July 21, 2010 04:30PM EDT

Flashpoint Review: Inception

 

On Friday, July 16, the Tribeca Flashpoint Film Society attended an opening night screening of Christopher Nolan’s newest film, Inception. Few can argue with the artistry and imagination of Nolan’s previous works; as media students and professionals, we were all more than a little excited to watch Nolan’s latest dreamscape unfold (literally, in some cases) before us. In this review, Tribeca Flashpoint Film & Broadcast student Stephen Tuplin shares one reaction to this highly anticipated new film. 

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In 1998, Christopher Nolan intrigued us in Following. In 2000, he took us to a whole new world of complex storytelling in his first masterpiece, Memento. In 2002, Nolan gave us Insomnia, a skilled, yet underrated, crime thriller. In 2005, he finally perfected an icon in Batman Begins. In 2006, we were given The Prestige: a daunting look into the lives of magicians. And finally, Nolan perfected the word sequel in his epic masterpiece, The Dark Knight. Nolan, along with his brother Jonathan, can easily be described as the most skilled writers of the past decade. Nolan approaches his films with class and a sincerely realistic feel. He knows how to tell his tales in a manner that draws us in, and he knows how to end a film leaving nothing but chills running throughout your body.
 
But how does one top a film like The Dark Knight? It would take years to write and construct a script with such mastery as to even dent the level of his legacy. Luckily, he and his brother started writing Inception over ten years ago. And what they have brought to screen is a dream.
 
Inception’s first ten minutes are engrossing. The film doesn’t explain itself when we first enter it; instead, we learn more about it as we go, just like in a dream. From the opening mission to the last, this film has onion-like layers upon wondrous layers of visual eye candy and outstanding performances. And, like wine, the longer it breathes, the better it tastes.
 
DiCaprio leads with his usual professionalism, mixed with demons affecting him physically. He’s the ideal protagonist, even though he’s more or less a thief. The rest of the cast bring their characters to life with purpose that never strays. Each character has a role to play, and Nolan directs their roles with masterful technique that never, I repeat, never fails.
 
As for the plot, the film explains itself. It’s not a riddle or a maze that we tire ourselves in trying to figure out. We may be a few steps behind at times, but by the time the film ends, everything processes. A second viewing is a given, but only because the film is enjoyable. Most psychological thrillers ask us to come back so we can understand what happened; Inception is simply a dream you want every time you close your eyes.


 
The visuals, too, have purpose. Movies use CGI to wow us, not usually to help us; Inception’s use of CGI puts us into the dream. The sets and locations are miraculously shot and edited. The second half of the film included about 45 minutes of sheer and total adrenaline. My heart was racing and my mouth was wide open. I saw this in IMAX, and now I’m not sure I can see it anything else. (I truly urge everyone to experience it in IMAX; these are some of the best sequences put on film.)
 
If my statements have seemed too bold, or my opinions too biased, I can’t help that. Christopher Nolan is the best director in Hollywood as of right now. His writing is complex, welcoming, provocative, and ingenious. Nolan never takes the easy way out in filmmaking. He shot in six different countries, and only gave in to using CGI when it was completely necessary to the storytelling.
 
This new decade is being kicked off with this masterpiece. If future filmmakers are wise, they will study and learn from Inception. It’s the best film (so far) of the year. And, quite frankly, it’s greatest film I’ve ever experienced.
 
Don’t wake me up.

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For more about Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, including information on our two-year Associate Degree programs in Film & Broadcast, Recording Arts, Game & Interactive Media, or Animation & Visual Effects, please visit www.tribecaflashpoint.com.