Inception

Inception, without a doubt, is a movie for people who like their action with a giant dollop of complexity. We are propelled into a world where it is possible to walk into another person’s dreams and steal their secrets. The film opens right in the middle of the action and we have no time to catch up, but are instead compelled to watch with a growing of unease and distrust – how do we work out what is real and what is a dream?

Christopher Nolan has become famous for his darkly realised films and action thrillers that are a cut above the rest. He makes films that draw you into strange dreamscapes, where things are not as they seem. With The Prestige, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, he dreamed up something different – not necessarily genius but compelling.

Inception is one of those films. It uses a simple hook – the planting of an idea in someone’s brain by using their dreams, and makes it into a twisting thriller with a human element. Nolan’s protagonists are men with secrets; usually dark and painful secrets. Leonardo Di Caprio plays this protagonist with brooding intensity: Cobb is a man with secrets that threaten to endanger the lives of his team. When he is offered the chance to make amends and return home to his children, he takes it, despite the instability of his own mind. All he has to do is rustle up a team and plant an idea into the mind of Fischer (played by Cillian Murphy), who is the heir to a multi-billion oil company. Cobb’s addiction to dreaming is noticed by Ariadne (played by Ellen Page) and her curiosity results in her encouraging Cobb to face his dreams (or nightmares) in order to ensure that he does not endanger the mission.

Throughly enjoyable, Inception is a summer movie that delivers – a cross between The Matrix, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Batman Begins, this is one film you won’t want to miss.