“Inception”: Sweet dreams are made of this
In the crowd of movies — crap, funny, average, the like, “Inception” manages to extract itself from the mob of films, and presents itself as the reason why people watch movies in the first place: To get lost in a riveting world so creative it’s impossible to escape its grasp of fantasy.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, one who belongs with the pantheon of great film directors, this film bears the unmistakable mark of Mr Nolan’s creative genius and unorthodox story plots.
Released in 2020 and also directed by Mr Nolan, “Tenet” received a mixed bag of reviews, the main negative complaints was that it is so complex, there is no point watching the film at all. But on the other hand, the music, the filming style and idea of the enigmatic film was incredibly compelling, making some reviewers wonder if it was the story plot that was too puzzling or that they themselves were just stupid.
I am relieved to conclude that although “Inception” still has its fair share of mind-bending and logic-defying jargon, it’s not yet at the level of “Tenet”. “Inception” was released in 2010, giving Nolan 10 years to enhance and perfect the skill of producing (amazing) nonsense that reviewers have a hard time reviewing; you can’t review something you don’t understand.
The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Cobb. Mr DiCaprio is perhaps best recognised as “the guy in Titanic”. Although older, Mr DiCaprio’s acting is still refined and excellent. He along with his pals go on an adventure stealing valuable information from initiating dreams in the victims. Cobb’s plan soon changed from stealing to implanting information in dreams, hence the word “inception” — the start of a foreign idea that will suffuse over the victim, unknowingly.
But “Inception” is not just about stealing. It contains an immaculate presentation of Cobb’s personal fears and guilt, and reveals how the shadow of one continues to linger in another’s. In a way, this film is also about how Cobb deals with a personal problem and solves it.
Dreams have long fascinated humans. I’m sure you have had a dream but fail to remember it when you wake, and you desperately conduct a futile attempt in recalling, but you cannot remember. It’s this fascination with dreams that drives this film and also makes it so unique. No other film explores dreams and its relation to human’s secrets and personal vendetta with such audacity and ferocity. Cobb’s problems all lie in dreams, with him even needing a top to determine if he is still in a dream — he can’t even tell.
Sometimes we also wonder if our life is a dream: We come to a point in our lives where we just lose all hope and fall into the valley of depression. “Inception” begins an inexorable march towards exploring dreams and ourselves and the problems we all face in life, and of course, our wants and desires as humans.
Make no mistake, “Inception” is still the kind of film that is hard to become a staple movie that will be appreciated by everyone. Just like how not everyone likes literature, not everyone would like this film. If you enjoy watching confusing movies and then derive pleasure from the pain of a frustratingly bewildering plot, then “Inception” is most certainly for you.
For me, “Inception” is perfect, featuring Mr DiCaprio (a great actor) and Mr Nolan (an amazing director), and the product is a convincing, coherent (yes, coherent) film that is almost, quite literally, dream-like.
