In the past few months, I have voiced two complaints that I now must retract, and for one of which I must also apologize. The first of these complaints was that the movies being released this summer, with the exception of a few shiny gems, pretty much suck. They’re not all awful, but this summer just hasn’t lived up to the summer movie hype. Secondly, I was one of those people who, while I did not object to Inception being made, I just felt like, “Come on, Christopher Nolan. We don’t need this other stuff. We need more Batman and we need it now!”

Well here it is. I’m sorry Christopher Nolan. When I saw your name linked with Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, Marion Cotillard, and Michael Caine, I probably should have realized that you were working on your masterpiece. I am sorry I ever doubted you. It won’t happen again.

If I were to write a synopsis for Inception, two things would happen. First, this review would turn into a novella. Second, I would not do Christopher Nolan’s script justice. Therefore, in order to limit myself and avoid giving away any spoilers, I’ll just include the official plot summary from Warner Brothers:

Leonardo DiCaprio as The Extractor, Dom Cobb

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.

Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible-inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

Seriously, I expected this movie to be good. Just not THIS good. What Nolan did with this film, I can hardly begin to describe. He took something that boils down to a basic heist story, and turned it into one of the most complex and well-thought-out scripts in recent memory.

The actors Christopher Nolan chose to play his characters were selected flawlessly. Each of the several characters in this film was unique in his or her own way, and each actor played his or her character to perfection.

The main character, Dom Cobb, was played by Leonardo DiCaprio. I wish someone would explain to me why DiCaprio doesn’t have a shelf full of Oscars at home. I will admit that I was one of those people when Titanic came out who thought that he would be just another “Teen Beat” cover boy who would disappear as soon as the new flavor of the month came around. I had no idea that he would have become one of the most talented and sought-after actors of this generation. His performance in this film is no exception. It was a great role, a great character, and he owned it.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthur, in zero gravity

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was also superb in his role as Cobb’s partner and the point man of their operation, Arthur. Gordon-Levitt has come quite a long way from being “that kid on Third Rock from the Sun.” I continue to be impressed by him in every new role he chooses, and I predict he can be as deservingly successful as DiCaprio within the next 10 years. In one very memorable scene in the film, he walks, runs, fights off enemies, and moves the sedated bodies of the members of his team, through the rooms and halls of a hotel, all while in zero gravity. I can’t begin to figure how Christopher Nolan shot this scene, but however he did it, he and Gordon-Levitt ended up with a scene that rivaled the innovation of the original Matrix film.

It was nice to see Ellen Page play a non-Juno-type character. In the film, she plays Ariadne, the architecture student Cobb and Arthur hire to be the architect of the dreams they wish to manipulate to complete their mission. Ariadne adapts to the power she has in this new world she is introduced to, and she begins to crave more, while at the same time, remaining the voice of reason when the team starts to lose its grip on the situation.

Tom Hardy (right) as Eames, the Forger

I really don’t want to leave anyone out here because every actor involved in this film did a stellar job, but there are too many to discuss them all. The one other actor, who I would like to shed some light on before wrapping it up, is Tom Hardy. Hardy may be a lesser-known actor than some of his Inception costars, but the truth is, he stole every scene he was in. As the team’s forger and con man, Eames, Hardy stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the best actors in the business, and still managed to shine. Having had smaller roles in such films as Layer Cake and RocknRolla, I think Hardy will soon get his break into the lead actor category after his performance in Inception.

Finally, I would like to go back to the writer and director of Inception, Christopher Nolan. As I said before, what Nolan did with this film was nothing less than extraordinary. The very idea of Inception, as it is used in the film, was to plant an idea, a very basic idea, deep into the subconscious of the non-expecting mark, and have that simple idea spread and grow into a complex idea that could alter the mark’s view on a certain subject.

Planning the Inception

This idea is what Nolan did with this film. At its base, Inception is a simple heist story. But through Nolan’s brilliant imagination and insight, that simple idea was presented to the audience in such a well-planned, well-written, story-driven plot, that the outcome was by far one of the best films I have experienced in the past several years.

Sadly, because Inception is science fiction by nature, I fear that it may get snubbed when it comes time for Oscar season. Hopefully, with the number of Best Picture nominations upped to 10 as of last year, it will at least land one of those coveted 10 spots. But honestly, I feel like this film could and should be represented in just about every Oscar category for which it qualifies.

To sum up, Inception is without a doubt the best film to date of 2010. Upon further recollection of the various stages of the film, I honestly can’t come up with any complaints about any part of it, and with the amount that I complain about stuff, that’s saying something. If you haven’t yet seen it, go now. If you have seen it, go again. I know I will.

Grade: 10/10

-Carlsberg