Buried treasure

So I saw Inception last Saturday, but I held off on the review in hopes that I would actually get to see the film again. Since that hasn't happened yet, I figured I might as well and do this write up now before it gets too late.

Director Christopher Nolan has quickly gotten the reputation for being one of the most inventive filmmakers of this era, so it's saying something when I tell you that this may be his most creative yet. This mind-trip of a film will stick with you long after you leave the theater. At one point in the film, Cobb (played by Leonardo Dicaprio) says that an idea is the most persistent thing in the world today - once it enters your mind, you can't get rid of it. Well this movie is certainly reflective of that. It will leave you guessing as to what you are seeing on the screen is real or not.

Trying to explain this film is somewhat difficult given that I don't want to give too much away (the less you know going in, the better) and because it's not an easy concept to explain in the first place. The premise though is that Cobb has the ability to enter someone's dream and steal secrets and thoughts that are trapped in that person's subconscious. He, along with his crew, are hired by a Japanese businessman (played wonderfully by Ken Watanabe) to head into the mind of one of his rivals.

Soon things get real crazy as they are able to enter into dreams of dreams and dreams of dreams of dreams. This multi-layered approach requires your full attention, but the viewer is also rewarded. One of the best things about this film is that it works on several different layers. If you're not into the head games so much, you can also enjoy the film for its action as Cobb's team tries to commit this heist. One of the best scenes in the entire film is the anti-gravity fight scene that takes place in a hotel hallway. Wonderfully shot, the scene is enthralling and clever all at once. And you'll appreciate it more when you read how this was done using old school filmmaking instead of using a bunch of CGI.

There's also a romantic subplot interwoven into this film as well. As Cobb tries to pull off his caper, he also is trying to deal with the death of his wife, Mal (Marion Cotillard). Her presence has a profound effect on Cobb and how successful he is in doing his job. Just as we've seen in many of Nolan's films, this is ultimately a story about a man, his obsessions and the toll that obsession has on him and everyone around him. We root for him to overcome his demons, even though we realize it may not be possible.

Of course, the part most everyone is already talking about and will be for a while is the film's final shot. I obviously don't want to say what that involves here, but I absolutely love how much fervor and discussion it has generated. To me, I find that to be one of the marks of a great film. When just a simple image can generate such passion and theorizing from audiences, you know you've done a good job. I know I will want to discuss the meaning behind the shot with anyone and everyone that's willing to talk about it with me.

I'm glad to see that this film has already done well at the box office, but if you're still on the fence, let me give you that last shove. Go see this movie! And if you've seen it once, see it again. Like most of Nolan's films, viewers are rewarded with repeat viewings of the film. There are plenty of films that are suitable as passive entertainment, but there are only a few films that can enthrall your eyes and your mind and every other part of your body like Inception does. It's the type of film that most people in Hollywood can only dream of. Grade: A-