream, for which he has to assemble a team of specialists. However, there is a spanner in the works from the start, because Cobb isn't being 100% truthful. And there is no point in my trying to synopsise beyond this point, because things get very complex very quickly.
Everything about this film works, starting with the idea. The story is good - challenging, but solid. The script is very good. It isn't brimming over with one liners, and it's not laden with poetic imagery, but it there are many thought-provoking ideas delivered in single short pieces of dialogue. And yet, for a story which is, above everything, thought provoking, the film is also full of action and incident. It is visually striking, although the visual effects are all rooted in reality and are in service to the story.
And the cast are excellent. I always thought DiCaprio was a good actor, albeit one who was somewhat hamstrung by his youthful appearance. As he gets older and the babyface roundness acquires some craggy corners, he continues to impress, as does Ellen Page.
But above everything, this is Chris Nolan's movie. As writer and director he would only have had himself to blame had Inception fallen flat on its face, showing that the Batman Begins/Dark Knight double was down to the character, not him. But he succeeds here while wearing both hats. It won't be to everyone's taste, but it was certainly to mine. It's not often a movie gives you blockbuster sci-fi eye candy but also has you walking out afterwards pondering where reality ends and imagination begins, the nature of subjective time, responsibilities to yourself and to teammates etc.