You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling...

Apparently, Christopher Nolan isn't just dreaming big...but he's making it into the big screen. INCEPTION might be the most ambitious movie for the past decade (well, apart from the Lord of the Rings series), but on the other hand, it is also one of the most kept secret movie, since I believe not many people (unless they are serious moviegoers) actually know about this project. Since last year, I have been telling people that Inception will the be hottest movie of 2010, but they just gave me a weird look and said, "What the hell is that?". Well, in the end I came up in the same answer for everyone: it is written and directed by Christopher Nolan (remember Batman Begins and Dark Knight?), starring Leo Di Caprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Tom Hardy, Michael Caine....(damn, it's a long list), and the story is about....dream. (Weirder look mode: ON)

In the year 2000, Nolan made a small movie with huge influence, called MEMENTO (again, you might haven't heard it...but try to watch it, twice, or 10 times). Back then, I was totally blown away by it. Memento is easily the cleverest and smartest movie with its unique story telling and plot twist. Fast forward 10 years, Nolan similarly creates a more spectacular mind blowing experience in INCEPTION. With big budgets and A-list actors, practically he can do whatever he wants to transform his dream into reality.

Watching Inception is like experiencing Philip K. Dick previous movie adaptation (remember Blade Runner or Minority Report?), since it has all the sci-fi noir elements. To date, this maybe the best of its genre, simply because INCEPTION has the best of both worlds, quality and money making, which something that sci-fi noir movies have failed to achieve.

I'm not going to write any synopsis, not just because I don't want to spoil the fun, it is just that its storyline is somehow 'difficult' to be translated it into clear and understandable writing. Mind you, even Nolan always uses the same wording to explain the plot storyline. Beware though, you must have prepared your brain into full concentration in order to grasp the whole 'dream inside dream 'thing, because you will eventually have some headache, or worst, fall to sleep halfway through (it has 150 minutes running time). Not like any other brainless action movies (a.k.a Iron Man or A-Team), this one you may experience where the movie dictates you and ask you to turn your mind upside down.

As far as the acting goes, Inception offers one the best ensemble cast, with Leo DiCaprio is solid rock as the star of the show. After this performance, no one will have any doubts that he is one of the best actors around (ask Scorsese himself). He's just damn good to portray Cobb, the group leader with his nightmarish occurrences of his late wife. He has so many materials to play with, tortured soul, endless guilty nightmares, love of the family, the longing of seeing his children again, and many others. I can't think any other actor can play this great role other than Leo himself.

The rest of the supporting cast are also brilliant. We have the great Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthur, Cobb's longtime partner and most trusted friend, and he gets the best action scene in the movie, the fighting in rotating hallways which you've seen over and over in the trailers. And thankfully we have the gorgeous and magnificent Ellen Page, which has made a big jump on characterization of playing Ariadne, the architect. She finally manages to escape from typecasting of teenage girl character, since this role has made her into a more mature figure (still remember Juno?). The good thing about having her the in the movie is that she's the one who appears so naively and look so 'ordinary' compared with the rest. Therefore, we always have a proper explanation from her about the whole extractor and inception thing. Another plus thing, ain't it cool to see how the role of an architect is highly glorified in this movie? Tom Hardy as Eames, the forger, steals the scenes later on near the end of the show, by having his own action scenes. Man, this guy has all the criteria to be the next action hero star, he may even that good to replace Daniel Craig for the 007 role in the future. The late wife of Cobb, Mol is beautifully and elegantly played by Marion Cotillard (she's getting hotter and better recently), we can really feel sympathetic toward her disillusion and broken spirit throughout the movie, which is the root of all Cobb's problems.

The rest just completes the round-up, Tom Berrenger, Michael Caine, and Pete Postlethwaite, whose given small but significant roles, it's kinda like you have a great main course with excellent side dish also. My only real concern is Ken Watanabe, as Saito the client, which I think he has some issues with his lines, since most of the time, I really can't hear what he's saying. Nevertheless, he gave a convincing performance also, but still, it's better for all of us to watch it with subtitles.

INCEPTION is so rich in materials and conceptual ideas, which I think requires several viewings to really understand the whole dreaming saga. I might even buy the original DVD or Blu-Ray to hear Nolan's audio commentary or anything behind the scene process. I remember watching like 2001 : Space Odyssey, Memento, or Blade Runner for multiple times, and it's been a while since Hollywood presents us 'confusing' movies, but still great ones. INCEPTION is truly a remarkable movie, it makes you play with your brain, it's entertaining, and it makes you think and continues even after you leave your the theater (the ending will make you say, WHATTTT?). It's Hollywood's smartest example on spending the big budget so far.

My Rating : 10/10