Review of Inception (2010) by King D — 02 Nov 2017

Intelligent, unique and exceedingly thrilling, Inception is that rare Summer blockbuster that strikes a defy balance between being both a visually striking masterpiece as well as an intellectually made film.

The performances are excellent all around and the film is full of interesting characters. Leonardo DiCaprio leads the film with a profoundly layered and complex performance as Cobb. While at first the character seems confident and bold from the outset, it becomes pretty clear there's more than meets the eye and his tragic backstory is conveyed perfectly through his performance.

The rest of the cast do just as well, although the development between them ranges from some to not as much, if only due to the amount of people onscreen. With an interesting concept concerning a machine that allows for others to implant and or steal information and ideas from the minds of others, it fully delivers and allows that to take center stage, and rightfully so.

It's a unique premise and as the film becomes more and more complex as it wears on, it's an achievement in itself that it doesn't lose itself along the way. There's also a surprising amount of heart as well, as the film has a dramatic subplot that actually fits well into the plot.

There are occasional moments where the exposition segments can get a bit heavy however as the film frequently has to slow down to ensure everyone is caught up but thankfully they're few and far between and after the first act they all but vanish.

To top it all off, the ending is satisfying, if also ambiguous, but so are all the best. Christopher Nolan's direction is just fantastic, as he intricately weaves the outre sci fi elements of the dreamscape with the dramatic angle that the central romance requires without overdoing on either.

Probably his biggest achievement though is how well he's able to juggle all of the film's moving layers, especially when the film moves into its third act and everything becomes very complex, reflecting the confidence of an increasingly reassured director.

For all of it's visceral elements, the stakes feel more than justified in Inception. The editing seamlessly moves between the many different dream sequences with ease, and the intensity of the sound editing only elevates it all while capturing the sense of lucid dreaming.

Arguably above all else though, the film is a visual masterpiece. Its almost gratifying to see a film reach so high in its visual ambitions without skimping by on its narrative. Although it may have its flaws, Inception is nevertheless an ambitious thriller that truly shows a director at the top of his game and the full extent of what a blockbuster can really be.