In the summer of 2010 it seemed like everyone was talking about this movie, how it ended, and what the ending meant. As a thought-provoking sci-fi actioner it was a surprisingly big hit. I think it was a success for more than its buzz worthiness. It not only had a great concept and interesting ending; it had amazing visuals, good acting performances, and great action scenes.
The Set-Up
The story centers on Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) a man who is an expert at “extraction”. Extraction is going into someone else’s head through dreams and stealing valuable information. Cobb needs a team to do this. There’s an architect that designs the dream world. The dream has to be realistic enough that the dreamer doesn’t realize they’re not in their own dream. He needs someone to administer the sedative that puts the mark, the dreamer and the rest of the team asleep. He also needs other sleeper agents to go into the dreams with him, to assist him in stealing the information.
At the start of the movie Cobb and his team are on a extraction job that doesn’t quite go according to plan. However, he impresses the client Saito (Ken Watanabe) enough to warrant another job opportunity. Saito wants Cobb to “incept” an idea in a rival’s mind. Inception is planting an idea in someone’s mind and making them think it’s their own. Cobb’s partner Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) says it’s not possible. Cobb says it is. Cobb and Arthur eventually take the job and begin plotting an elaborate multi-level dream. They are going to go dreams within dreams to complete the inception.
Why It’s Great
First of all, it’s an amazing concept. The idea of going into someone else’s dreams is a very cool one. The film’s director Christopher Nolan gives us a lot of rules of how the dreams work. The limitations and rules of the dream world help make sure that the dreams are not a bunch of random, abstract shapes floating on screen.
The visual imagery is amazing. Buildings rise at odd angles, characters get stuck in zero gravity, and it looks like whole worlds are crumbling. One scene resembles an Escher painting with the angles and perspectives on a staircase. Since these images take place in dreams, they are believable.
The action scenes are well-choreographed and are enhanced by the stunning special effects. But they are not just good because of the effects. They are genuinely well shot and well-paced action scenes.
Still, the movie would not have been as affecting if we did not care about the main character. Cobb’s entire motivation is to get back to his children. Every decision he makes, and chance he takes, there is that underlying wish propelling him. Cobb is also unsure about what is real and what is a dream. Because of this, the audience can never quite be sure either.
This is a movie everyone should see. Almost everyone who sees it, loves it. It’s an entertaining enough movie that people who don’t like sci-fi and action movies can still enjoy it.
It sounds complicated in my description, but the film’s basic plot, the world’s rules, and characters backstories are never hard to follow. There are just many interpretations possible of what is happening. That’s what makes it so interesting and such a great movie.