Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Dileep Rao, Marion Cotillard and Michael Caine

Rating: 5/5

In a year which has jaded our senses with a clutter of sequels, remakes, comic book adaptations and book adaptations comes ‘Inception’ by Christopher Nolan. This mind-melting triumph is without a doubt the most psychologically ambitious film I have seen in a while. After the box office shattering ‘The Dark Knight’, Nolan returns to his favourite subject: Complexities of the human mind. It is a story about a world that is familiar to all of us – The world of dreams.

Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Cobb finds an unlikely opportunity for redemption from one of his former victims: Saito (Watanabe) – CEO of a flourishing multinational, offers him freedom in exchange for planting an idea – known as inception – within the mind of Robert Fischer (Murphy) one of Saito’s competitors. Enlisting the help of teammates Arthur (Gordon-Levitt), Ariadne (Page), Eames (Hardy) and Yusuf (Rao), Cobb reluctantly agrees to the mission, only to discover that the mind’s defenses are more formidable than any physical threat he could face.

Nolan brings his unique vision to the screen with a stellar cast. DiCaprio is slowly but surely morphing himself into the best actor of his generation with his impeccable consistency. For most part of the film, where he is hiding his emotions and battling dark secrets, he delivers an edgy performance. When he’s no longer able to keep them under wraps, he explodes on-screen with formidable acting.

The rest of the cast more than matches DiCaprio’s effectiveness throughout the film. A special mention goes to Gordon-Levitt who plays a suave ‘point man’.  He maintains composure and a cool kind of professionalism that distinguishes him, and pays off gorgeously when he’s given a physical and dramatic opportunity (also, he looks f***ing cool floating around in the zero-gravity space). Watanabe is good with the little he has to do in the film just like Caine and Murphy. Hardy plays Eames who is suave and unruffled in almost any situation. Every second of his screen-time is well used. Page is good but does not get ample opportunity to spread her wings. Cotillard’s performance gives the film a much needed emotional core right till the end.

Wally Pfister’s cinematography is simply stunning.  His shots purvey a mysterious aura and contribute to the feel of the film. Without it, it may not have been the same. Hans Zimmer’s score sets the mood in every scene, giving an epic and thrilling tone. And after knowing that Nolan didn’t allow Zimmer to see any of the film while scoring it, I loved it even more.

This brings us to the star of the show: Christopher Nolan. Nolan has given us a perfect heist film which deserves to be mentioned in the same likes of ‘Heat’ and the Ocean’s Trilogy. He has crafted a complex and layered film which runs for over two hours but does not feel like it is that long due to the excellent pacing. The emotional depth and explosive action complement each other perfectly, delivering a film that is gut-wrenching and heartbeat-skipping at the same time. Nolan along with the cast and a plot that makes you think and rewards you for your mental effort by transforming ‘Inception’ from a movie into an amazing mental journey.

This is one of those films which will stand the test of time as one of the greatest films of all time. With ‘Inception’, Nolan just reinstates the fact that a movie doesn’t have to be dumb to be popular, that it doesn’t have to cater to the lowest common denominator to make money. It manages to engross you with its complex structure yet comes together seamlessly. Go for the thrilling ride.

Advertisement