Thread: Inception

Inception



In trying not to give too many plot details away, I'll sum up the story of Inception with this. A team of people use a device to go into another person's dream. While there they can do things such as extract information, or even plant ideas. That's about as far as I will go; it's the basic plot of the film that most people already know. Much like District 9 and Avatar (at least for me) the less you know about the film, the better.

Christopher Nolan, with Inception, has created a masterpiece. It's hard for me to heap such praise on the guy who has a small film resume under his name, but he has, in my opinion, 3 films that will never be forgotten. Memento, The Dark Knight and now Inception are all films that I hold in high regard. It's funny, right after The Dark Knight, I heard Nolan was planning on making Inception, instead of a third Batman film, I was a little ticked off. I wanted another Batman film, not some side project. It's ironic that I enjoyed Inception more than The Dark Knight.

Inception is a multi-layered film that has so much going on that it might seem intimidating. Yet, you never lose sense of where you are. Nolan is able to pull off this feat remarkably. People go into multiple dreams and different levels and the viewer never loses a sense of where. Nolan shows nothing but confidence and creativity in this film. It's not afraid to challenge you a little bit. I'm not saying it dives into deep philosophical issues here, but it is enough juice to get people thinking.

Inception had me giddy and smiling all the way through. It's very hard for a film to do that. There was one scene in particular, where I was not only in amazement at how utterly and ridiculously awesome it was, but how simple it was to achieve. The scene is the hallway fight sequence in which gravity no loner seems to be an issue. The simplest form is used, moving and twisting the set, and Nolan makes it look ten times better than anything else we've seen in recent years.

Nolan creates films that people really need to wrap their heads around. He is the next big thing. Hell, he is the big thing. He is the hottest director right now that has yet misstep. Nolan and his brother have created an original piece of art here, a crime caper if you will, that involves going into the subconscious. The creativity is off limits, as seen by the section of the city overlapping itself. I loved how they have taken things that you feel and think about while dreaming and incorporated it in to the film. In order to wake up you need a kick, that feeling that you're falling. I've felt it and I love that they have incorporated things like that.

There is a lot to talk about with Inception, even the ending, which in my mind was Nolan having a little bit of fun. Obviously that question would pop up sometime in the film, but Nolan knows not to go that route. I think it's there simply to get people talking while he laughs at his own little joke. In any event, I'll through my two cents in by simply saying I'm an optimist.

I hear that people aren't that big a fan of Ellen Page. I think she did fine holding her own against DiCaprio, who shines yet again much like his tortured role in Shutter Island. My one complaint about her is that she was a bit intrusive of characters and their dreams. The film feels a little bit like a Batman reunion. Michael Cain has a small role, but Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe both have integral parts to the story. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who I couldn't stand on 3rd Rock From The Sun, is quickly becoming a favourite of mine. Marion Cotillard has an interesting role and her performance, other than DiCaprio, has the most emotional depth to it. Every single addition to the cast is a perfect mold for this world.

I really loved this film, for it's running time, it never drags. It's always interesting and engaging the viewer. It doesn't slow down to explain things, and doesn't really need to. It might seem confusing at first, but like Ellen Page's character, the viewer is a quick learner. Inception is the best film of this year and another achievement that Nolan can be extremely proud of. I like that it's an original idea and it seems to be doing well, we need more films like Inception.

[rating]4.5[/rating]

I just need to repeat this because it's so true: "DiCaprio shooting guys and sliding on knees to catch them is awesome." Dude, that was so awesome. There were definitely flashes of James Bond in Cobb's character in certain scenes, and this was kind of one of them.

That's one interesting way of looking at it, I suppose. But if it was deliberate then I still think it's a risky way of going about it.



When I say that Cobb is unlikeable that is no way a reflection of DiCaprio's performance or abilities. He was as solid as he has been in the last 6 years. I just meant that Cobb isn't normally the type of guy to root for despite his Solid Snake skills.




Rar, honestly man I didn't even notice to Citizen Kane reference. It seems pretty obvious now that you have mentioned it though.

Yeah man, I definitely viewed Inception as a follow up to Memento. The theme of the limitations and possibilities of the mind are identical but explored in a more literal and grand scale in Inception.

Also, I read one review that says that Inception encompasses everything Nolan has done before, and I would have to agree. The absolute freedom and deep themes of Memento combined with the visual flair of Insomnia/The Prestige and spectacle of Batman Begins/The Dark Knight.

As for favourite scenes. Well Mark, there are so so many of me.

Nolan/Lee Smith have become masters of cross cutting. The ending in The Prestige was made even more dramatic than it normally would have been because of the cross cutting between the hanging and the doppelganger's reveal. And a lot of people compared The Dark Knight's double execution sequences where The Joker simultaneous kills Commissioner Loeb and The Judge to that of the church scene in The Godfather, and rightly so. This type of editing technique has become a favourite of mine and I think it was done perfectly near the end of Inception where they go through the triple 'kick'. Somebody else on here mentioned that it was one of the best editing sequence they'd ever seen and I am inclined to agree. Not become i'm a Nolanite but because it really is. It's an exciting scene and the editing category is probably the best chance the film has in getting an oscar.

