Inception’s dream weavers confound and captivate
Only a very talented cast like the one assembled for the new, superbly crafted mind-bender “Inception” could pull off such convincing performances. The film is intricate and highly complex, so how in the world did the actors fully understand what was going on, especially considering scenes are rarely filmed in their final sequence? Regardless, what matters is what the audience experiences. Though “Inception” is difficult to concisely explain, it is a unique thriller that is sure to please audiences for years to come and will undoubtedly be among the most talked about films of the year.
Leonardo Di Caprio stars as Cobb, an “extractor”-a guy paid to steal people’s ideas while they dream. He’s a thief of real intellectual property who is hired by an Asian businessman (Ken Watanabe) to implant an idea into a young competitor (Cillian Murphy) for the purpose of gaining financial advantage.
Cobb assembles an intracranial heist dream team that includes Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, Ellen Page, Dileep Roa and Tom Hardy. Each specializes in a different area–human forgery, chemical sedation, and dream architecture among them. But one wildcard poses a threat to the whole operation. Cobb’s wife (Marion Cotillard in another marvelous performance) keeps interfering in his slumbering escapades with references to their past that leave him racked with guilt.
Little more is needed to appreciate if not fully comprehend “Inception’s” psychological angles, and the terrific special effects are rather mind blowing all by themselves. Seeing Paris fold like an omelet and a gravity defying hotel rescue are genre-influencing moments sure to be copied.
The real star here is director Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight”), who since his first film “Memento” has been twisting and turning standard filmmaking conventions and giving audiences plenty to contemplate long after the credits roll. “Inception” could have used a little more levity and it may not always make sense, but it’s rich in thought provoking ideas and images and is that rare film that not only requires multiple viewings but warrants them.
Grade: A-
Rated Pg-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout.