Inception (2010)

The hyperbole surrounding Inception over the past two weeks has been nothing short of ridiculous. Flocks of people who don't really know what they are talking about keep on labelling Christopher Nolan's latest effort 'like da best film evvva'. It's release has seen in burst in at number three on the suspect and easily influenced IMDB Top 250 List, as fanboys around the world vote it a massive 10/10 whether they have seen the damn film or not. So is Inception the best film ever? Does it deserve to be number three on the list? Is it a 10/10? And are the comparisons of Nolan to legendary director Stanley Kubrick justified? No, no, no and um..no.

I was however massively looking forward to Inception. Despite his two Batman efforts leaving me feeling a little cold, I have liked what else I've seen by Nolan, namely Memento and The Prestige. And in a world where 3D is increasingly sapping any creativity out of mainstream cinema, Nolan is gaining a reputation as being a 'thoughtful' director. I'm also massively keen on films that take on dreamlike atmospheres or explore the nature of dreams in any way they see fit. How could a film billed as one about dreams within dreams within dreams possibly go wrong?

Leonardo Di Caprio stars as Dom Cobb, a professional dream stealer, who places himself in the dreams of others in order to steal ideas from them. Through his impressive work he is approached with a request to attempt 'inception' the art not of stealing an idea but of implanting one. It's a lot more technical and apparently a lot more lucrative. Dom's partner Albert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) calls 'inception' impossible but Cobb ignores him and assembles his team. Ellen Page is hired as the architect to create the worlds that the dreamers will occupy.

The job requires the implantation of an idea into the mind of Robert Fischer (Cillian Murphy). That idea is that Fischer will want to break up the empire of his terminally ill father in order to stop the company from being a threat. A plan is formed and Nolan allows his characters to explain and carry out the complex operation in what becomes an increasingly confusing and multi-layered narrative as it heads towards its conclusion.

The film features an all star cast, some of whom I have already mentioned, but one that further includes Michael Caine, Marion Cotillard and more. Employment of such a cast is always dangerous as it can often lead to an absence of memorable performances and despite my love of Di Caprio, Gordon-Levitt and Page, they all fail to deliver. Like with his Batman films there isn't much in the way of an emotional attachment to any of the characters on show.

But the film's major problem is just how prosaic it is. My hopes for a film that genuine explores the nature of dreams, creating a dreamlike atmosphere in the process were never satisfied and instead Nolan presents us with what is actually a pretty standard heist film that eventually becomes your typical Summer Action Blockbuster. Only difference is is that Inception isn't a remake, a reboot or a sequel but a truly original screenplay that wants to share with us some interesting ideas but doesn't have the right man at the helm to do so. I appreciate the thought but I don't appreciate the product.

Perhaps on seconds viewing, knowing that this is predominantly an action film and nothing over and above an action film I'd enjoy it more but the criticism that Nolan has create a film that describes dreams as occurring too literally (thus not allowing for the fluidity and lack of logic that often have) still stands. The response is usually that this was never Nolan's intention and that he always wanted to make Inception an action film, but Inception was created entirely from scratch and it could have been about anything. Nolan choose to make it about dream exploration but then didn't truly carry this idea through in a way that seems correct.

On a positive note I really enjoyed the films score. It's big and booming and shares a similarity to another of the years films starring Leonardo Di Caprio, a.k.a. Shutter Island (and that's not the only thing the two films have in common). The special effects (all $160 million dollars of them) are also good most noticeably the zero gravity corridor scene but this and all the other effects are lessened by the fact that I had already seen them countless times before in the trailer. The film doesn't surprise us with any fresh visually dazzling moments not chosen for the trailer.

Despite my complaints Inception isn't another in film to suffer from 'third act syndrome'. It's not one that falls apart at any moment after building itself up to be something special. It's the entire focus of the film that was disappointment but it remains loyal to what Nolan wanted it to be throughout and it does prove that Nolan is one of the best when it comes to creating big action blockbusters. It's just a shame that he choose Inception to fall into that category.

On a certain level I did enjoy Inception. It's energetic and despite a reasonably lengthy running time it does whizz by, never letting you out of it's grasp. It's what I'd call an enjoyable cinematic experience. Take that statement however you will. It seems that Inception is this years Avatar.

Rating: 6.5/10