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Some spoiler 'thoughts' on INCEPTION

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Chris Garrett

In Reply to: RE: Inception... posted by slapshot on July 17, 2010 at 13:45:31

"� What's with the ending?

When expert mind-thief Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) finally reunites with his kids in the film's last scene, filmgoers are treated to a rare triple-twist ending, all in the space of just one second. Out of habit, Cobb spins his top, which is his touchstone to reality, as it is mentally programmed to spin endlessly in dreams; as the camera pans, fans realize first that the top is still spinning, but just as they realize everything is a dream, it begins to wobble. And then, as they begin to realize it's about to fall, meaning everything is actually real, Nolan cuts to black, 'Sopranos'-style, leaving whiplashed viewers debating whether Cobb ended up in a dream or in the real world.

� So if it was a dream...?

If it was real, of course, then there's not a whole lot to strain your brain over. But if that top is still spinning on some cutting room floor, then a whole new slew of questions open up. Are the other members of Cobb's team figments of his subconscious, or are they sharing the dream with him? If they are constructs, does that mean everyone is a construct, even Cobb's wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) and his kids? And if it is a dream, whose dream is it -- is it Cobb's dream, or has another architect tapped into his mind and constructed everything? Which brings us to our main question:

� Is Cobb the real target?

The plot revolves around Cobb's efforts to implant an idea in the mind of a business scion (Fischer, played by Cillian Murphy). But is Cobb the real target of inception? There are some details that suggest this is the case, namely the fact that multiple characters, from Mal to Ken Watanabe's Japanese mystery man Saito, insist that Cobb "take a leap of faith," along with repeatedly warning Cobb that he will become an "old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone." It seems to us that even while Cobb is running around trying to pull off his inception scheme, these ideas are being planted in his mind just as subtly as anything his team is doing to Fischer."

There's more in the link below...

Chris

Inception cheat sheet, spoiler alert (Open in New Window)

Follow Ups:

This and "Avatar" aren't so much traditional films as "experiences." - tinear 20:23:51 07/19/10 (5)
I very much enjoyed the FX in "Inception." It really was easy to feel like the caf� exploding building scene or the decaying buildings-on-the-beach scenes were "real" or part of your waking dream world.
So, a worthwhile experience. A strange new category of experiential art, I'd say. As film, per se, a miserable failure.
- RE: Agree! - Steve O 14:46:48 07/22/10 (0)
  I viewed it last night at the local IMAX and found it to be an involving experience. Based on audience comments I overheard as we were exiting, most of them did too. It absolutely held my attention for the entire 2++hrs and this at the 10:40 PM showing, a time period when other distractions tend to diminish my attention span.
  
  I'm curious why you describe Inception as miserable failure as a film. I found it thought provoking and entertaining in a visceral sort of way. Most Hollywood films and esp the latest batch of this summer's blockbusters probably can't make that claim!
  
  Regardless, I'm planning on viewing it again over this next weekend if it's still playing at the IMAX.
- New wrinkle on eye candy... - Chris Garrett 21:10:44 07/19/10 (3)
  personally, I don't mind LDC's acting in this movie as it really wasn't all that important to the message and the script just didn't lend itself to 'good acting'.
  
  If people want to bitch, or people want to moan, so be it. I do think that it's a movie that really needs, much like THE USUAL SUSPECTS, to be seen a good two or three times.
  
  I'm sure DVD sales will be going through the roof due to people not 'getting it' the first time around and who don't want to sit in a theatre again.
  
  Chris
  - For a demonstration of "good acting"... - afilado 10:16:14 07/22/10 (2)
    ...in this film watch Michael Caine.
    - He's a good actor, but the script didn't call for acting prowess, if you ask me...* - Chris Garrett 12:29:08 07/22/10 (1)
      *
      - When he came on the screen... - afilado 12:58:24 07/22/10 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: He's a good actor, but the script didn't call for acting prowess, if you ask me...* posted by Chris Garrett on July 22, 2010 at 12:29:08
        
        ..he was, by his very presence, a profound relief from the contrived silliness that was taking place around him. Caine - and others of his elevated ilk - have the innate capacity to transform a scene or a movie. Their standards of artistic expression do not depend on direction or script. They bring an quality of artistic expression that transcends outside influence.
        
        He was a reality among relative poseurs.

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