Inception **** (2010, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page) – Classic Movie Review 801

A fired-up Leonardo DiCaprio is exactly the right fit for writer-director Christopher Nolan’s super-thief Dom Cobb, skilled in stealing valuable secrets from the subconscious during the dream state. Cobb’s offered a chance to get his life back if he only he can accomplish ‘inception’. So he and his team (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy) have to pull off the reverse of the perfect heist: instead of stealing an idea they have to plant one. But an enemy seems to predict their every move…

The Matrix-style setup produces a Matrix-style movie, and we’re really grateful for Nolan’s truly thoughtful and brainy action blockbuster, breathing a sigh of relief after so many mediocre big-budget offerings. Brilliantly made technically, with astounding visuals, marvellous cinematography (by Wally Pfister) and breathtaking effects, it sweeps you along with its amazing vision. You may not understand it all, but then you don’t really have to. Just go with the flow and feel the force.

But, stupendous and awesome though the movie is, greatness maybe just slightly eludes it. Here’s why.

(1) There are too many borrowings from too many other movies to make this one feel totally fresh and original.

(2) The cast is outstanding – cleverly chosen for their cult appeal as well as special talent. But most of them either don’t have enough to do (Michael Caine) or are battling underdeveloped roles that amount to no more than cyphers (Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy).

(3). Though the plotting’s brilliantly clever, it doesn’t amount to two and a half hours of screen time, and the movie’s way, way overlong – about half an hour of overtime.

And (4) Hans Zimmer’s score is a thumping bore, spoiling scene after scene with its noisy, vulgar unsubtlety.

Bottom line is, you’d need to see it more than once to understand it properly, and it’s the kind of film you’re really glad you have enjoyed – though maybe just the once.

But, then again, with its astounding visuals, marvellous cinematography and breathtaking effects, it thrills you with its amazing vision. It cost a fortune, $160million, but it’s all up there on screen. It was an enormous critical and box-office success, taking nearly $300million in the US and over £35million here in the UK. Nolan’s certainly done it again!

Nolan’s startling 1998 feature film debut Following cost around $6000 as opposed to Inception’s $160million. Nolan also made Memento, Insomnia, The Prestige, Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

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