Director Christopher Nolan’s (The Dark Knight, Memento, The Prestige) anticipated, mysteriously marketed ‘Inception‘ hit theaters this weekend and took audiences on a surprisingly addictive journey through the dream state. It has quickly become one of the most intriguing films of all time, raking in around $60.4 million this weekend alone, the biggest opening of actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s career, surpassing even that of ‘Titanic‘. With one of the best ensemble casts (including Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine, Tom Berenger, Tom Hardy and Marion Cotillard) and an impeccably directed script, a movie like this will resound for decades to come, a nearly spiritual journey to a greater catharsis.
The plot centers around Dom Cobb (DiCaprio), a professional infiltrator of dreams. Accused of his wife’s murder, he is offered a chance to clear his name by businessman Saito (Ken Watanabe) who asks that Cobb do the impossible. Instead of extracting information from a subject’s mind, Saito asks Cobb to plant an idea in the mind of the young heir to a business empire (Cillian Murphy). However, Cobb is battling his own demons, both in reality and in the seductive “reality” of his dreams, taking us on a mind bending odyssey through the human psyche and to his ultimate redemption.
What began as a casual Friday night at the movies turned into one of the best theatrical experiences of my life. As I watched this incredibly original story unfold onscreen, my mind reeled with possibilities, hardly guessing each twist the tale took. The performances were so genuine and effortlessly real, the dialogue never strained or typical, that for the 148 minutes of running time, I completely and beautifully lost myself in the intrigue of the film. With effects that are seamless, you truly feel as if you are in a dream, and occasionally in a waking nightmare. This is not a date movie, this is not a ‘text in the theater’ movie, this is an incredibly insightful and thought provoking masterpiece. The only advice I can give you before getting your ticket is come with your thinking cap on, never pull your eyes from the screen, and never, ever, forget that you aren’t dreaming.
