17) INCEPTION

Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Dileep Rao, Cillian Murphy, Marion Cotillard, Tom Berenger, Lukas Haas, Michael Caine
Year: 2010
Rating: PG-13

I can sort of see, now, why so many reviewers had a hard time with Inception. Christopher Nolan's mind-bending science fiction head trip is a feast for the eyes; one you'd better not stray away from for a bathroom or food/soda break, if you want to keep track of what's going on.

But that's one of the film's biggest strengths; it makes you think. Makes you pay attention. And with its A-list cast, truly "special" special effects, and multi-level story, you'll find the ride well worth it.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb, a master thief who is probably the best at what he does: extraction. Modern technology is now to the point where you can actually invade people's dreams, and pull out there most secret of secrets - and Cobb has used his talent at extraction to steal corporate secrets for a high price, with his mission impossible-style team including best friend Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Because of his work, Cobb is now however a fugitive of justice; he hasn't even seen his kids in some time because he can't return to the States - his ultimate goal of all.

When a failed attempt at retrieving some major information from a Japanese businessman named Saito (Ken Watanabe) leads to Saito's offering him a job, Cobb has no choice but to listen ... until he learns that Saito wants Cobb to perform the impossible - inception. He wants Cobb not to retrieve ideas from his biggest competitor ... but to, instead, implant an idea into the man, thereby knocking out his competition entirely. Arthur wants no part of things - at first - but Cobb finally admits he's manage inception once before. When Saito offers him the ultimate reward for doing the job - he can pull the strings that will allow Cobb to get back to the States and his kids without issue - Cobb takes the case, and begins assembling a team for one of the most complicated, risky and ultimate dangerous jobs he's ever taken on ...

Making for one of the most complex, visually stunning, and truly intelligent films I've seen in ages. To say much more might give too much away, but Inception truly is a work of art; a thinking man's film that also has the action and visuals for those who need a more visceral film experience. The cast, led by the brooding DiCaprio, is uniformly terrific (Tom Hardy, you are a true "A-lister" in the making; deservedly so!), in a film that truly defines what an ensemble cast should be, and the writing/direction by Christopher Nolan proves - yet again - that Nolan is one of the most gifted, artistic and cerebral filmmakers working today.

Watch Inception when you can give it your full concentration; shut off or ignore the phone, send the kids to the movies themselves, and have your DVD remote handy to his "pause" for any bathroom emergencies. This film's a keeper, with a great story, characters, and plot - and visually is a wowser, too. Definitely worthy of its Oscar nominations (though the absence of Nolan on the Best Director list is nothing short of OBSCENE), and most definitely worth seeing. ***** - Reel Must-See