I Dream of Muffins

Critically acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, famous for such works as The Dark Knight and Memento, has brought us another piece of cinematic brilliance in the form of Inception. Starring Ken Watanabe, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ellen Page, Nolan's latest work doesn't disappoint.

I'll admit, I had high expectations going into this movie due to the fact that I have never seen Mr. Nolan put forth a less than incredible movie, and given the star-studded cast he had to work with, my expectations were launched to new heights. What truly surprised me about this is that these were not only met, but they were completely blown out of the water.

At 148 minutes (2 hours and 28 minutes for those of you who are too lazy to convert it yourself), this movie doesn't sit still for even a second. It consistently pushes itself forward in such a smoothly streamlined manner that you'll find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting for what happens next.

The movie follows a man named Cobb who introduces himself as an "extractor" - someone who goes into people's dreams to find their secrets for anyone who can pay. After a job goes bad, he is offered a new job by the very man he had been trying to con, in addition to a very motivating deal-sweetener. The majority of the movie revolves around developing Cobb's character, revealing more of his past and why he does what he does. It is such a compelling and involved story that, despite its runtime, I never once felt like the movie went slack or lost steam. That's all I'll say about the story, because this is a movie you really need to see, and giving any more information would be doing you all an injustice.

The cast worked incredibly well together. DiCaprio and Page partake in interactions that blur the line between rehearsed and genuine. However, Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt stole the show in my opinion. They have a repartee so witty and dry that you can tell they had a phenomenal time playing their parts, which resulted in an extremely enjoyable viewing experience.

On the technical side of things, this movie is top-notch. Nolan is a fantastic director, and this movie is no exception. His style is refined and professional, and doesn't fail to capture everything needed to make a perfect scene. The fight sequence that takes place in the hotel hallway was possibly the best choreographed and directed fight I've ever seen - Nolan's gift at work. In addition, the visual effects were stunning and subtle. The CG was seamlessly integrated into the live filming, and it all melded together beautifully.

My only qualm with the filming style was the use of the slow-motion camera. Now, having watched the movie the whole way through, I understand the reason behind using it, and really appreciate it, but initially it was a little off-putting. However, this is only a minor blemish on the portrait of this shining example of film and art.

In a market that has been flooded with movies focused on base level humor, excessive special effects, and a complete lack of story, Inception rises above the crowd to bring a truly mind-bending and awe-inspiring tale. This is most definitely the movie of the summer, if not the year.

>Pawn