Inception
Through anecdotal evidence, I have found that there are two kinds of people who walk out of the theater after having seen Christopher Nolan's new metaphysical thriller, "Inception": those who love it, and those who hate it. Recognizing that the movie can be a bit polarizing, and as someone who is part of the former group rather than the latter, I will attempt to write a guide to identify whether you will love this movie or not. Ask yourself some of these basic questions:
- Did you enjoy "Memento", director Christopher Nolan's feature debut, which similarly is an exciting, fast-paced thriller with epistemological themes (how do we know what we know?)?
- Do you like actors who have unique screen presences, yet whose talents are rarely seen on the big screen- actors such as Joseph Gordon Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, and others? The cast of "Inception" is spectacular.
- Do you enjoy movies with stunning visuals- and does it take more than a simple explosion to grab your attention? "Inception" is a work of art, a combination of futuristic architecture, M.C. Escher landscapes, and the latest visual effects technology. Watch as a Paris street elegantly folds in on itself.
- Perhaps you like movies that manage to combine action and weighty philosophical ideas, but wish that they were not all ideas and no emotion? "Inception", while admittedly complex and dealing with heavy themes, has at its center a love story between the main character Dom Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Mal, played by Marion Cotillard. A movie with explosions, metaphysics, and love.
- Finally, do you sometimes feel like everything at the movies is a remake, sequel, prequel, do-over, or otherwise rehashed idea? Me too. "Inception" is that rare movie that is not quite like anything you've seen before.
Still not convinced? The "Inception" trailer may just do the trick.
