Christopher Nolan has twice stunned audiences with his gritty reboot of the "Batman" franchise, which succeeded on the combined strengths of their big-budget visuals and morally challenging stories. With "Inception," Nolan returns to the summer movie market with a film that surpasses his previous entries in virtually every way. Nolan's films are known for their grand scale and complex plots; here, he has created something on a scale that most filmmakers never dare to approach.
Those who followed the film's development or saw its trailers know that it revolves around the idea that technology allows people to enter each others' dreams. Specifically, "Inception" follows Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a corporate spy who enters the minds of his targets in order to steal their most precious secrets. Early on, we learn that Cobb is unable to return to his home and family; it is this fact that drives his actions throughout the film. Given a chance to repair his life by a billionaire named Saito (Ken Watanabe), Cobb puts together a team to attempt the far more difficult mission of implanting an idea in the mind of Saito's corporate rival. To do so, Cobb approaches a brilliant young architect named Ariadne (Ellen Page), who will design the physical spaces of the dreamworld in which most of the film takes place.
And what spaces indeed. First and foremost, Nolan's film stuns on the visual level, taking the audience through a vast array of environments, from modern cities to frozen peaks. Along the way, Nolan incorporates a large number of special effects that are simultaneously stunning and somehow entirely natural. Every effects shot fits perfectly into the narrative it is designed to enhance, and not a single one is less than entirely convincing.
Of course, no special effect could save the film were it devoid of human interest. Fortunately, "Inception" generates a deep emotional connection to its characters, especially Cobb, who we soon learn suffers from more than separation anxiety. His central struggle revolves around the loss of his wife, Mal, brilliantly portrayed by Marion Cotillard. As the film's chief mystery, Cotillard plays the role with the kind of seductive, creepy energy befitting a noir femme fatale, and her performance is a highlight of the movie.
More important that any of these specifics, though, is how "Inception" succeeds as a whole. Its plot is not for the faint of heart, as goes through so many different twists and layers that viewers may find themselves spent by its conclusion; I know that I did. However, following these turns is never a chore, because Nolan has so thoroughly written the plot that one will struggle to find a hole in its fabric. Most importantly, he makes the viewer care deeply about what happens to his characters; your heart will pound until the credits roll.
The bottom line is that Nolan has succeeded in completely redefining his career. "Inception" is the most original and unprecedented film since the first "Matrix", and Nolan's movie is by far superior. His journey is not an easy one to take, but trust that "Inception"'s payoff is both satisfying and undeniably frustrating. Enter Nolan's world, and be assured that your mind will be occupied with its intricacies for days. Depending on how you interpret the conclusion, "Inception" has the power to change your perception of reality, for better or worse; you just won't know which.
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