Movie Review: Inception (12A)

Jenness Mitchell • Published 21 Jul 2010 08:48 0 Comments

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I AM unsure as how to write the review of Inception without ruining the plot or losing the plot. Think back to the 1999 release of The Matrix and if you think a simulated reality storyline is mind boggling, wait until you see this.

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) specialises in subconscious security, but instead of protecting his client's secrets he steals them.

When a job goes wrong Cobb and his team find themselves working for Saito (Ken Watanabe) on a mission to implant an idea in business heir Robert Fischer Jr's mind to dissolve his recently deceased father's empire.

As the Extractor, Cobb utilises the skills of his Point Man Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Architect Ariadne (Ellen Page), Forger Eames (Tom Hardy) and Chemist Yusuf (Dileep Rao) to create and enter into a multi-dimensional dream world to steer and influence Fisher whilst he is under after being drugged on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.

In one dimension five minutes in reality is one hour in the dream world. In another, five minutes equals ten hours.

It is not as easy as extracting or implanting information within the mark's mind however as there are many obstacles to overcome such as battling against the people sent by Fischer's subconscious along with avoiding troublemaker Mal (Marion Cotillard), Cobb's late wife. As one of the most anticipated science-fiction releases of the year along with one of the most guarded scripts of all time, I do not want to give too much away of the storyline as it will ruin your first viewing experience of a movie I thought was insanely good.

The special effects were put to good use within the dream world by having buildings move, collapse and expand. However, the most impressive scene for me was when Arthur has to fight in zero gravity conditions within a hotel corridor and then find a way to freefall his unconscious friends to wake them from their sleeping state.

I also liked the snow dream dimension as it humorously reminded me of a level within the online multiplayer COD.

Written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan, the man behind the helm of the amazing Memento, Insomnia, The Prestige, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, I did not expect anything less than a mysterious and compelling tale.

Thanks to the acting talent of Leo DiCaprio, it is easy for the audience to live the movie through his character's emotional baggage.

With Christian Bale the usual leading man for Nolan and DiCaprio the first choice for Scorsese, chances are we may have a new partnership here.

And as Nolan is known for casting favoured actors in multiple films, with Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine and Ken Watanabe reuniting here after their outing in Batman Begins, do not be surprised if we see the amazingly gifted Joseph Gordon-Levitt appear within the next Batman movie as The Riddler or something of equal delight along with our very own Tom Hardy.

Eye candy is supplied from the quaint Ellen Page and the buxom Marion Cotillard. Fans of Cotillard's Academy Award winning turn in La Vie en Rose will appreciate the sounds of Édith Piaf's Non, je ne regrette rien played throughout the movie.

I liked the premise of Inception, but understand it will not be to everyone's taste.

Love or hate it, however this is a movie you will need to watch more than once to understand what is going on in its entirety. For the first time ever, Dark City and The Matrix have never seemed so simple.

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