by Ken San Nicolas

Director: Christopher Nolan

Time: 2 hours 35 minutes

Genre: Action/Adventure

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cottilard

I was thinking of how to open up this review of Christopher Nolan's latest work "Inception", but never in my wildest dreams would I be able to come up with a satisfactory introduction. This film is a contemporary masterpiece in every sense of the word -- from cinematography, to plot, screenplay, special effects, pacing, dialogue and acting. I don't want to say that "Inception" is the greatest movie I've ever seen but, I'm hard pressed to think of anything in the past 20 years that holds a candle to what "Inception" accomplishes on every level of film-making. The funny thing is I feel as if I will have to watch the film a few more times to understand its complex storylines and truly appreciate its value.

"Inception" is part sci-fi thriller and part crime-caper. At least, that's what I think it is. The film boasts multiple, complex story arcs and it is really difficult to contain the scope of this project within the confines of any particular genre. Perhaps this ability of being able to mold so many different topics into one extremely tightly-knit storyline is why "Inception" is so unique and original.

Our story follows corporate thief Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a professional skilled in the art of obtaining important from a person's brain by entering their dreams while they sleep. (Pay attention because it's going to get really complicated in a minute.) His services are requested by Mr. Saito (Ken Watanabe), a powerful corporate figure who can fix certain legal issues preventing Cobb from returning to the U.S. However, this job is not the simple extraction that Cobb is used to.

Saito wants Cobb to place an idea in the head of Robert Fischer, Jr. (Cillian Murphy), the heir to a billion dollar corporate stronghold. By putting this idea into Fischer's head, it will influence Fischer to sell off his inheritance -- supposedly saving the world from a worse fate. This process of inserting the idea into the subconscious is called 'inception'.

Cobb puts together a team of specialists to help pull off this elaborate "infiltration": Adriane (Ellen Page), an architect who's job is to create the environment which the dream takes place in; Eames (Tom Hardy), a forger who can morph into different identities while in a person's dream, and Cobb's right-hand man, Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The team is highly capable of pulling off a scheme of this magnitude but unbeknownst to the majority, is that there are projections from Cobb's past which could cause quite the dilemma in the dream world.

I want to elaborate more on the plot but I would be doing you a great disservice. Just know that there are many intricate storylines within its major arc and that the constraints of time and physics are expounded upon as the web of dreams gets deeper and deeper.

As was noticed with his prior works "Memento" and "The Dark Knight", director Christopher Nolan is a master of creating memorable settings as well as carefully tying together complicated plot sequences. If "Memento" is Nolan's Statue of David, then "Inception" is his Sistine Chapel -- That is how great the scope of this project is. I don't know if I understand all of the nuances of the film, but as complex as it is, I completely enjoyed watching it and I definitely was impressed by the plot. Full of allegorical references for every name in the film, "Inception" is an enjoyable active experience. Think the "Matrix" series but classier. The film does not dumb-down any of it's content -- you either understand it or you don't. You have to respect a film that has that type of respect for its audience.

The physical scope of the film is awe-inspiring as well. Filmed in 6 cities, "Inception" spares no quarter when it comes to blowing up the mind. The film is a tidal wave that hits the senses and just when you think you can reach the surface for air the undertow of plot complexity pulls you back into the depths of what truly is Nolan's unique world. To accomplish this for 150 minutes is no easy feat yet Christopher Nolan clearly was up to the task. Perhaps the fact that the script was ten years in the making has some role in that.

The acting from the entire cast is quite solid. DiCaprio plays more of a supporting role in the film as no actor really gets top billing -- the real star of the film is the plot and all the performers act as vehicles to help facilitate the progress of it. I don't think I've ever genuinely said that about a film till now, and I wonder if I ever will again.

From the film's thought-provoking introduction till its open ending, "Inception" will have your mind working overtime. An intelligent work of art that expects it's audience to have the wherewithal to keep up with it's deep storytelling, "Inception" will go down as one of the greatest movies of all time.

5 out of 5 stars.