Commentary – Inception

by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor

Christopher Nolan (writer/director) must be some kind of mad genius to come up with two of the most intricate and mind-boggling films of the decade: first, Memento in 2000 and now Inception. Add to that The Dark Knight and Prestige, all equaling total brilliance. However, Inception may become his pinnacle, in the way M. Night Shyamalan was and has never again reached the level of The Sixth Sense.

Dreaming is one of the most Universal experiences the human race shares. How many times have we said to each other, ” I had a dream last night that….” We take dreaming as a matter of course, whether we’re the type to fly in our dreams, have more dreams remembered, or more dreams forgotten, more based in reality vs fantasy, nightmares vs oh what a good dream. But when you really think about the endless possibilities of what it means to dream, many exciting and mind expanding concepts could come to mind; Inception being one of them.

The movie starts out with a slick James Bond high stakes type dialogue and action, but we are soon made aware of the unreality, only to discover the reality seems to be equally dangerous. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are part scientists, part mercenaries dealing in shared dreams or being able to enter another person’s subconscious. This shared dreaming can only take place in a controlled environment for going under, a needle in the arm from a contraption inside a metal briefcase. This devise can be recreated inside of a dream allowing for dreams within dreams within dreams. Although the feasibility and scientific explanation of the dream briefcase is never discussed, it matters not to the originality of the plot.

Although I wouldn’t classify the film as completely sci-fi, sci-fi addicts will appreciate the parameters placed upon the dream world – whose having the dream; what the other shared dreamers subconscience brings to the dream; the difference between what happens if you die in a dream and if you die in a dream within in a dream; and most importantly, the dream architect, which is where Ariadne (Ellen Page) comes in to play, as Cobb is no longer capable of being the architect due to his personal tragedy of losing his wife (the exceedingly lovely, Marion Cotillard).

The only part of the movie I didn’t like was the fact that it features Leonardo DiCaprio, for two reasons 1) I didn’t get the feeling he was truly living and believing the concept, thank God it’s just such good writing, because Leo’s not really delivering. 2) It’s a role too close to his role in Shutter Island, the whole plot of being haunted by a mentally unstable wife is played out again and he seems to give the same performance.

Best part of the film, the ending. Like Gone with the Wind, it’s the kind of ending that film buffs will be wondering about for years to come.

Rating: 4 Tines