It Has Something To Do With Dreams

"Inception", Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated foray into the world of the subconscious, is the most maddening film of the year. Rife with breathtaking visual splendor and a fascinating premise, "Inception" is nonetheless impossible to connect to emotionally. How are we expected to respond emotionally when we have no idea what the hell is going on? There is a lot to admire in "Inception", most notably the eye-popping imagery. Ultimately, however, I was left rather emotionless and bored.

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Many great films have been extremely confusing. For instance, I love "Vanilla Sky", perhaps the most convoluted movie ever made. That movie, however, struck a chord of intense fascination, and it hit a raw emotional nerve. In comparison, "Inception" seems somewhat shallow and materialistic, more concerned with awesome special effects than compelling coherence. I knew that the movie had something to do with dreams. Other than that, I was in the dark. Maybe that was the intent of Christopher Nolan. Maybe he wanted to emphasize the confounding nature of dreams. Whatever his intention was, the end result instills relentless frustration.

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There is, though, a lot to admire about "Inception". In purely visceral terms, "Inception" is entirely transfixing. As he did in "The Dark Knight" (a MUCH better film), Christopher Nolan creates a world that is visually extraordinary. I was in awe of the folding skyscrapers and winding staircases. Furthermore, the acting here is top-notch. Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic, throwing himself in the middle of all the chaos with remarkable conviction. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is terrific. Fresh off the heels of his outstanding work in "The Lookout" and "(500) Days of Summer", Gordon-Levitt remains one of the world's most criminally under-appreciated actors. Excellent supporting work is also turned in by Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Tom Bergeron, and Marion Cotillard. Page and Cotillard are especially impressive. I am in love with the supremely talented, wonderfully charming Page, and Cotillard gives her second consecutive tour-de-force, following her Oscar-winning work in "La Vie en Rose".

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The fact that the acting and imagery is so strong in "Inception" only adds to its' overall letdown. I am still a fan of Christopher Nolan, one of our most ambitious and inventive filmmakers. He has made great films in the past, and I am entirely confident that he will make great films in the future. But "Inception" does not come close to scaling the heights of its' wild ambition.

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*(I am fully aware that this review puts me at odds with the vast majority of the public. I am also aware that I am the only person on the planet who considers "Vanilla Sky" to be a masterpiece.)