Director Christopher Nolan's latest work, has to be seen as a breath of fresh air in 2010 film. If you look back at the last few years in movies, you can't but notice the completely lack of originality. There really seems to be nothing new under the sun or least coming to theaters this year. Everything is either an adaptation of literature (Kick-Ass, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), or a franchise sequel(Toy Story 3, Iron Man 2). And even original properties like James Cameron's Avatar was so laden with cliches that it was just Dances With Wolves with aliens instead of Native Americans.
Inception is a Sci-fi thriller/Heist movie, that had me captivated from minute one all the way to its very end. Describing the plot is a gonna be a challenge, but I'm gonna give my best shot. Cobb(Leonardo DiCaprio) is an "extractor" he and his crack team break into the minds of wealthy businessmen,and manipulates their dreams to steal valuable information, to use for profit. But Cobb is also hunted by a dark past, that has cost him deeply. So when a powerful businessman (Ken Watanabe) offers Cobb a chance at redemption in exchange for dangerous mission, he reluctantly takes a leap of faith on this one last job. And it only gets better from there.
While the pacing and aura of the events taking place have the weight of a story unfolding in reality, The has anything can happen sensibilities of a dream, jumping from point to point. The films sound and score deserves credit for creating the great moods and tension.
On a pure visual standpoint the film is breathtaking and quite Nolan's best work to date. Most if not all the effects in the movie were achieved with old school film making not CGI. Nolan has been knocked for his direction of action in both of his Batman films, but if Inception is any indication we are in for the time of our lives when Batman 3 hits screens in 2012. The Floating hallway fight sequence should and will be talked about for years to come. All the chase and shoot-outs scenes are executed with a crispness that won't confuse the viewer but leave their eyes glued to the screen.
Inception boasts one the most stacked and effectively used cast ever assembled in years. The roles the characters play in the story reflect how effective they are in the film. Cobb/Dicaprio is the Leader/main protagonist who leads the team and introduces us to the world and its rules. Dicaprio hits all the right notes to keep the viewer in corner throught this wild adventure. Arthur(Joesph Gordon-Levitt) is Cobb's point man he gathers the intelligence for each,and see everything through when Cobb can't. Levitt delivers a level of bad-ass here not seen before. Ellen Page does a solid job playing against type with a less snarky performance as the newcomer to the team. Her character represents us the audience being engaged by these extraordinary happenings and trying to figure out what exactly is going on here. Last but certainly not least I have to mention Tom Hardy, who I had never heard of before, but he walks aways with all of his as Eames, the cocky forger who can impersonate anyone inside the dreams.
As the film builds towards its final stretch it becomes a multi-dimensional chess game, with you trying to concentrate on three different outcomes all at the same time.
This film is exhausting, but thats not a bad thing, its like a sense of accomplishment. The film is 148 minutes long but it will past by quickly, just come along and stroll through this fresh challenging maze Nolan has crafted.
Its just nice to be able to call an fresh idea the Best Film Of 2010, so far.
My Rating 5/5 Excellent
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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