After seeing this masterpiece of a movie twice, I really find it hard to put into words how truly exceptional this film is, but I'll say this: INCEPTION is the antidote to every brainless, piece of crap blockbuster we've seen over the last few months.
Walking into INCEPTION, I actually had butterflies in my stomach. My expectations for this film were set so incredibly high after watching the trailer dozens of times over the last few months that I felt there was no way this could measure up. To everyone fearing the same thing, rest assured: this film delivers, and then some. Remember the jaw-droppingly awesome shot from the trailer featuring Paris folding up onto itself. Well, you ain't seen nothing yet, as this film is full of incredible shots like that, that I'll try not to ruin here.
INCEPTION is simply incredible in every conceivable way. It truly feels like everyone involved knew they were working on a classic, so the film is brilliant on every possible level. DP Wally Pfister outdoes the amazing work he did on THE DARK KNIGHT, with the absolutely stunning way he photographs this film
As far as the acting goes, INCEPTION offers one of the best ensemble casts I've seen in a while, led by a rock solid lead performance by Leonardo DiCaprio, that's comparable to his best work with Scorsese. If anyone still has any doubts as to whether or not DiCaprio's one of the best actors currently working, this will convince them that he's everything he's cracked up to be and more. Nobody plays tortured like DiCaprio, and this gives him a lot of material to work with. At it's heart, INCEPTION is a story about his character's guilt over the loss of his wife- played by Marion Cotillard, and his quest to return to his family no matter what the cost. It's a great role and I doubt there's anyone out there that could have played it better than him.
Meanwhile, this film is also a great showcase for the excellent supporting cast that makes up his team. As DiCaprio's longtime partner, and most trusted confidant, we get the great Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who gets one of the most talked about action sequences in the film - the spinning hallway fight. Ellen Page, who up to this point is mostly known for being JUNO, should be able to escape the typecasting she's suffered from since then, as this is a major departure from that role. While some have complained that she's only around to explain things, I think she's extremely necessary, as it's through her that we really get an understanding of what exactly INCEPTION is.
As the forger, we get Tom Hardy. Hardy actually gets a couple of really good action scenes of his own toward the end of the film, when he takes part in the incredible snowbound set-piece. Hardy's downright electrifying here, and I think within a few years, he'll become a mega star.
Rounding out the cast is Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, and in a small role, Michael Caine. I don't want to go too much into detail with these characters, as the less I reveal about the plot, the better, but all three are terrific. Watanabe in particular, has a much more three dimensional role that you'd expect judging from the trailers, and he makes an incredibly smooth and mysterious employer for DiCaprio's team.
Another element of the film that has to be mentioned is the incredible score by Hans Zimmer, that ranks with his best work.
As for Christopher Nolan , well, what can I say? The man's a genius. INCEPTION actually exceeded my expectations. I'm completely in awe. Everything was perfectly executed. The story was brilliantly layered with amazing action, breathtaking visuals, and most importantly a powerful emotional core. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and completely moved by the entire experience. Instant Classic for me.
A +++
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