INCEPTION

What can you say about Inception, without spoiling it for those that haven’t seen it?

Not much.

So, the basics; Dom Cobb (Leonard DiCaprio) is a dream thief, entering others minds, usually business men, to steal their deepest secrets. Cobb is faced with a new challenge when former victim Saito (Ken Watanabe), hires him to implant an idea into the mind of business rival Robert Fisher (Cillian Murphy); a process known as Inception.

Cobb cannot perform the Inception alone, and gathers a team, including point man Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), forger Eames (Tom Hardy) and dream architect Ariadne (Juno’s Ellen Page). Complicating matters is Cobb’s unresolved issues with his wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) who makes frequent nasty attacks on Cobb as he goes about his business in the dreams of others.

It sounds confusing but Inception is quite easy to follow if you can keep up with the labyrinth plots twists AND keep track of which dream, and whose dream, the movie is occupying at any given time. Information is doled out slowly with the fate of Cobb’s wife overshadowing everything – and of course there is a twist…

Inception is perfectly cast and acted, with an engaging script and a foreboding atmospheric score, but it is the surreal dream state special effects that steal the show. Director Christopher Nolan pulls off some impressive visual trickery, including cities rising and falling and Arthur’s very cool ‘underwater’ swim through a hotel. There are clever touches sprinkled throughout, and the reason for a torrential rain downpour highlights a dry sense of humour.

While it does rung a little long Inception is a film that will benefit from multiple viewings, but that does not make the initial viewing any less satisfying. Inception will have you thinking about it, and asking questions long after the credits have rolled – and what other Hollywood blockbuster can boast that lately?

4 of 5 Stars