This is one dream worth staying awake for

Rating: 8/10 (4 April 2012)

First things first, i must establish that this film isn't an over the top sci fi flick which many people I've spoken to have thought from a first glance. This film is utterly beautiful. The originality in the concept of this movie is simply brilliant, the premise of diving into people's minds by going through their subconscious whilst in a dream state, and then extracting/mplanting thoughts and ideas is really interesting subject matter. Kudos to Christopher Nolan for attempting to pitch that idea when seeking to get the film made. Thank god the Pitch was successful though, because the final product is a real achievement. The film manages to skim through with a stylistic lure of contemporary magic, the visual beauty really entranced me as I laid my eyes on a feast of aesthetic splendour. From the moment the movies begins you know what your in for, with each slow motion shot of water and splinter spraying across the screen, you really feel a spell of hypnosis is being cast upon you. Film architecture, symbolic, narrative, conceptual and visual.
The cinematography is really up to the task as well, from the vast backdrop of rolling snow and ice, to the tall and lovely architecture of the dream like city. But don't let the visual treats in this film pull the wool over your eyes, it is far more than a stimulant for the eyes. The story itself has a real emotional strength to it, the characters help this, especially the great performance leonardo di caprio delivers. The relationship struggles between himself and his confined love interest has a genuine feel to it, and the outcome of it mattered to me. There are doubts over the emotional connection he supposedly fails to strike with his estranged wife, but in my opinion the relationship they have is troubled, disrupted by confusion, yet clearly not lacking in any empathy. He had real problems in letting her go, and consistently sees her whilst trying to keep a lid on his feelings and actions. The struggle he goes through during the movie provides an interesting sub plot to the genius of the main story.
Great action, snappy dialogue,intriguing ideas and imagery supply the makings of a feature that feels like your are actually inside somebody's mind and anything can happen. The style of the camera-work is something which compliments the structure of the film, perfectly utilising the angles, paces and focus needed to create the illusion it is trying to create. I went to see this movie with some friends at the cinema, and it really brought the best out of it's qualities. The surround sound, the big picture, the wonderfully composed score providing a suitable soundtrack, and of course a tub of popcorn to feast on whilst enjoying the extravaganza. As the film went on I became more and more absorbed into it, the pace building and building as each scene majestically sailed by with style. Come the end, I felt completely drained of all energies, but in the best way possible, as if I had run a marathon and I felt great whilst approaching the finishing line, desperate to complete the journey I had been on for the past couple of hours. What an ending it was too, perfectly executed, leaving it open to interpretation and opinion, a talking point to discuss an already fantastic feature. In conclusion, when watching this film, I really suggest doing so in a way which would bring out the best of it, for example purchasing a blu_-ray copy, and pump the volume up to appreciate the sights and sounds it has to offer.