Review, thoughts, and reaction: Inception

In today's entertainment hungry society, it is very rare for a film to come along and instantly be considered a classic. But how do we define a classic? A wholly original, magnificently acted piece of cinema, with stellar soundtrack and beautifully crafted dialogue to boot? And just think how difficult this criteria is to achieve, taking into account how many plots, characters, and shots we've had come and go since the dawn of film. You'd be pretty certain this cinematic status is near impossible to achieve. Right?

Wrong.

Inception is the new film by Christopher Nolan, and his first completely original piece of work since his feature film debut, Following. The film is essentially a heist movie with a twist, in which Cobb (DiCaprio) and Arthur (Gordon-Levitt) steal people's deepest secrets by effectively invading their dreams. The film takes a U-turn though when Saito (Watanbe) offers Cobb a chance to regain his previous life, by planting an idea in someones head, instead of stealing once. Hence the title; Inception.

Everything about this film is almost flawless, but despite two viewings, I'm still finding it difficult to see whether this is the case, due to the initial awe the film inspires in the viewer. This could perhaps warrant a second reflection in a few weeks time, which might result in a slightly more neutral result, but hopefully not.

What's good?

Nolan's firm grasp on the art of story telling is very much apparant in Inception. Not only does the film pack a knockout punch of originality, and intricate detail, but it also operates on several levels, leaving the viewer to distinguish between the dream world and reality. This is what makes the film special, because as well as amazing you, it will stimulate your mind, causing you to think it over for hours, even days after you've seen it. Especially the ending. I guarantee it will drive you crazy.

Away from the script and story, the casting and performances are the best I've seen in ages. Similarly to the Godfather there isn't a bad performance, and although in most cases we may not feel as endeared towards less prominent characters as we are with Fredo and Sonny, it is impossible to ignore how convincing the performance are. I've already picked Leo for best actor this year, and possibly Ellen Page, who was robbed from best actress for Juno.

Despite the new found obession of 3-D cinema, especially after the success of James Cameron's 'Avatar', you'd have thought Inception would have followed suit. Wrong again. Nolan himself is not a fan of 3-D, and many think because of this the film will suffer visually. Trust me - this is not the case. Overflowing with amazing CGI and some really awe-inspiring photography, Inception is the years the most impressive film, especially on the big screen. Definitely worth taking a trip down to your nearest IMAX for.

The soundtrack is also something that Nolan and Zimmer have triumphed with, and when played through the cinema sound system, it really does give you goosebumps, from the sheer ferociousness of the gunfire, to the haunting music.

What's bad?

Not an awful lot to be honest.

The plot has come under scrutiny, and yes there are some holes here and there. It's not something you're going to fully understand straight away, which in a way can be frustrating, but is really aided by a second viewing, and a good explanation, several of which can be found online. The plot itself isn't that bad, but the minor details about dream levels and how it all work can be slightly dizzying at times.

And although the performances are great, and as an audience we do feel sympathy towards Cobb, the other characters appear quite shallow on the screen, in terms of their backstory and personality. This is a double edged sword though, and one could argue it helps the ambiguous and mysterious nature of the film.

Conclusion

Inception is a major triumph, not only for Nolan, but for film itself. Not once did I take my eyes off the screen, and very few films manage to command and capture that high level of attention. It will no doubt be remembered as a classic of our generation, as well in the history of film. It is by no means the best film ever made, but it is the closest we've had in years.

You have to see this film.

Rating: 5/5.

Verdict: The good.

Shutter Island, Harvey, The Grave of Fireflies, I Robot

Shutter Island

Martin Scorsese is one of the most consistently brilliant film makers ever. The majority of his previous films are considered classics, and he is heralded as 'the master of the mob movie'. This is why I was so anxious to see his latest epic, Shutter Island.

Moving away from the gangster genre, Shutter Island is a gripping thriller, revolving around two federal marshals (DiCaprio & Ruffalo) trying to track down an escaped mental patient from an isolated prison facility for the criminally insane. Needless to say it's not just as simple as that, and the story contains more than a few twists and turns along the way.

The plot is very intricate, with plenty of contingencies and detail, but also took me two viewings and a bit of reading to fully understand. It requires your full attention, and the ability to think back to various events in the past of DiCaprio's character in order to be fully appreciated. It could almost be described as a psychological jigsaw, and will stick in your mind long after the credits have rolled.

The film itself has an extremely well created foreboding atmosphere, helping to sustain the dark nature of the story. But in something that I have rarely seen as of late, this is maintained successfully from start to finish. From the opening scene of the island ferry emerging slowly from a thick aura of fog to the sound of its sombre horn, to the shot that closes the film, we are kept on the very edge of our seats in this surreal nightmare.

This film is not for everyone, and requires your undivided attention, but if you can sit it out, and process every bit of detail, the pay off can be very rewarding. With another good performance from DiCaprio, as well as great support from Ruffalo and Kingsley, this is definitely not one to be missed by film fans, and one of the best film plots we'll see this year.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

Harvey

I love James Stewart. I really do. I have yet to see a poor performance from him, and this may well be his most lovable and charming character to date yet. He plays the role of Elwood, a kindly and polite man with a taste for alcohol, who has an imaginary 6'3" white rabbit as a best friend. While this seems to inflict more trouble than good on the unsuspecting public and his hapless family, we are kept smiling throughout his various encounters, and the relationships he establishes.

In my opinion this is one of the finest, and light hearted comedies ever to grace the silver screen, and a bench mark for feel good films since. With a good story, great performances, and more laughs and smiles than you can count, I don't see how you could possibly want anything more from a comedy.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

The Grave of Fireflies

This is the most depressing film I have ever seen. That doesn't mean it's bad by any stretch of the imagination, but if you need cheering up, don't watch this - seriously. Revolving around the lives of Seita, and his younger sister Setsuko during the Japanese war, we see the hardships they endure, from death, to starvation, to destruction, and how their relationship grows stronger.

In comparison to other war films, which focus on the action war, this is much more poetic, and offers a refreshing and original change for those who appreciate love and beauty. While the film does have it's moments, it is almost exclusively based on the events outside the fighting. I doubt I will ever watch this film again, as I don't want to spoil its magic, but I highly recommend this to anyone who wants an insight into the harsh and sad realities of war.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

I, Robot

As far as blockbusters go, this is definitely one of the better ones we've seen in the last few years. With a good blend of sci-fi and action, a witty script and a good concept, this is an enjoyable and visual cinematic experience, which isn't meant to be taken too seriously. That being said, the film does touch up moral concepts and has a nice philosophical dimension to it, which is perhaps what sets it apart from the rest of the big budget explosion-fests.

However some elements do remain the same. Product placement. This film has lots of it. Audi and Converse are the main offenders, and there are still elements of the blockbuster with various bit of discomfited plot, and the fact the best performance of the film goes to the robot, with Will Smith comprising his usual role of Will Smith, not Del Spooner. But overall this is an enjoyable film, and provides an uplifting change from the usual Hollywood cannon fodder.

Rating: 4/5.

Verdict: The good.

So that's it. My first set of new reviews done. Hopefully they're better than previous attempts, and any feedback or disagreement (or agreement :]) would be appreciated it. As I've mentioned before as well, they all received a rating of 4, which may seem a little boring, but whilst I'm watching the IMDB top 250, expect more of the same. I'll try and mix it up though. Thanks for reading.

Dean