2010: The Year in Film: Inception Review

The most eagerly awaited movie (by me and most people whose opinion I would trust..) of the summer, and maybe the year is upon us, and let me be among the first to say it does not disappoint. Via some Prop Joe type scheming by one BD, several of us scored passes to an advance screening of "Inception" on Monday night. Yes, I was incredibly pumped, and was completely glued to the screen for the entire runtime. Christopher Nolan is one of the most gifted and original talents in Hollywood today, and in much the same way as James Cameron saved 2009 by bringing in a breath of cinematic fresh air and reminding so many of us why we love movies, Chris Nolan is seeking to do the same thing for 2010. This is a blockbuster for the mensa crowd, if such a thing is possible - and only the man who resurrected Batman and brought us two of the 3 or 4 best comic book movies of all time could be given this kind of budget and trust by a studio to make such an ambitious, massive and ultimately rewarding spectacle. Chris Nolan has dealt over and over with altered states of reality, what our perception of that reality can mean for the individuals affected, and unique narrative structures that are truly experiences for the audiences. In much the same way that "The Prestige" unfolds much like a magic trick, Inception unfolds like an intricate maze or puzzle, one whose interlocking parts prop it up. If you pulled one thread it would all unravel, but therein lies the beauty of it all - the intricate, layered narrative unfolds perfectly and results in a truly unique, incredible experience, possibly unlike anything I've ever seen in a theater.

This movie is basically impossible to describe - it needs to be seen to truly be understood, I can't wait to see it again so I can finally get my mind around it. But here's a start - basically, the film deals with a new kind of espionage, one in which people enter dreams in order to steal ideas from an individual's subconscious. These intruders are not welcome in an individual's subconscious, which can turn hostile if their presence is too overt. Inception is part spy movie, with the intrigue, exotic locales and backroom deals, part heist flick, with the "assembling the team" scenes and unique skills, and part sci-fi Matrix-esque exploration of consciousness. Immaculately written, constructed and shot - this is a film made by incredibly skilled and competent people. Every single shot looks incredible and very real - even if that shot is a huge skyline collapsing into the sea or Paris folding over on itself. As the characters enter peoples' dreams, it becomes difficult for them, and for the viewer, to discern between the dreams, and the eerie sense of "what is reality?" pervades the whole endeavor.

The acting is more than strong. Leo is showing why he's hands down the best actor under 40 in Hollywood, his sense of pain, anxiety and dread perfectly tinges the entire picture, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is coming into his own, Ellen Page is going to be a hell of an actress, Marion Cotillard is enchanting, Ken Watanabe is one of the more understated actors working today, Tom Hardy is strong, and Cillian Murphy is great as the "mark" - if I have one cast-related complaint, it's that we could have used more Michael Caine, but hey - the guy is a favorite of mine.

I have minor complaints, but just three of them - 1.) the film slightly drags towards the very end, 2.) not enough michael caine, 3.) sometimes the action feels needlessly over the top. Those are seriously my only complaints. Those are legitimately my only criticisms, and yes - they are extremely minor

This is not a lighthearted fun popcorn flick. This is a heady, brilliant, complex film that has a lot to say and says it in truly remarkable fashion. Everyone involved is on the top of their games here. Immaculately shot, outstanding, ground breaking writing, great acting by an outstanding, clearly motivated cast and a truly original and intelligent story - such a rare thing among big-budget hollywood flicks today. I feel like this review hasn't done it justice - but once you see it you'll understand, it is truly hard to put into words - I have two options, either type 5000 words and completely outline the plot while spoiling everything, or stay frustratingly vague like I am right now and just recommend the flick as strongly as I can. I can say without hesitation that this is absolutely the best movie of the year, is probably Nolan's best (no small order), and is quite possibly the best movie I've ever seen in the theater. I cannot (literally cannot) wait until I see it again, and am telling you, if you care about movies at all, go and see this one.

I'm tentatively giving this one a 9.2, and you'd better believe when I do the "Best of the Decade" list for '10-'20, this one will be right there. This, folks, is why I love the movies. Thanks, Chris Nolan, for giving a damn, and having the courage to make this kind of movie when it would have been easier to just jump right into Batman 3. I truly appreciate it.

9.2/10

AB's Summer Movie Preview!

