Nine years ago I watched a low-budget movie called Memento. A man with no short term memory is trying to solve a murder. As he can’t remember what happened five minutes ago, he is easily confused. As the movie progresses in a series of scenes moving backwards in time, the viewer is as confused as the main protagonist; and only at the end (or rather, the beginning, which comes at the end); do we understand most of the story. Multiple viewings helped to fill in the some of the details; but movie forums were ablaze for years, arguing about the nuances of the story.
I was captivated, and Christopher Nolan immediately became my favourite director. He rather let me down with Insomnia, but maybe that was because I can’t stand Robin Williams. But then there was The Prestige, which also kept you guessing until the end, and the excellent comic-book adaptions for those who can’t stand comic-book adaptions; Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.
The latter in particular marked Nolan as one of the hottest directors on the planet, which meant he could pretty much choose his next project and financing would be forthcoming. True to form, he did not go for some boy meets/loses/gets girl romance or boy kills lots of other boys action flick. Instead he chose a script he wrote himself ten years ago;* Inception*.
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) earns a living by invading the dreams of others and stealing their secrets. For reasons I will not reveal (there are no spoilers in this review), he is challenged to carry out an assignment to implant an idea into someone via their dreams; a much more difficult challenge.
That’s all I am going to say about the plot. The less you know, the more you will enjoy the ride; and what a ride it is. The first part of the movie sets up the heist, the characters involved, and the procedure of operating within a dream state. This is actually much easier to follow than I thought it would be, and I was only occasionally interrupted by she who must be obeyed who was keen to predict what would transpire in particular circumstances; she is annoyingly good at this.
Then the main event gets under way and the action never stops; and things get very complicated as dreams take place within dreams, people appear who you weren’t expecting and the whole thing becomes an interconnected puzzle. It all seems coherent, logical and you never get severely lost. But, in all the action and the mayhem, things are said, events happen; which leaves you with the feeling that something is not quite right. You know, like when you are dreaming and it just doesn’t feel exactly real. Then you get to the end and, although you can just walk out of the cinema having enjoyed the story you think you have been told; you damn well know that Nolan has screwed with you again and the reality of the plot is something quite different and you are going to have to go back and watch the damn thing all over again.
It was pure chance that a long-outstanding appointment to see a doctor in Bangkok was scheduled for yesterday; which coincided with the movie opening. As soon as we arrived in the Big Mango it was off to the IMAX theatre to get tickets. Foolishly I chose the late show; which meant we went straight from the cinema to bed. I couldn’t sleep due to thinking about the movie; and when I did drop off I dreamed of dreams. I woke up still pondering the plot and spent breakfast discussing it with she who must be obeyed. She, like me, wants to see it again as soon as possible. I am not going to rest until I get my head around the bloody thing.
Unless you have a brain like a planet, or no brain at all, Inception is going to screw with you. But that does not mean you can’t just go along with it and enjoy it, you can. Only the truly anal, like me, will want to unlock all the secrets. Nolan knows how to do action, and there is plenty of it. In fact I would argue there is too much. The only weak point of the movie for me was a set piece around a mountain stronghold which goes on far too long and does not further the plot by being so lengthy.
Other than that, Inception is a puzzling delight and I urge you to go and see it on the biggest screen possible. I think I will have to go and see it again tomorrow, or I am not going to sleep (perchance to dream).
Comments 🔗
2010-07-16| Lloyd saysIts definitely a different movie but well worth seeing just for the visual and audio special effects. It was easy to see the plot coming about the ex as they let it into the script too early, but overall a great movie.
It didn’t screw with my mind but I got the impression for my wife it was an experience like Paris Hilton in a museum would get ;-)
2010-07-17| genuinej says“only the truly anal, like me” !!??
Please explain.
2010-07-17| Spike saysgenuinej, as in being anal retentive, “One who is excessively insistent upon the smallest detail of something”. Sound familiar?
Lloyd, if you reckon you fully understand the plot, there a load of people who would welcome your help (For those who have yet to see the movie, do not follow this link): http://www.nolanfans.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=34
2010-07-17| Craig saysGreat Review - cant wait to see it. Now get out of bed - it is windy
2010-07-17| TT saysThe Prestige has to be one of the best movies I’ve watched in 20 odd years. The ex insisted we went down to Central (In the days before the Liverpool fans decided to burn it down). I wanted to watch some ‘Bang, bang, boom boom’, movie. Alas was overuled - far to smart for her own good that gal and also a pain in the arse. (Educated Chinesey wimin’ are like that).
I was captivated by it - brilliant. Sent a copy back to Sconny Botland for me Mum and she agreed, the twists and turns needed rewatching a few times.
2010-07-17| Lloyd saysI understood the movie a damned lot better than I did Steve Jobs speach about the iPhone 4 problems, now there was some twisted tale and special effects for you!
Its bad enough visiting a site about Pattaya let alone a forum for some twisted movie director, I’ll trust you others didn’t get the plot.
2010-07-17| rtom levineo saysInception last night, didn’t go to the cinema though. Leo Di Caprio turned up in a dream and shown it me,but he then stole my talking otter.
2010-07-17| Spike saysCraig, couldn’t come today, went to see Inception again! Tomorrow if there is wind.
TT, check out Memento if you haven’t seen it. Still Nolan’s most intriguing offering.
Lloyd, you are not obliged to visit sites about Pattaya.
rtom, excellent drugs you have there.
2010-07-20| Simon LeFevre says“Its bad enough visiting a site about Pattaya”. Lloyd, you come across as an arrogant berk. Please don’t demean yourself in future and just stay away.
Saw Inception, wonderful.
2010-07-20| Billy saysThinking about watching a movie with Dicaprio in is for me like thinking about eating breakfast cereal out of a box with “This contains pure unadulterated shit” on the outside.
Have bought two tickets for tomorrow night at the Blitz Megaplex. It had better be fuc*ing good.
ps for Simon - I’m afraid Lloyd’s seeming arrogance is something that unreservedly passes for humour in the UK; we would be lost without him and his acerbity :-)
2010-07-24| Pete saysI must get round to watching it - it looks fun …
2010-08-03| Max Perney saysThe thought of aspiration planet teetering on graphic nightmare doesn’t take place - good if rolling weightlessness is your factor, then probably. The tale is what carries the movie and its unfortunate that the gun perform and visible outcomes (I’m shocked to admit) stop up bolting unnecessary minutes to the movies operate time. Someone somewhere need to have sent this back for editing. Some sequences took a long way way too prolonged to perform out.
2010-08-03| Spike saysSomeone somewhere should have sent your comment back for editing.
2010-08-03| Billy saysThe thing that should have been sent back was the bad shit he was on …..