An honest confession -- I watched Inception twice before attempting to put together my thoughts on Christopher Nolan's latest offering

Inception - Movie Review

Inception
U/A; Thriller
Dir: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine
***1/2

What's it about: An honest confession -- I watched Inception twice before attempting to put together my thoughts on Christopher Nolan's latest offering. The first viewing had me baffled and intrigued, as I struggled to offer a cohesive explanation to what had just happened on screen. The second attempt to solve the maze of trickery and illusions was quite similar to the first, except I realised that underneath all the multiple layers of complexity lies a simple love story. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a thief unlike any other. Till now operating with a covert group stealing people's dreams to benefitu00a0 multinationals, he faces a new challenge -- plant (not rob) a dream in the mind of the heir apparent (Cillian Murphy) of a large company. Assisting him in the job are his sidekicks Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Eames (Tom Hardy) and architecture student Ariadne (Ellen Page), all masters of their specialised skills. As the story progresses, we discover how they go about creating dreams within dreams with Nolan sucking you into his plot and leaving you gasping for more. However, deep down, the film addresses Dom's inability to grapple with the loss of hisu00a0 wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) and to get closure, resulting in an unbelievable climax that will have your jaw on the floor!

What's hot: Don't bother getting any popcorn or soda. In the 150-odd minutes, you won't find the time or necessity to allow any distraction. Nolan keeps you captive right from the opening frame till the very last minute. What happens on the screen not only wakes you up, but also gets your grey matter working. There's so much of movement and shift in every character, with multiple subplots busy weaving their yarnu00a0 creating a rich fibre of suspense and disbelief, that you are bound to get involved. If Memento was a challenge, then Inception is a massive Rubik's cube waiting to be solved. Nolan doesn't get lazy for a single minute. Every frame is filled with material that blows your mind on every level --- be it the breathtaking locales of Morocco, or Hans Zimmer's hauntingly disturbing score (those sirens will play in your head even as you leave), or the gravity- defying visual effects -- and everything is synchronised to keep you on your toes. Of the cast, Leo carries the weight on his able shoulders with ease and delivers an effortless performance. He reaches inside him and creates a Cobb who is surreal and utterly believable at the same time. The supporting cast shines with Ellen Page, Tom Hardy and the underrated Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing their parts in tandem with Leo.

What's not: Ken Watanabe has a difficult accent that is bothersome at times. Also, his character doesn't get enough leverage, despite providing the pivotal twist in the plot. Don't be shy to ask questions and feel mortified at not understanding what's happening. Apart from David Lynch's Mullholand Drive, Inception is easily the toughest film to decipher. But if you keep your eyes open, listen to what's being said and pay attention to details, the clues are right in front of you.

What to do: They said "What next?" after The Dark Knight. Inception not only blows that question to pieces, but establishes Nolan as a true genius of our times. A friend remarked, "Inception is Avatar for smart people." I couldn't agree more.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels