Inception

Reviewed by Steve Kochems

Talking with an average movie go-er made me realize something the other day. CGI has gotten so good that very few could really see the difference of a computer graphic and what actually could be shot on film. Then Inception came along. If nothing else is taken away from this film, I was reminded that some films are still made, not blurred. For a film this good, I've done an extensive review and breakdown of the points system. Normally, I'll grade out of 5 stars (that will also be listed at the bottom) but I figured I'd treat you blog-readers for my first review.

Cinematography:

What director Christopher Nolan has done with a narrative so deep and complex is perfectly translated to his use of hydraulics and elaborate sets to wow a viewer beyond anything imaginable. While Avatar was beautiful, it was ultimately still computer generated. Nolan’s use of spinning floors and folding cities hides any use of CG so well that we are fully enveloped into this world.

Each shot and scene moves beautifully and blends the real with the surreal so well, the fact that it mirrors the narrative is simply a bonus. This is why the film will succeed with average movie go-ers, because it leaves the audience in awe of what he has been able to do in front of a camera. Even those who get lost in the complex plot will find a great deal of entertainment in everything from eroding cities to MC Escher’s world coming to life. Simply incredible.

25 out of 25

Narrative Flow:

The plot for Inception is obviously a complex one, and those who have seen Nolan’s films before (The Prestige, Memento) will not be surprised by that. Though, most will go in with only experiencing his blockbuster smash, The Dark Knight, and its predecessor (Batman Begins), which are well structured narratives in their own right. Inception follows dream manipulators Cobb (Leo DiCaprio) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in the most dangerous and uncharted place known to man: the subconscious.

Structurally, the film hits each point nicely and keeps the tension high from the moment Cobb accepts a job his comrades aren’t sure is even possible, with a nice balance between the impossibility of the quest as well as the inner demons of Cobb that constantly threaten the team’s safety.

Ultimately, it falls more on the possibility of things that can happen rather than things that do happen to maintain tension late in the film, which may lose some people. It leaves the emotional weight on Cobb’s shoulders and ultimately delivers, but never reaching the release I got at the end of The Prestige.

23 out of 25

Characters:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be a star after this film. He stands out as the logical and calculated Arthur and comes off as one of the most likable characters on the screen. The rest of the crew do well at bringing their unique attributes to the group like a surreal Ocean’s 11. Tom Hardy’s lax and roguish Eames brings a good deal of comedic relief and some of the best fight scenes. This is only the second film I’ve seen Marion Cotillard in and she shines again as Mal, often going from charming to chilling in the blink of an eye. Ken Watanabe and Cillian Murphy Jr. deliver their roles, but add little more than what the script gives them.

The true flaws lie in Cobb and Ariadne, DiCaprio and Ellen Page respectively. Nolan has been criticized for leaving his female leads underdeveloped, and that might be the case here. Ariadne is curious without much cause and we never get to know her as much as we should for her to take on the roles she does late in the film. The major reason I lacked the cathartic release after the film is Cobb. He’s abrasive and often too closed off from the viewer for us to build suspense, but it comes at the cost of us never getting to feel what he is feeling. Ultimately he is never likable enough or we don’t understand his strife well enough for the ending to give that satisfaction it should.

21 out of 25

Overall Thought:

Many of these issues are probably due to high expectations. I’ve come to expect perfection from Nolan and was extremely satisfied with his previous work, so perhaps there was no way to be satisfied. Nevertheless, it stands and a monumental film that feels as real as the cinematography is. That is what really carries this film for me. The narrative itself is interesting and compelling but ultimately it falls just short because of the distance from Cobb, which is not at the fault of DiCaprio but rather a risk Nolan took to maintain the suspense of the film.

This is certainly worth seeing on the big screen and will definitely be a DVD buy. Repeat viewings will only give a greater appreciation for the work put into this film and it should get better with time. It definitely warrants a second viewing in theaters because it seems like it will only get better with each viewing and for that, it scores major points.

24 out of 25

Overall: 93 out of 100

4.5 out of 5 stars.