Review of Inception (2010) by Will G — 24 Mar 2018

Inception is a Sci-Fi, Action-adventure film written, co-produced and directed by Christopher Nolan, his 7th feature film of which he has been director. The narrative follows a thief called Dom Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) who uses dream-sharing technology to steal corporate secrets. However, when approached with the task of planting an idea in a CEO's, he must recruit a team to try and complete this. This film has a star-studded lineup (although it wasn't considered this at the time of release), including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe and many others.

Despite being renowned for having a very difficult narrative to follow, which I also found upon my first viewing, I believe that after seeing it a couple of times and suspending your disbelief, that it is an extremely clever story which Nolan is telling. Even more so knowing that it is an original screenplay.

At the time of release, as mentioned previously, the lineup were not as well-known as they are today, especially the like of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hardy. Although, looking back at this film with the knowledge of how all of these actors and actresses developed, it is clear to see why. Every single person who stars in this film is exceptional, not a false note anywhere. There isn't a moment where I felt like I was watching a someone act, it all felt very genuine and real, which is key in making the audience suspend their disbelief, directly helping them to understand the plot further. Tom Hardy (who I am a very huge fan of for his work in Bronson, Locke, Legend etc.) really smashes this performance out of the park as the lovable Eames.

Some of the set pieces that we see in this film, the rotating hallway scene immediately comes to mind, are outstanding and even hold up to, if not surpass, those that we see in releases today. The numerous moments that made my jaw physically drop when I first saw them is what takes this film from great, to epic.

Hans Zimmer incredible score that really adds weight to the emotion that you feel sitting in the audience, cannot possibly go unmentioned. Zimmer has frequently worked with Nolan on a number of films, including The Dark Knight Trilogy, Interstellar, Dunkirk and Man Of Steel. Yet again, the two styles blend perfectly, creating a very hard hitting and tense atmosphere throughout the film, which I found especially prominent in the final scene, amplifying the "dramatic-ness" I felt.

All in all however, this is my favourite film. Christopher Nolan never fails to impress.