Logan Sork Film Reviews
Inception
I am often asked by people what my favorite film of all time is. While my opinion is definitely never set in stone on such a large defining question, there are definitely certain films that pop up more often than others when I am asked this question. One of those films is Inception, Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus. While it does pop up more often, I find myself asking why? What is it about this film that makes it so incredible even a decade after its release? The answer to that question is always in the eye of the beholder, but I can think of more than a few reasons why this film consistently comes to mind when the phrase “greatest of all time” comes to mind.
Inception is written and directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Marian Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Michael Caine. The film follows Dominic Cobb (DiCaprio), an extractor, who uses advanced technology to infiltrate the dreams of targets and learn their secrets. Cobb is hired by Saito (Watanabe) to perform a nearly impossible task – plant an idea in someone’s mind. In exchange for completing the task, he is offered a chance to return to his family, after a traumatic incident prevented him from doing so. In order to see his family again, Cobb assembles a team of extractors to undertake this momentous task, while also combating personal demons of his own.
The key ingredient that makes Inception such a spectacular film is writer-director Christopher Nolan. Having spent a decade working on the script and trying to get the movie made, you can feel every moment of that passion seep through the screen. The way he guides the various production elements, such as cinematography and music to the actors and production design, makes them seem like they are an extension of Nolan himself, dedicated to creating a film unlike anything anyone has seen before. It is this passion that makes a film like Inception stand out in today’s blockbuster ruled world, where every big movie seems as though it is made by a committee of people rather than a passionate filmmaker. It is ultimately the passion that makes this film truly special and helps to set itself apart in the world of cinema.
However, I would be doing a disservice to the other artists who helped bring this film to life if I didn’t mention their excellent work. While they all work well together, they are fantastic enough alone to deserve praise. The cinematography by Wally Pfister captures Nolan’s dream world in a way that feels grounded but also brings a sense of style to the images, creating a beautiful looking film. Completing the gorgeous imagery is the production design by Guy Hendrix Dyas, whose set pieces always find unique ways to be manipulated to create some mind-bending practical effects and illusions. Editor Lee Smith works hard to ensure that the pacing of the film is fast enough to not lag while also navigating the complex narrative in a way that doesn’t leave audiences scratching their heads. And, of course, how could I not mention Hans Zimmer, creating an amazing musical score that gives Inception a truly special feeling both in larger action sequences, as well as the more intimate scenes. These are just a few artists that work extremely hard to create the amazing world of Inception.
And what a world that Nolan has created for this film. What separates this world of extractors and dreams from other large worlds created for cinema is just how real it seems. Instead of leaning heavily into the abstract state of dreams, Nolan keeps the dream world tangible enough to make it feel real but makes changes to it to show what is achievable in the dream state. What sells the world, even more, is that most of what you see in the film is achieved practically or only somewhat enhanced by CGI. By employing traditional illusion techniques to achieve the dream images in the film, the movie doesn’t need to try and convince us it’s real, because we are already seeing it before our eyes. This film is a prime example that even the most outlandish concepts and worlds can, and should, be created using practical tricks and effects.
Adding to the tangibility of the world is the way the rules and exposition are handled. By creating a set of rules and complexities, it makes the world feel like it has consequences to certain actions rather than making it a completely blank space where just about anything is possible. While it is important to have rules, high-concept films like this can sometimes fall into the trap of over-explaining everything and make you feel like you are attending a lecture rather than watching a film. Thankfully, Inception avoids that pitfall by keeping the exposition simple enough and only having it pop up when it is absolutely necessary to the plot. By keeping exposition to a minimum, Nolan can showcase other things about the world and focus on the story and characters.
Which brings me to the actors in the film. As with most of his other work, Nolan has assembled a top tier cast to bring his work to life and they don’t disappoint. Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent in this film, as he usually is, and finds plenty of nuanced ways to bring his character to life and explore the trauma he faces. DiCaprio brings intimate and dramatic layers that are often skipped out in big-budget movies like this and thus ensures that there Is still some humanity amidst the larger than life set-pieces. The other actors in the film are also excellent, and while their characters are not as deep as DiCaprio’s, they each bring a unique element to the film. Some standouts include Ellen Page, who serves as an avatar for the audience as the newcomer to the group but also has much more to do than just have exposition delivered to her as her role increases over time and eventually becomes critical to the story. Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are also excellent and have some great back and forth banter that brings some relief to the high stakes of the film. Ken Watanabe also has some excellent exchanges with DiCaprio that are major highlights of the film. While the film already seems so real, these performances add that extra layer of humanity, making it all the more special.
Ultimately though, what makes Inception truly special is the story it tells at its core. While the action sequences are mind-bending and awesome, they would feel hollow if they weren’t in service of a larger narrative theme and message. Christopher Nolan is often accused of getting too caught up in his own worlds and not being able to tell human stories. I strongly disagree with anyone who makes that claim. While Inception is definitely larger than life, it tells a surprisingly deep and complex story of a person struggling with grief and how that can tear someone apart on a psychological level. The struggle that DiCaprio’s Dominic Cobb goes through while reconciling with a traumatic event is explored deeply, as are its implications on his relationships with his fellow extractors. While that is the main theme of the film, it also takes time to tackle other complex subject matters. These ideas range from big philosophical concepts like the nature of reality and what truly creates it, to smaller more intimate ones like the relationships between parents and children. Among all of the spectacle and grandeur, there is still time set aside for exploring these concepts, meaning that you’ll get more out of this movie than just “oh wow, what a cool explosion”.
Inception is a masterpiece. Everything about the film is nearly perfect. From the many talented artists guided by the sure hand of Christopher Nolan to create a truly groundbreaking world to the excellent balance between pure spectacle and the exploration of complex subject matters. This film truly stands the test of time, as it is just as good watching it now as it was a decade ago. And I hope that this film will continue to live on and inspire others, as this truly is, without a doubt, one of the best films ever made.
10/10