It seems a lot of people who have seen Christopher Nolan’s Inception are either hugely in awe of its every aspect, or completely and utterly disappointed by the result of the hype. If you’ve seen the film, you probably have very strong opinions on why you feel the way you do, so here’s my thought’s on why people have been so divided.
Obviously, the hype built around Inception was extreme. The teaser trailer released caused viewers to sit up and pay attention, as the soundtrack invaded our ears with a sense of discomfort and we see buildings exploding in a way we have never quite seen before. And then we’re teased with bold posters and a full length trailer showing Leonardo (DiCapico) brilliantly acting as he always does, and it shows familiar faces such as Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page – now we’re being given the Hollywood dream cast. But we’re not let in on the storyline; this was a greatly kept secret, but it was the storyline that caused audiences to split. We either have the diehard fans that become compelled by this original, insightful, look into the dream world with it’s intelligent script… Or we have spectators confused, not being able to keep up with the somewhat quick and puzzling view of psychology, that can’t connect with the personalities on screen.
The editing of this film was a difficult to follow, yet intriguing way, of looking at fight scenes and time passing. On the one hand, flipping from location to location, with no real detail as to why we’re there other than the clue that there are three different worlds needed to be created for their ultimate goal, becomes puzzling. Trying to keep up with the pace of this film is difficult on its own, but to incorporate the storyline as well as understanding where and why people are in the different locations becomes a somewhat daunting idea – especially as we’re so used to being spoon fed the narrative by conventional approaches to cinema. But this is exactly why the lovers of this film enjoyed the quiz of the story. We’re not sitting back and listening, we’re actively having to get involved and become a part of this fantasy world never having been drawn out to our eyes before. You can’t take your eye off the ball for one moment leaving you completely captured throughout.
The fact there is a non-cathartic ending as well keeps the audience guessing. Nothing round up, there’s still another story to be told, but we’re taken away from it by the cut to a black screen with the titles appear. Annoying to some, but completely exciting for others, this is why you left the cinema feeling how you did.
Maybe this brief analysis has helped you realised why you liked Inception, or showed you why you hated it. But overall, you cannot argue this isn’t an original masterpiece of cinematography that, although somewhat bewildering, takes you on a journey that you have never been on before.
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