Not much of a scene more of a quick flashback but I also really loved the visual where Mal and Cobb are in limbo building the sandcastles and while Mal smashes them, there are buildings behind them collapsing. I didn't notice it the first time around and it's a gorgeous moment which further gives you an idea of why they felt like 'gods' in their dreamland. You think something and even though you don't visualise it, it happens anyways. Yeah, not sure what I just said there too, but that's the way I saw that scene.

Arther's zero gravity fight scene was another favourite of mine too. It did remind me of The Matrix but that wasn't a bad thing to me. It was still very exciting and to think they used minimal effects and no stunt doubles really emphasises the wow factor of it. Probably the action highlight for myself and many others.

Other notable scenes was near the beginning where Cobb saves Arther from torture by shooting him in the head and the dream subsequently collapsing. I really like the editing and intensity in that scene too. Having the beautiful Mal walk fearlessly around while the whole building crumbles was surreal and the editing between Cobb getting beaten up and Brick alumni Lukas Haas aggressively trying to wake him up.

Anyways, just some of my favourite moments in this wonderful film.

His name is Robert Paulson.

Great Film.

Just wanted to add that the action sequences, imo, are a flaw. Mainly in the snow fortress... the others seemed to work. I loved the feeling of being in a Bond film, and homages to genres/films is always fun, but I can say that all that shooting in the snow fortress took me out of the film. I was bored and started thinking about dinner.

I'm not sure of the answer, though, since all that action pushes the plot and creates the problems of the main characters which was the real story. Maybe the shooting went on too long? Somehow the suspense wasn't there; maybe because it was a dream, I wasn't into all that shooting and didn't take it seriously. I'm not sure what the problem was...

BTW, my favorite scene was Cobb and Mal in the hotel as she is about to jump. Leo's reaction just broke my heart. I'm not a particular fan of Leo, but after this and Shutter Island, I do think he's an amazing and intense actor. The scene at the table when he's talking to Mal... he really got to me.

Re: the ending. I completely and totally (but respectfully ) disagree with some of the interpretations above...

[spoilers=Inception]...the top level is not a dream. I feel very strongly about this. I also feel very strongly that we're meant to ask ourselves that question, anyway, so I can understand why some people's thoughts are drifting this way.

To me, the only real point in this favor of any weight is that the kids look about the same. But really, do we even know how long it's been? A few years? Heck, do we even know that the versions he sees in his head aren't warped, or his attempt to compensate for their aging by making them appear about as old as they are? What about videos/pictures? He might know exactly what they look like.[/spoilers]
The key point, I think, is this:

[spoilers=Inception]The top wobbles. He puts the top on the table. This item is a direct and blatant representation of whether or not we're in reality. That's its entire reason for existing. When in the dream world, it can spin forever. The fact that it wobbles -- albeit slightly -- tells us everything. This is the real world.[/spoilers]
But really, before the film even started I expected that, at some point, the question "is the top level also a dream?" would be posed. It was inevitable. But Nolan's too smart, in my opinion, to do something so obvious, and which so thoroughly undermines the potency of his own drama.

First off, Inception was an amazing movie. If you didnt like it then you didnt understand it. I am not bragging or thinking im a movie buff here, because im not at all (I go to a movie maybe once a month at best). I just felt that I actually got 95% of this movie which for me made the movie. If this guide doesnt help you that much, try wikipedia - Inception. So here it is some things in random order, because I was trying to write everything before I forgot, that will help you "get" Inception. Also, there might be some things in here that are completely obvious TO you but I felt a need to put some basics just in case.

***OBVIOUSLY SPOILERS***

* ANYTHING MARKED WITH A (?) -mean I am not 100% sure* Please comment below with any additional facts, theories, etc

