Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by user510 (R) on July 19, 2010 at 21:20:15

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

I don't think it is possible to spoil this movie by revealing any one aspect....or by stating how the movie ends. It is just too convoluted. Whatever enjoyment a viewer may get comes from watching the multi-layered processes of the movie work itself out.

This is a "heist flick". Or let's call it a caper. The job for DiCaprio's character (Cobb) is, by means of his dream manipulations, to infiltrate the subconscious mind of a new corporate leader(Robert Fischer Jr. played by Cillian Murphy) and plant an idea. An idea that benefits Cobb's billionaire employer, (Saito) who, as it happens, is head of a competing corporation.

Corporate espionage in reverse.

Instead of -stealing- ideas, our heroic culprits are -planting- ideas within the subconscious minds of competing corporate leadership. An interesting prospect.

Once that idea has been planted, the caper is to be considered a success. And then the deal between Cobb and Saito is for Saito, who apparently has political clout, to simply make a call that will open the gate for Cobb to return to his home and children. It is not clear if Cobb will still have to stand trial afterward.

Oh yeah,I forgot, Cobb has been living in exile from the U.S. to avoid being extradited to stand trial for the death of his wife. Add to that another 'oh yeah', Cobb's dead wife seems to persist in popping into his dreamscape maneuvers and interfering with the task at hand.

This is as complex a plot as any I've seen. But then I don't get out much.

Did I care for these characters? No, not really. I found myself emotionally detached yet curious enough to stay and watch the film out.

The film has its moments. Here's one: Cobb and Ariadne (Ellen Page), who is to be hired on as a "dream architect", are sitting at a big city sidewalk cafe sipping coffee when it becomes apparent that they are really within the construct of an orchestrated dream. The laws of physics are suspended as the city breaks in half then folds up around and above them. Reminds me of some of the scenes from the movie "Dark City". Only CGI has improved since that movie.

In this scene I'm also reminded of M.C.Escher's "Relativity". That illustration of a room which offers no visual reference between up and down. There are more M.C.Escher moments. Staircases which seem to be a continuous loop when observed from one plane, but become a deadly drop off when viewed in the perspective. These are "maze techniques" for Ariadne to make use of in the dreamscapes that she is to design.

Other thoughts and observations:
The movie sound track was played too loud in the theater. Some of the gun fighting actually hurt the ears!

Much of the gun fighting and other scenes of physical combat seemed gratuitous. Yes, in a heroic tale there has to be a challenge. There must be obstacles to be overcome. There must be a struggle. But I had no real sense of that necessity here.

The gun-toting opponents engaged in these layers upon layers of dreams, we are told, are products of the targets' (Fischer Jr.) subconscious mind, his personal security within the dream. Oh yeah, I seem to recall that the technology of "dream espionage" may also be known to the target and he has had some preparation to fend off such an attempt. Hence the security squads. I still say it was gratuitous.

Layers upon layers.

The players:
DiCaprio (Cobb) Well enough played I thought. I had no problem believing his character. On the other hand, I really did not care if Cobb lived or died, stayed in dream limbo, or returned to his children.

Ariadne (Paige) This is a young actress. She looks young. Still has a baby face. But a smart one. Wiser than her years. We know she's a college student. We don't know if she's a grad student. She looks and acts the part of the kid genius. The one that skips several grades in public school and goes on to graduate college while still a teenager. I thought she wore her role well.

Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) An able assistant to Cobb. Handles much of the hand to hand combat and other bits of dirty work.

Saito (Ken Watanabe) Employs Cobb to infiltrate the mind of his main business competitor.

The movie ran a bit long for my attention span. It did get a bit tedious in parts. But seemed to gain momentum here and there. At one point it becomes obvious that the "team", once gathered, is training for a heist. All heist movies have this moment.

When this comes out on video will I bother to buy the BD, or rent the movie On Demand? I don't think so. Not for myself, anyway. I saw this movie because a lot of people were talking about it. And now, so am I. It must be important. But was it enjoyable? You decide. Me, I'm probably just dreaming that I'm typing this, and then wondering why I bothered.

-Steve


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