Inception (2010) ****

Written by: Christopher Nolan

Produced by: Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout

148 mins

U.S. Release Date: July 16, 2010 (wide)

Christopher Nolan, arguably the best filmmaker of the 2000s (Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, and The Dark Knight) kicks off the new decade in style with Inception, a dreamy psychological thriller that deals with physical turmoil within the confines of one’s subconscious.  The film is about professional thieves that infiltrate subjects’ minds to “steal” information as opposed to conducting interrogations.

Nolan is famous for his mind-bending thrillers that typically feature slow-burning story lines with masterful twist endings.  After several films that fit into this particular genre, has Nolan outstayed his welcome?  Are broad audiences receptive to films that don’t necessarily spell out everything for them?

Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief who is experienced in the process of extracting valuable secrets from deep within the human subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its highest level of vulnerability.  Cobb’s abilities have made him a major player in the new world of corporate espionage.  Cobb’s experiences in this field, however, have cost him his freedom and his family.  He is an international fugitive as a result of a dream experiment that ended in a death and can no longer go to the United States to visit his children and family.

Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One very special job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish inception.  Instead of a heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off just the opposite; their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one inside their target’s mind.  If they succeed, it could be the perfect undetected crime.  No amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the obstacles that will be waiting around every corner; one of of those obstacles Cobb happens to know very well.

Aesthetically speaking, this movie is spectacular.  Nolan’s ability to construct realistic-looking, yet just slightly off, dreamscapes without overusing computer-generated imagery is showcased in this film more than any of his previous works.  At one point in the film (don’t worry, no spoilers) Dom and his teammate Ariadne (Ellen Page) walk through a dream city that Dom originally created.  They explore a neighborhood that contains all the buildings and houses that Dom lived in throughout his life.  The visual construction of this scene is a perfect example of Nolan’s visual style and the tactful use of CGI that he employs throughout the film.  Also, Nolan’s use of film speed manipulation adds so much suspense throughout the film and compliments the pronounced style of the cinematography.

In what is an incredibly complex story, Inception remains tastefully high-level.  In some cases, characters travel inside dreams within dreams (and even dreams within dreams within dreams!), yet it is never too complex to wrap your mind around.  To ground audiences in reality, the characters who travel within dreams have personal items they call “totems” that show them when they’re really in reality.  Otherwise, it is easy to get lost in a web of the subconscious where one may think they’re back in the “real world” when they’re still stuck in a dream.

The star-studded cast includes some familiar faces from many past Nolan films: Leonardo DiCaprio (Shutter Island), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer), Ellen Page (Juno), Tom Hardy (Bronson), Ken Watanabe (Batman Begins), Marion Cotillard (Public Enemies), and Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later) round up the top billing of this massive ensemble.  Across the board, the film was very well acted, both in communicating the difficult alternate world and conveying harsh honesty in some of the film’s more serious scenes.

From the moment the Warner Bros logo hits the screen and the first notes of the score sing out, you know that you are about to witness an epic film; something that had not been achieved all summer.  Inception has it all: a compelling story, fantastic acting, a vast range of action set pieces, a love story, and the movie makes you think.  I truly think we’re seeing the next few decades of filmmaking in Christopher Nolan’s work.  He writes complex yet accessible stories and executes filmmaking in pristine fashion.  To say that Inception is the best summer film of 2010 so far would be a gross understatement.  If you are picky on what you head out to the theater for, make the investment in this film… maybe twice.