A thief, who steals corporate secrets through use of
dream-sharing technology, is given the inverse task of planting an idea
into the mind of a CEO.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Writer: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page |See full cast & crew »
Storyline
Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of
extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious
during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's
rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world
of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international
fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being
offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life
back but only if he can accomplish the impossible - inception. Instead
of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off
the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If
they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful
planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that
seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have
seen coming.
User Reviews
The perfect summer blockbuster?
What do we ask for in a
summer blockbuster? What is it that incites hysteria this time every
year for whatever dross the studios churn out? Epic hugeness? Blowing
stuff up? Romance? Action? Heroes? What are we looking for in a
blockbuster? I think it all boils down to thrills! Audiences want the
thrill of a car chase, the thrill of romance, the thrill of the
spectacular! If that is the case, then Inception just might be the
greatest summer blockbuster of all time as it also contains something we
often don't look for...brains! "What is the most resilient parasite? An
idea" says Leonardo Di Caprio's character Cobb. Well, Inception is all
about ideas. It's all right there in the title. The film central idea
revolves around "Extractors", who are paid to extract secrets from
people's subconscious minds by sneaking into their dreams, usually for
the purpose of corporate espionage. However, when one client asks them
to plant an idea in the mind of their corporate rival, "Inception" is
born. The less said about this film the better. It is full of ideas and
invention and for each set piece I divulge, a piece of the film's genius
is weakened. This is a film that cleverly and intricately brings the
audience through several planes of existence simultaneously but never
allows the viewer to feel lost. Such is the power of Christopher Nolan's
script which, I imagine, is likely to get overlooked due to the sheer
visual magnificence of his direction. But everything that makes this
film so great is in the script...in the ideas! Everything else is just
spectacle. This film bears an uncanny resemblance, thematically, with
DiCaprio's other instant classic this year, Shutter Island. Both films
investigate in depth the tricks a traumatised mind can play on the
individual. Both films are luscious to watch and both films keep the
audience firmly outside the realm of reality. However, Inception is an
even more layered film than Shutter Island and I believe the sci-fi
genre setting will prove to be less alienating for audiences than the
prison noir of Scorsese's film. There is not a single dull moment in
Nolan's film. There is style, charm and intelligence in every frame of
the film. Every performance is pitch-perfect with some strong support by
Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt particularly who have grown up
right before our eyes into undeniable movie stars. Leonardo DiCaprio
gives a typically flawless performance as the muddled, grieving man who
we never quite trust to be living in the real world. The best part of
Inception is the large amount of effects which were done in camera.
While the film does make use of CGI, there are some pretty mind-blowing
practical effects which are as simple as the camera telling beautiful
lies; a rare treat these days. This is a blockbuster that ticks all the
boxes; smart, sexy (femme fatale, sexy brainy girl, very beautiful men
in very beautiful suits) and magical. Inception is the kind of film that
reminds me why cinema will never die. Because anyone who thinks it's OK
to watch this film on a laptop or iPad is a fool! This is pure cinema,
and proud of it. Not to be missed on the big screen!
