Review of Inception (2010) by Keegan G — 28 Feb 2016

The absolute best in his field, Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a master at the dangerous art of extracting valuable secrets from deep places; the human psyche.

Consciously entering another's mind at their most vulnerable; during the dream.

State, Cobb's rare ability to steal-from-within makes him a coveted commodity in the high stakes world of corporate espionage.

Costing him everything he has ever cherished and making him an international fugitive, Cobb is obsessed by his profession. Resisting encouragement to retire and save what is left of his sanity, Cobb is easily convinced to take one last job. Lured by the idea that this last job could be the key to his mental and emotional freedom, the bonus could.

See him accomplish the impossible - inception.

Assembling an equally unique team of specialists and constructing the most elaborate deception yet, Cobb attempts to reverse the perfect heist; plant an idea instead of steal it. Inception not deception. Could this be the impossibly perfect crime? Or will Cobb.

Lose himself completely?

A twirling top of mind bending information and ideas, this film is a scintillating exploration of dreams, reality and the hairline that separates them. Altering preconceptions and invading the only thing we all believe is simply our own - our mind - this movie's labyrinthine premise extends on writer/director Christopher Nolan's earlier concepts in 2000s, Memento.

The immersive world of schemes, dreams and dreams within dreams highlights to the extreme just how easy the power of suggestion can completely influence someone's being. The astonishing visuals seemingly overwhelm viewers; however as the film progresses, the chaos and confusion of the multilayered fragmented theory becomes acceptably absorbable.

Meticulously focused on the establishment of films initial premise; the concept of how Cobb not only enters but influences the mind, is clearly defined. Entering whilst in a lightened dream state, Cobb and team can effortlessly morph reality as needed changing time, perspectives and perceptions.

Leaving the dream however is a more complex matter. Piaf's No Regrets is utilised as an alert, a 'music trigger' telling those who have entered the mind that an awakening jolt, a 'kick' is coming to safely remove them. The catch is if anyone misses the kick, they can.

Either be trapped in the mind or alternatively die in the outside world.

The makeup for this movie has been derived from a number of its existential predecessors. Clearly influence by the Matrix trilogy and 1999s eXistenZ, Inception brings a myriad of theories together in an ambitious physiological thriller that sometimes attempts to be a little too clever.

Constantly attempting to establish and prove himself as a dramatic actor, DiCaprio tries his hand at yet another emotionally taxing film and once again missed the mark. Marion Cotillard is heartbreaking as the real emotional backbone, Cobb's wife and Achilles heel, Mal. Joseph Gordon- Levitt does a wonderful job even with some dreadful lines and Juno's Ellen Pages cast disconcertingly appropriate as the whiz-kid architect.

The verdict: Imagination, dreams, reality; who knows where are the line's drawn? And how to we cross them? Ambition is at war with pertinence in this film and the end result leaves viewers a little cold to its message.

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 01/10/2010.