Plot: Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. Summary written by Warner Bros. Pictures (courtesy IMDB).
The movie is long, about 2 1/2 hours, but there is always something holding your attention on the screen. The multiple dream layers, the action layered within them, the special effects making the surreal seem very real, all were very well done. The special effects are well used, not over used. There aren't things happening on the screen just to show off "look, it's a dream, look at how many crazy things happening we can fit on screen!"
There are a lot of ideas in the writing, too, which I really loved. First of all, the idea of how thoughts become physical items within the dream space. Ideas and secrets become documents, the top, the pinwheel, hidden in the safes of the subject's mind. I really liked that. And another fun idea, the Forger of the team being one who forges not documents, but people within the mind. The writing just gets a lot of credit for being intelligent as well as entertaining.
The acting was very solid. I'm not a fan of Ellen Page's character, but not having seen her in much before this (no, I haven't seen Juno yet), I don't know if it's her as an actress, or the character of Ariadne who irritated me slightly. She just seemed kinda weak and a little whiny to me, when the character seems like they should have had more confidence, being the other designing the realms and all... Writing plus, though: perfect character name of Ariadne, she of the labyrinth. Yay for a classical education :)
I did like how we saw several faces from Chris Nolan's other works too - Ken Watanabe, Michael Caine, and Cillian Murphy have all worked with Nolan in the Batman franchise. Nolan has worked with some very good talent, so it's nice seeing that he's pulling them in on other projects too. I'm a happy movie fangirl when all the talent I like watching continues to work together :)
For a new face, I liked Tom Hardy, as Eames, the Forger. I think there's a good chance this will be his breakout performance for US cinema, not a bad thing at all in my opinion. Looking forward to see what he does next!
Thinking of the actors, I've already commented a few times on Leonardo DiCaprio growing up well, but gotta say, Joseph Gordon-Levitt grew up NICELY! I haven't really seen him in anything since 3rd Rock, so was very impressed at how well he's left behind "child actor." And it didn't hurt that he was running around in a well-fitting suit most of the time, either. Icing on the cake! ;)
Onto the subject of DiCaprio now, it's an interesting choice of back-to-back roles for him, with this and Shutter Island (another movie worth seeing, in my humble opinion!). Both are strong, driven hard-working men, dark pasts, plenty of secrets, haunted by deaths of their wives and loss of their kids (in different senses, though)... Not that the movies themselves were similar, but it just struck me several times during the movie, how similar the characters were. He pulls them off, though, so can't say I have any objections to him in these sorts of roles!
Overall: 5 of 5. Solid acting, good directing, good writing. A thinking adventure movie, nice blend of special effects and plot. Hard not to sound too gushing about it, but it's a nice change from the average Hollywood action movie. Definitely one for the shelf.
Chris Nolan gets another good mark in my book. After reviving Batman (for which I, and every other fangirl/boy, am eternally grateful), he is also now getting my notice for his original projects too. He was director and writer for this project, and I'm thrilled with results for both.
The movie is long, about 2 1/2 hours, but there is always something holding your attention on the screen. The multiple dream layers, the action layered within them, the special effects making the surreal seem very real, all were very well done. The special effects are well used, not over used. There aren't things happening on the screen just to show off "look, it's a dream, look at how many crazy things happening we can fit on screen!"
There are a lot of ideas in the writing, too, which I really loved. First of all, the idea of how thoughts become physical items within the dream space. Ideas and secrets become documents, the top, the pinwheel, hidden in the safes of the subject's mind. I really liked that. And another fun idea, the Forger of the team being one who forges not documents, but people within the mind. The writing just gets a lot of credit for being intelligent as well as entertaining.
The acting was very solid. I'm not a fan of Ellen Page's character, but not having seen her in much before this (no, I haven't seen Juno yet), I don't know if it's her as an actress, or the character of Ariadne who irritated me slightly. She just seemed kinda weak and a little whiny to me, when the character seems like they should have had more confidence, being the other designing the realms and all... Writing plus, though: perfect character name of Ariadne, she of the labyrinth. Yay for a classical education :)
I did like how we saw several faces from Chris Nolan's other works too - Ken Watanabe, Michael Caine, and Cillian Murphy have all worked with Nolan in the Batman franchise. Nolan has worked with some very good talent, so it's nice seeing that he's pulling them in on other projects too. I'm a happy movie fangirl when all the talent I like watching continues to work together :)
For a new face, I liked Tom Hardy, as Eames, the Forger. I think there's a good chance this will be his breakout performance for US cinema, not a bad thing at all in my opinion. Looking forward to see what he does next!
Thinking of the actors, I've already commented a few times on Leonardo DiCaprio growing up well, but gotta say, Joseph Gordon-Levitt grew up NICELY! I haven't really seen him in anything since 3rd Rock, so was very impressed at how well he's left behind "child actor." And it didn't hurt that he was running around in a well-fitting suit most of the time, either. Icing on the cake! ;)
Onto the subject of DiCaprio now, it's an interesting choice of back-to-back roles for him, with this and Shutter Island (another movie worth seeing, in my humble opinion!). Both are strong, driven hard-working men, dark pasts, plenty of secrets, haunted by deaths of their wives and loss of their kids (in different senses, though)... Not that the movies themselves were similar, but it just struck me several times during the movie, how similar the characters were. He pulls them off, though, so can't say I have any objections to him in these sorts of roles!
Overall: 5 of 5. Solid acting, good directing, good writing. A thinking adventure movie, nice blend of special effects and plot. Hard not to sound too gushing about it, but it's a nice change from the average Hollywood action movie. Definitely one for the shelf.
Here be spoilers!
Also, a nice series of movie posters to give you space to avoid the spoiler, if you want :)
Also, a nice series of movie posters to give you space to avoid the spoiler, if you want :)
So, I stuck this down in the spoilers section, because it is one of those movies that you want to see for yourself to answer this question.
IS HE STILL DREAMING AT THE END OR NOT??
There's actually a good discussion of the movie and it's open-ended question on IMDB, if you want to read the user's evidence both for and against the dream theory. They also have a good break-down of the time-frames of each dream level, which can be confusing in the movie, with so much going on.
I can see both sides of the dream argument. I think which side I choose will probably depend on my mood on a given day, how optimistic I'm feeling!
Still, whichever way you think it went, I honestly prefer it being open-ended. Nice discussion point for the movie, for starters. And I honestly don't like deep, philosophical movies that present a definite "this is the way things are" sort of viewpoint. Because it's philosophy, right? A field which it's all discussion and nothing definite anyways. An open-ended story suits it better.
PS - so, John, you're not right. It's not a cut and dry "it was all a dream" ending, like you're predicting. Chris Nolan's better than that :)
I can see both sides of the dream argument. I think which side I choose will probably depend on my mood on a given day, how optimistic I'm feeling!
Still, whichever way you think it went, I honestly prefer it being open-ended. Nice discussion point for the movie, for starters. And I honestly don't like deep, philosophical movies that present a definite "this is the way things are" sort of viewpoint. Because it's philosophy, right? A field which it's all discussion and nothing definite anyways. An open-ended story suits it better.
PS - so, John, you're not right. It's not a cut and dry "it was all a dream" ending, like you're predicting. Chris Nolan's better than that :)
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