To call Christopher Nolan’s latest film perfect is a misnomer. Ah, the hell with it, yes, it is a perfect film. In fact, I think the last film I found this thought-provoking, original, intricate and delightful was 2000’s Memento. Oh wait, that was also a Christopher Nolan film. I see a trend here and I like it.
First things first, this review will contain no talk of the plot as, much like The Matrix and the M. Night Shyamalan films that everyone actually likes, you really need to go in blind, as it were, to your first viewing of Inception. Really, the less you know in advance, the better. In a similar vein to Jame Cameron’s Avatar, Inception has gestated in its creator’s mind for over a decade and, like the finest single-malt scotch, age has been very good for it. The story is very intricate and demands that you pay attention and keep up. In fact, this film is made for repeat viewings as I’m certain I will discover something new each time I watch it. There are many aspects that will stay in your brain for a long time after you leave the theater and demand to be discussed, not the least of which is the ending.
Leonardo DiCaprio could have easily gone nowhere as an actor, especially considering his first films roles were in Critters 3 and Poison Ivy. But I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that he may be one of the best actors in film today. The character he plays, Dom Cobb, is an extremely demanding role and I can count on one hand the actors who could do as good a job as DiCaprio and certainly none of them could have done better. Likewise, the role of Arthur demands a lot of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and I thought he would end up being the weakest link in an otherwise stellar ensemble. I was very wrong, Gordon-Levitt plays the support person, both in movie and as an actor, to perfection. While accolades certainly must be given to Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, Tom Berenger, Dileep Rao, Ellen Page and Michael Caine, the breakout performance for me was Tom Hardy as Eames the Forger. I’ve only seen Hardy in a couple of roles, Star Trek Insurrection for example, but he is really outstanding here. He comes very close to upstaging DiCaprio, but Nolan expertly keeps him right on track with the story.
Directing-wise, Nolan just has this uncanny ability to make everything on screen the most interesting thing you’ve ever seen. He does this in all his movies, but so visually unique each time that you don’t take it for granted nor do you tire of it. The performances he gets are usually riveting to the exclusion of all else, but if you allow your eyes to occasionally wander to the scenery surrounding the actors, you would be excused for staring wide-eyed in wonder. He just intuitively knows the colors and setups to use to enhance every scene. To be fair, though, a lot of that credit should also go to cinematographer Wally Pfister. Pfister has been with Nolan since Memento and has done work with the likes of F. Gary Gray and Wim Wenders. There is definitely one viewing in my future to just soak in the scenery.
Providing the music for Inception is frequent Nolan collaborator Hans Zimmer. Zimmer has improved greatly over the years and after his hauntingly beautiful score for HBO’s The Pacific he has become dangerously close to be being my favorite film composer. His score for Inception puts him that much closer. I don’t know if it was ultimately Nolan’s of Zimmer’s decision on where to use and not use music, but Zimmer seems to be an expert on knowing when to enhance a scene and when to leave well enough alone.
So, yes, Inception has now supplanted everything else as my favorite film of the year. Even if remakes, sequels or films based on something weren’t the biggest trend right now, Inception would still easily be far and above one of the most original films of the year, possibly of the last decade. Smart writing, perfect pacing, exceptional performances and a cool look make Inception a true joy for any film lover. Thankfully, it doesn’t think it’s too smart for it’s own good nor does it pander to the lowest common denominator. Instead it rides that fine line of having more depth for those paying close attention without alienating someone who may just be out for a fun summer movie. The best of all worlds, real or dreamed.
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