Friday, July 23, 2010

Inception (2010)***
I *really* wanted to like this a lot more than I did if that tells you anything. It has a labyrinthine, multi-level plot which keeps you on your toes, a top notch cast, some spectacular FX work, and is NOT based on a comic book or video game! (See Hollywood, it can be done.) It's a bit too long and a bit too action-y but most importantly, when all is said and done, you get off the ride and don't care about anybody in the film. THAT is what prevents me from giving it 4 stars. But technically, it's a tour-de-force. The top contender for best editing Oscar by far. (If you've seen the film, check the comments for additional ideas since there be spoilers.)

2 comments:

Buck Turgidson said...

I think as far as the plot goes, everything from the beginning of the film until Cobb wakes up in the plane is a dream. His dream. When he finally gets home and spins the top to make sure he is not in someone else's dream, he realizes that idea was from his dream in the plane and instead of checking to make sure the top falls he runs outside to be with his kids. This is why it is not important that WE see if the top falls or not. It does not matter because it's not a totem because that whole idea was from the dream. The whole idea of invading someone else's dream IS a dream! Or a movie? ;-)

Buck Turgidson said...

Ok, having said that, the one thing that keeps bugging me is the fact that after Cobb wakes up in the airplane, Arthur laughs at him as if to say "He really thinks it was all a dream!" which I cannot rationalize in my theory. It may be that Arthur designed Cobb's dream in which case even though the film starts in a dream, it must go back and for th between reality and dream off and on during the film. In any case, a second viewing is needed! LOL