A solid sci-fi action from Nolan

Rating: 9/10 (31 July 2010)

Dreams and reality, being awake and dreaming. In a sense both states are just as real, when you experience them, but dreams are more fickle, as even they seem real at the time, the moment we awake those memories which just moments ago were so vivid, crumble into nonsensical images, that escape your thoughts at the moment you are fully awake. But still, you can remember those images and dreams. They linger behind your subconscious and can jump out suddenly. They can be a seed for an idea.
That is something Christopher Nolan explores with his masterfully directed Inception. True enough, I don't think it's his best movie to date, but it is well made in all aspects. The cast is solid and the script has very few weaknesses in it. But still there was something in it, which I can't yet put my finger on, that just didn't clicked with me.
Saito (Ken Watanabe) hires Cobb (Leanardo DiCaprio) to insert an idea to the mind of his competitor (Cillian Murphy). This is done by entering the subjects dreams and trying to make the subject believe, that the idea comes from him and no one else. This is a good premises for a movie, that happens in a multiple levels of human consciousness, such providing a playground for spectacular action and visuals.
Entering some ones dreams isn't easy. To do that, they need an architect, Ariadne (Ellen Page), to construct a dream world so real, that the subject doesn't suspect a thing. Other players in the dream are Cobbs ensemble of trusted men, such as Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Eams (Tom Hardy), who from their part try to keep the subjects defenses occupied.
All in all, Inception is one of the best movies this summer, there's no weak link among the cast and the movie rolls on like a steam train. Nolan has managed to direct an ambitious Hollywood movie, which is full of originality. By itself the feat is remarkable, though not quite a home run.