I remember back when I saw The Matrix Revolutions, the end of the film had just come and I looked around the theater to see everyone’s reaction. Almost every person on the room had a look of confusion on their face, and I couldn’t help but laugh. A few days ago I found myself with the same feelings as I walked out of seeing Christopher Nolan’s newest film. I saw boyfriends and husbands where trying to explain the final scene to their companions; while the end of the film has sparked a debate with people who have seen the it. But me, I was just enjoying the Mr. Nolan’s dream.
Leonardo DiCaprio takes a time out from being in Scorsese films to star in this film from the man who brought us The Dark Knight. DiCaprio plays Cobb, a man who wants nothing more than to get back to his children in America, where he is wanted for murder. A rich and powerful man named Saito will fix Cobb’s problem if he does something for him. Cobb must plant an idea in the head of a competitor; one that will divide his father’s company so Saito may profit. The rareness of this scenario is that Cobb will be must inside the man’s dream in order to do so, but not just one dream. He must go in a dream, within a dream, within a dream; And no I did mistype that last sentence.
Like Danny Ocean, Cobb must recruit a dream team to help him pull off this feat of wonder. Included in the mix is Joseph- Gordon Levitt as Cobb’s right-hand man, and Ellen Page as the young rookie who can design the world of dreams. Cobb and his crew hit a few snags along the way, but the biggest hurdle for Cobb may be getting past himself.
Nolan has created a rare story that allows his audience to escape any kind of reality they may have already seen or thought about. I would compare the experience of this film to the first time you saw The Matrix, or even Clockwork Orange. This film is so out there you may not get the full aspect of it all until hours, maybe days, later.
DiCaprio does a good job of holding down his leading man status. Cobb is a man with a chip on his shoulder, and Dicaprio can’t help but show the audience the complexity of his character. I wouldn’t quite compare it his performances in The Aviator or The Departed, but he is a great actor who I think deserves an Oscar win soon.
Levitt and Page step out from their normal indie film roles to add their talents to this roster of imagination. Both perform well, but I was a little more impressed with Levitt’s ability to play the strong, and somewhat brooding, character of the group. Meanwhile a relative unknown actor to the general public, Tom Hardy, provided a few good chuckles to break up the tension of the film.
The film is a mixture of adventure, suspense, and a little science fiction. If you’re looking for a cure for the summer blockbuster then this is your antidote. The film has a serious feel to it that may keep away popcorn crowds, but Nolan’s and Dicaprio’s names on the film is enough to make them wonder what Inception is all about. I do not recommend doing drugs or drinking heavily before you see this film; your head may explode if you do.
Rating: B+
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