The first trailer I saw for this film had me giddy. I’m an easy sell when it comes to trailers, but Inception‘s first teaser really set up this film to be something unique, something powerful. It is those things, and it is more. At two-plus hours in length, it’s longer than the average blockbuster, and with a deep, complex and smart script, it’s brainier than the average blockbuster. Inception, in short, really, truly and finally cements Christopher Nolan as one of, if not the, most important big-budget director working today.
Yet the trailers left things vague enough that I didn’t feel overburdened with knowledge walking into the theater. With that in mind, I’m going to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, just in case you haven’t seen the film yet.
Synopsis: It’s a heist movie. The heists just happen to take place within a persons’ dreams.
That’s about all I feel comfortable saying, so I’ll say a few words about the film in general. Nolan is no stranger to powerful visuals. Think Bruce Wayne immersing himself in a swarm of flying bats in Batman Begins. Think Nikolai Tesla (played by David Bowie![!]) strolling through an arcing, spitting field of electricity in The Prestige. That brand of powerful imagery runs rampant through this film, and it never overwhelms. You never pause long enough on one image that you lose track of what’s going on. I was slightly worried that the imagery would weigh down the plot and acting, but that is absolutely not the case.
The film’s more action-oriented scenes are handled well, and Nolan really proves himself to be a master at building white-knuckle tension. The film’s climax–a masterfully-paced race through some fantastic action scenes and astonishing set pieces–grabbed me and would not relent its hold. I think if my eyes had been any wider when things finally broke into a modicum of catharsis, my eyeballs may have fallen out.
Nolan assembled an absolutely a-list group of acting talent here. Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Caine are the big names here. Even the lesser-known actors are all familiar faces though, and they all simply thrive under Nolan, bringing life to each and every character.
Inception, quite simply, is one of the smartest, best-directed and well-acted big-budget films to come out in a very long time. Nolan is at his best here. Intense imagery, great acting and a shockingly original and well-crafted central idea to the film make Inception an absolute must-see movie. Bring your brain, though because this is absolutely not a mindless, straightforward summer flick.
Rating:
Rating:
A Few Descriptive Words: Taut, intelligent and gripping cinema.
At the Theater: This movie is worth the price of admission and then some. I’m considering seeing it in IMAX, because I’ll definitely be seeing it again in theaters
Purchase or Rent: I’ll be getting this DVD when it comes out, no question. Nolan’s DVDs have always been worth picking up, he doesn’t skimp on the extras. I imagine Inception will be no exception.
I have not purchased a DVD or sat down and consumed a disc of special features in YEARS, but I have the feeling I will be watching every “making of” piece, and probably listening to the commentary track on this one.