MOVIE
REVIEW: INCEPTION
07/15/10
SYNOPSIS: Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the 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. This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.
REVIEW: Cobb: Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.
That is pretty much how you will feel about this movie. While you are watching, it will feel real enough but when you leave you might be like “What? What was that?” I think it’s time to come up with a new concept and I will call it the Matrix effect. The Matrix effect is that sensation you get when watching a movie and you think to yourself “Wow, this is unlike anything I’ve ever seen on the big screen.” In recent cinematic history, The Matrix was the first big production to give me that sensation. Avatar did the same, of course. And just like that, BAM!, here’s another one. There is a certain collection of directors/movie makers that you know don’t mess around when doing a job. You can be assured that they will give you good stuff every time. To name a few, you can start with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, followed by James Cameron, Scorsese, the Scotts, J.J. Abrams, and, you guessed it, Christopher Nolan. I know there’s more but these are the ones that came to mind at the spur of the moment, and can you believe I put all those guys in the same context . . . I can be bold sometimes. Christopher Nolan is proving to be a top notch movie maker whose default is quality work. The Dark Knight may be considered his masterpiece but this one comes close. This film is dramatic, intelligent, complex, imaginative, amazing, and deep, both literally and figuratively. The special effects are incredible and appropriate for the subject matter. The cinematography and various filming locations give the special effects some good competition. It is hard to tell which is better, but they do go hand in hand very well. The story is unique and the plot is captivating and thrilling. The dialogue is intellectual and keeps pace with the complexity of the story.
Dreams, mind games . . . you will be asking yourself is it real or not? Are we in a dream or is this the real world? In some ways this movie is like a new Matrix (another bold statement). But it is totally different too. The sci-fi aspect of the movie is not that overwhelming so even if you are not a fan of sci-fi, you could still enjoy this film. The characters in this movie are not given much depth or background, with the exception of the lead character, Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), but that really doesn’t seem to matter or affect the quality of the movie. The focus is on Cobb more than anybody else anyway. Whatever discrepancies exist are more than made up for by the performances of the cast, and what a cast. Leo of course, sharp as always although not necessarily one of his better performances. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was effective and had some pretty interesting scenes himself. He had quite a bit of hands on action too. Like Leo, Ellen Page was also sharp as always but also not one of her better performances. Marion Cotillard blew me away. She was stunning and unsettling playing the role of Mal, easily the most unstable character in the crew. This is one of those kind of movies that you will probably need to see more than once in order to make sense of it all. So stay alert when you go see it because it can easily confuse you. I can tell you that my daughter was mesmerized by it. She really loved the movie, and so did I.
Review
By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
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