Film: Inception

GENRE: Drama/Sci-Fi/Thriller

RATING: PG-13 for violence

RUNTIME: 2 hour and 28 minutes

STARRING: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer)

DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan (Dark Knight, Insomnia)

WRITER: Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Prestige)

PLOT: Extractors are hired to not only steal ideas while people are dreaming but also planting ideas in their minds.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 I think the word brilliant sums up the film nicely. It’s complex and makes you think. There is no way you can leave the theatre and not talk about what you just saw. It’s that engaging. Brilliant.

2 While DiCaprio plays his brooding, tortured character wonderfully, for me it’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt who steals the show. The impeccably dressed actor is so fun to watch as he works to fulfill his missions. Also Tom Hardy as Eames gets some very fun lines.

3 The scenes that take place in the hotel were so cool. They were Matrix-y but didn’t beat you over the head with their coolness. I’d go a third time just to see those scenes.

4 Seeing as there are dreams within dreams, following the plot would be difficult if it wasn’t so beautifully edited. Hats off to Lee Smith (Truman Show, Dark Knight) who expertly weaves all the scenes together. Fantastic editing.

5 Its two and half hours, but it sure won’t feel like it. The plot moves quickly, the music is intense, and the ending will have you frustrated and cheering at the same time.

RECOMMENDATION: See it now! See it twice!

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Salt (maybe)