1) The old man at the end and begginning of the movie is Satio, or the asain guy in the group.
2)All dreams that Cobb, Leonardo Decaprio, enters are under his perception which is why he constantly sees his wife and kids.
3) Satio died on the snow fortress where he went to limbo. He is so old because of the time difference. Satio and Cobb have a conversation when he gets shot saying that he will be an old man and he wont remember the "arrangements" when back in the real world. Satio remembers the arrangements in the end.
4) The top, that Cobb always spins, determines wether he is in real life (if it stops) or a dream (just keeps spinning)
5) The time difference is a key part and as Cobb says an hour in the first dream level is about 5 min. in real life. I believe that the further you get in a dream (level 1-4/limbo) time becomes slower and slower.
6) The girl whos name is apparently Aradnia bulit all the levels (rainy city-hotel- snowfortress) (?)
7) Mal , wife, represents Cobb's guilty conscience
8) In continuation with 7, Cobb performed his first Inception on Mal which causes her to believe that she is in a dream when she is in fact in real life, since the only way to return is to be killed, she jumps off a building.
9)Everyone remebers the dream besides Mr.Fisher (the man whos dream they invade)
10)The mission- to elimate Satio's buisness competition
11)The mission was to set him free because Satio promised to clear Cobbs name...
12)Cobb was under suspicion of murder of his wife...
13)Which explains why he flees to a foreign nation and the scene that is "in" his memory where the guy gives him the ticket and he takes it.
14) A key thing to remeber is that they are on the airplane in real life the whole time, the stages there after are this :
-Rainy City
-Hotel
-Snow Fort
-Limbo
15) A kick is needed to drop down a level, it is explained in the movie as the feeling your falling while sleeping. ..
16) A man must remain behind on each "stage" of the dream to watch over the bodies and must provide the kick back. ..
17) They time the kicks : exploding the snow building, exploding the elevator, and the van falling into water all at virtually the same time.
18) They time this with music
19)Aradnia was needed as a new architect since the old one failed (why?)
20)The cafe scene was "practice" they were in Cobb's dream. She died quickly because she changed too much of the surroundings.
21) One of the men in the group has the power to manipulate ones minds to think they are someone else (acts as Uncle Peter and hot blonde)
22) The opposition is the minds ,Fishers, defenses.
23) Pain is real in a dream and real life, only death brings you back.
24) Extraction and stealing an idea, NOT inception, is what Cobb is good at.
25) Noone but Aradnia knows that Cobb has a problem when facing his past with Mal, which could and does result in an obstacle.
26) Fisher is convinced he is in his Uncles consciene when in the snow base when he is really just deeper in his own dream.
27) The people stare at you when you do something that might cause the dreamer to know hes dreaming, when you change the environment.
28) Since Aradnia built all the levels she knows there is a pipe line on the snow building.
29) A totem is an item each member carries around that will tell them if they are in the real world or a dream.
30) Mal and Cobb were in limbo together for about 50 years. Cobb grew disgust with limbo and planted the seed of inception into Mals mind.
31) THE ENDING - an amazing ending as well as many theories as to what happened. Here are just a couple
- He is still in a dream, since he went to Limbo (met Satio there)
- He is in real life, which could be proven from them waking up on the airplane, the top wobbling at the end (even though the cliffhanger tells us otherwise?)
- Satio shot Cobb and himself, had the gun when he was the old man at the end, bringing them somehow back to real life.
-The entire movie is a dream.
- The top or totem as the movie calls it was Mals, and therefore Cobb never had a totem meaning the top was false.

So thats all for now, I knwo I rambled but wow what an amazing movie. Its going to be hard to top that. Please Please comment on anything I/you missed as well as your idea or theory of what happened at the end.

Sorry, triple-post, but it's necessary to space out the different lines of discussion!

Just finished reading an awesome interview with Dileep Rao, who played the chemist in Inception. This is a must-read for anyone spending any time speculating as to the film's meaning and ending. It solidifies a lot of things I assumed and felt about the film, and Rao's arguments are remarkably persuasive and eloquent.

I'm going to reproduce some of the best/most relevant bits. Spoilers abound, so stop reading now if you haven't seen the film yet!


That last paragraph is worth reading more than once.

This part's really funny:



Anyway, in short, I completely agree with Rao: I think the idea that the top level is a dream is a fun thought, and something we're supposed to ask, but Nolan gave us about as much evidence that it's real as he could without spoiling all the fun, so to speak. The top wobbling is plenty, and all the reasons it might actually be a dream are circumstantial and easily explained away. And, as Rao suggests at the end of the interview, the most important part is that Leo has gained a faith he didn't have before.

I'm glad that I wasn't the only who thought DiCaprio's character looked a helluva lot like Nolan, too.

This is just another reason why the notion of the film being an entire dream is a messed up conclusion to come to. Nolan wouldn't even think about doing something like this. You can't cheat the audience that way, it wouldn't be fair.

I don't think there is that much ambiguity in the last couple of mins of the film, honestly. The top wobbled and Nolan just teased us, that really is all. The film and comic do just about enough to establish a world outside the dream.

The emotional aspect of the film, yeah, I suppose it isn't it's strong point, but I do genuinely feel sorry for Cobb and the fact that he has all that subconcious weight on him. Though I do think that Cobb's selfishness compared to his game dream team make it difficult to proper root for him the way we would root for a Jason Bourne or Bond, i suppose. But remember, the other more likeable characters are in the thick of things with him aswell so naturally we sort of HAVE to root for him to perform inception.

I did think that the way Fischer was portrayed was a bit weird. Even though he is the subject, he has one of the most vital emotional scenes in the film, but prior to that he is a bit unflattering with his 'there is 500 dollars there and the wallet is worth more' stuff. I think he comes off a bit too arseholey. I know most of Nolan's characters are meant to be unlikeable but I thought Fischer was unintentionally so.