|
| Movie Review: Inception Alternate Title: Snoozer
Story: The hoopla surrounding
this movie is that it is too deep for the average person to understand.
I disagree with that idea entirely. It is not too hard to understand
- it is just boring. It almost put me to sleep (and I am not a napper).
The premise is that Dom Cobb is the best in the
dangerous art of extraction. What is extraction? No, it has nothing
to do with dentistry (although sitting through it was somewhat painful).
He and his crackerjack team are able to steal valuable secrets from
deep within the subconscious during the dream state when the mind is
at its most vulnerable. Cobb and the team are now involved in the sleazy
world of corporate espionage so they have become fugitives which leads
to much running, chasing, shooting, falling, crashing and explosions. Cobb is now being offered a chance at redemption
and a stab at getting his life back and losing his fugitive status if
he does just one more espionage job. Only this time, the job involves
inception of an idea into the dream state, rather than the extraction
of an idea. Written and directed by the very talented Christopher
Nolan who normally holds my interest. This time, however, there
is more splash and glitz and very little story. By film's end I could
not care less what happened to anyone. Wake me when it's over. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66TuSJo4dZM Acting: Leonardo DiCaprio as Cobb has his usual intense,
furrowed brow but this time, he was simply eye candy. Joseph
Gordon-Levitt as Arthur is one of my favorites, but even here,
he fails to shine. Ellen Page as Ariadne was totally
miscast. She reminded me of a cute puppy that wandered into the wrong
film. Tom Hardy as Eames was the most interesting of
all of the characters. Ken Watanabe as Saito was difficult
to understand. Dileep Rao as Yusuf was fine. Cillian
Murphy as Robert Fischer Jr. is always good. Tom Berenger
(as Browning was almost unrecognizable.Marion Cotillard
as Mal is always good. Pete Postlethwaite as Maurice
Fischer is underutilized as is Michael Caine. Trivia: Marion Cotillard won an Oscar for her portrayal
of Edith Piaf a few years back. Edith Piaf's voice is heard throughout
the film and I found that quite amusing. Trade marks of director and
writer Christpher Nolan include: Begins his movies
and introduces his main characters with a close up of their hands performing
an action. Often works with editor Lee Smith, composer David Julyan,
cinematographer Wally Pfister, production designer Nathan Crowley and
wife-producer Emma Thomas. Often casts British or non-American actors
in American roles. Frequently casts Christian Bale, Michael Caine. Usually
starts films with a flashback or a scene from the end of the movie.
When shooting a dialogue scene, the actors are often framed in wide
close-up with a shallow depth of field to blur out the background. His
main characters are usually men with a goal who face adversity. Films
conclude with the two central characters discussing the preceding events
and the results which have stemmed from said events. Non-linear timelines
(Following (1998), Memento (2000), The Prestige (2006))
Predilection: None
Critters: One cat
Food: You cannot eat while dreaming it seems.
Soundtrack: The Edith Piaf tune, 'Non, je ne regrette
rien' is wonderful but much of the track is loud.
Opening Titles: All titles are at the end.
Visual Art: Some fine CGI effects but after awhile
I was bored.
Theater Audience: Pretty crowded for a Wednesday
afternoon.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I drifted quite bit once I figured out
what was going on and on and on.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: If you like special effects
I would say go for the big screen.
Length: 22 minutes over the Lobo two hours rule.
LOBO HOWLS: 5
|