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'Inception' review

The movie of the summer arrives—and it's a dream

By Geoff Berkshire

Metromix
July 15, 2010

Critic's Rating:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Leonardo DiCaprio (Credit: Stephen Vaughan/Warner Bros.)

Inception

Running time:: 148 minutes

Rated:: PG-13

Cast:

Leonardo DiCaprio -

Dom Cobb

Joseph Gordon-Levitt -

Arthur

Ellen Page -

Ariadne

Tom Hardy -

Eames

Ken Watanabe -

Saito

See full cast

Director:: Christopher Nolan

Genre:: Science Fiction

Official Movie Web Site:: http://inceptionmovie.warnerbros.com/

Overall User Rating:: (437 ratings)

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Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) has a special skill—he can literally enter another person’s subconscious while they’re asleep and steal secrets from their dreams. His talent keeps him in demand, but also in hiding from the authorities. A wealthy client (Ken Watanabe) offers Dom a chance at redemption, provided he can pull off one of the most difficult tricks of all: instead of stealing an idea from someone’s mind, Dom will have to plant one. The act is called inception.

The buzz: For serious movie fans and fanboys alike, filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” has been one of the most anticipated releases of 2010. Everything about the original screenplay—characters, storyline, even the premise—has been shrouded in secrecy, but trailers and TV ads have teased a movie full of mind-blowing visuals. Adding to the high hopes: Two years ago, Nolan and Pixar delivered the best movies of the summer with “The Dark Knight” and “WALL-E.” This year, Pixar has already done their part with “Toy Story 3.” Now the pressure is on Nolan to follow suit.

The verdict: There’s so much hype around “Inception” that it’s almost insane to think any movie can live up to the expectations. So it’s a good thing “Inception” isn’t just any movie. This is the next step in Nolan’s evolution as one of the master filmmakers of our time, a fully realized cinematic dream that combines the jaw-dropping action of “The Dark Knight” with the ingenious plotting of “Memento.” “Inception” has roots in longstanding cinematic traditions—film noir, heist movie, special effects extravaganza—and features allusions to many classics of the past, but never loses the rare feeling of a genuine original.

By linking dreams with the creative process, Nolan isn’t just diving into issues of the subconscious, memory and altered realities but also the very nature of art itself. You can practically boil the film down to a single line: “true inspiration is impossible to fake.” “Inception” keeps it real in every way—rich dialogue, assured performances (this isn’t a character study, and yet the entire ensemble is completely at ease in their roles), provocative ideas, and staggeringly complex action sequences shot in numerous locations across the globe. You’ll leave dazzled by the sight of a city block folding onto itself, a freight train barreling down a busy street, a fight that defies gravity, but equally overwhelmed by the film’s intricate storyline and understanding that cool visuals don’t mean anything if there’s no creative vision to back them up.

Did you know? Another of the film’s achievements is its distinctive musical score—composed by Hans Zimmer and featuring guitar by legendary guitarist Johnny Marr of the Smiths.

“Inception” is also playing in select IMAX theaters. Find local showtimes here.

Video: Watch Matt Pais' review of 'Inception'