Year: 2010
Accolades: A bunch of Oscars; One of the most mind-blowing films ever made.
Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a man who specialises in stealing information from people's minds via their dreams. When his latest heist goes awry, the man he tried to steal from hires him not to steal from someone else, but to implant an idea instead. What follows is part heist film, part thriller, part action blockbuster, and all brilliant film-making. Nolan's masterpiece about the world of dreams is a truly mind-bending experience.
The plot is notorious for being confusing and hard to follow for some, but I had no such troubles. Yes, there are some things that are difficult to grasp and establish, but if you can follow the basics then the film is no less well off if you miss a few of the minor details. It just as easy (and just as fun) to get caught up in the spectacle of it all, but it's nice to know that the film assumes you're intelligent rather than an idiot that needs everything spelt out for them.
The true beauty of the film is that it makes you question everything you are seeing, right from the start. Is what we are seeing dream, reality, or memory? Even if it's reality, is what we're seeing reliable? Frustratingly for some, Nolan gives us no answers, and deliberately makes the ending ambiguous. This single, final shot, the one that everyone either loves or hates, the one that makes everyone scream out in rage and frustration, is what makes the entire film worth seeing. The fact that something so simple can illicit such a huge reaction from the audience is indicative of just how effective the rest of the film is.
That single shot has spawned endless discussion on the film, and on its meaning. I love films like this. There's so much to read up on and sink your teeth into. There are subtleties and consequences I didn't pick up on or think about. I get to think about them now, well after the film is over, and as a result I get to enjoy the film long after the final credits have rolled. The only problem with the film is that by its very nature, there's not a lot you can say about it on your own. This is a film that needs to be seen and then discussed with others. Inception is not just a film. It's an experience that begins with a film.
The film is merely there to implant the seeds of the ideas in your head...
My only surprise here is that you haven't reviewed this movie before!
ReplyDeleteI love how this movie has so many levels, and the attention to detail is impecible. One example where the level of detail far exceeds the ability for the watcher to even comprehend is the music.
The if you think about it, the movie has that distinctive Italian singing, used as a signal down through the levels of the dream, but it also has this deep, throbbing, not-quite-music that's designed to get you pumped. The secret... all the music in the movie is the same Italian song, slowed down to various levels.
And this makes perfect sense in the movie, because time slows down through each level of the dream. My mind exploded a bit when I found that out...!
Excuse me, I have to go watch this movie again.
Not to nitpick, but it's actually a French song, not Italian. :P You are otherwise correct, though, and it also blew my mind when I learnt that.
ReplyDelete