Inception Review - A Neat Fit Within The "Summer Blockbuster" Template

There is a member of the AANP Towers clan who likes his films straightforward, a scholar of the Bruce-Willies-Versus-The-Baddies-One-At-A-Time school of All Action No Plot cinema. Alas, said inhabitant of these four walls would find himself completely stranded if he tried to negotiate the vaguely labyrinthine new Leonardo DiCaprio film Inception. Rather a shame, because in terms of action, originality, acting and script the film is a cracking effort that neatly fits within the “Summer Blockbuster” template.

To try explaining the plot on paper would be like trying to provide written instructions on how to navigate a maze – hardly compelling reading, and a little pointless unless you happen to be slap bang in the middle of the ruddy thing. Suffice to say the plot keeps viewers on their toes without straying completely off course. Inception uses the pretty darned unique plot-device of a dream within a dream to go bending the laws of physics somewhat, with the result that a decent fist-fight can be interrupted by a sudden ninety degree shifts in gravity. All manner of mighty impressive action sequences duly follow, and in fact even the non-action sequences are fairly mind-blowing, as the powers-that-be have some fun with the various possible scenarios on offer.

All these bells and whistles are complemented by a cracking storyline and slick group of characters. Leonardo DiCaprio assembles his team Mission Impossible style, a likeable bunch -and a jolly well-dressed bunch too, if I may say so, whose sartorial elegance helps to give the whole film a polished film. This lot- including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe and Cillian Murphy - partake in some nice understated dry wit and banter, which helps keep the film ticking along nicely. It’s a cracking cast, as befits a film which slips in cameos from Michael Caine and Pete Posthelthwaite without breaking stride.

The action is unashamedly Matrix-esque, while the storyline could perhaps be classed in the Minority Report category of futuristic thrillers. To its credit the film does not seem overlong, even though it apparently lasts comfortably over two hours. As long as you’re well aware that The A-Team this ain’t, and sharpen your wits accordingly, you ought to emerge from Inception nodding in approval, while perhaps bracing yourself for sudden shifts in gravity.