So I know I've been bad about posting lately... this whole blogging business will get away from you if you aren't careful. But I've got a post here that's right in my wheelhouse, so let's get back on top. I'm talking, of course, about my Summer Movie Preview. Now this is MY summer movie preview, so don't come here to hear about Shrek 4, Toy Story 3, Sex in the City 2, Twilight, or shit like that. I'm here to talk about movies I'M interested in seeing, so get on board with that, or check out MTV or Nickelodeon for your movie news.. with that brief disclaimer, let's get down to it, shall we?

Now I know a top 10 is more fun for everyone involved, but unfortunately, I couldn't decide between numbers 10 and 11, so therefore, we've got a bonus top 11 - how fun!

11. Jonah Hex
Jonah Hex is a western-set rather obscure DC comic, and any excitement I have towards this one is all about the cast. Josh Brolin as the lead - a scarred badass bounty hunter full of smartass things to say? Count me in. Oh, and John Malkovich is the bad guy? I'm willing to give it a whirl. I'm a bit (well, maybe more than a bit..) concerned over the supposed re-writes and re-shoots that took place during and post-production, but I'm definitely still excited to see the trailer. Consider me a Josh Brolin fan, and I'll officially see anything he does. I heard something about the female romantic lead - what's her name? Megan something? Apparently she's quite attractive and all the rage with the kids nowadays. Jonah Hex comes out June 18. The trailer comes out April 29, I'll let you know more then - as of right now, it's too early to tell.




10. The A-Team

Now ordinarily, a cheeseball 80's remix like this would have me rolling my eyes in sarcastic "who-gives-a-shit"-ness. (Seriously, ask me how many times I saw G.I. Joe... the answer rhymes with "nero") But then they got Liam Neeson on board and cast my boy Bradley Cooper. Now I'm paying attention. I'm always game for a fun action movie... (if it's well made and well-acted), and the trailer looks kind of fun - it looks like they've got the right tone going on. I'm not going to say I'm seeing it opening night - but as long as it scores at least a 30% on Rotten Tomatoes, I'm seeing it. Oh, and if you ask me, the Rampage Jackson as B.A. casting was inspired. The A-Team opens June 11.




9. The Expendables

Stallone. Statham. Li. Rourke. Lundgren. Steve Austin. Randy Couture. Bruce Willis. The Governator. What more do you need to know? They don't really make old school fun action movies anymore, and consider me "cautiously enthusiastic" for this one. Check out that trailer.. how will it not be a blast? Rambo IV was secretly awesome, and the fact that this movie appears to have been conceived by Mac from Always Sunny is one more thing in its favor. I guarantee this one will make you feel like a man, and it will probably be a fun late night DVD watch for years to come. Is it going to be Oscar-worthy? Of course not.. but it can (and probably will) certainly be fun, and the $10 at the movie theater is cheaper than any other similar 2 hours you're going to have. So count me in. The Expendables will be released August 13.




8. Splice

Count me as an enthusiastic supporter of sci-fi in all of its various incarnations. This is a good old fashioned ethics discussion in the guise of a monster movie. A pair of genetic scientists experimenting with gene slicing decide to add human DNA to the mix - with predictably awful results. I keep hearing good things about this one, and am really looking forward to it. I think the trailer really says it all. Splice is due to be released on June 4.



7. The Other Guys

Will Ferrell's star has been fading as of late, and he's in desperate need of a hit. Count me among those hoping that this is it - and re-uniting with the director of Anchorman and a perfect cast like this could be just what the doctor ordered. That trailer made me LOL a couple of times, and the only reason I'm ranking this one this far down the list is just to temper expectations. Wahlberg has shown comedic chops from time to time, and Sam L. and the Rock are PERFECT as the badass super cops they appear to have been cast as here. I expect that this one will be a good time. Come on Will, we're rooting for you. The Other Guys opens August 6.




6. Knight and Day

Tom Cruise was once the biggest movie star on the planet - and this could be the movie that finally reminds people of why that is. He can be incredibly charming and funny when he wants to be. Cameron Diaz is one of the more likable female leads out there - throw in James Mangold, the director of 3:10 to Yuma and Walk the Line, and Peter Sarsgaard, and count me in. Despite the unfortunate use of Muse in the trailer, there's a solid chance this one will be a rip-roaring good time. This appears to be an old school 90's style tongue-in-cheek action flick - a genre that's particularly near and dear to my heart. I'm officially rooting for Tom Cruise, oddball dwarf that he is. Knight and Day is released June 25.




5. Predators

The first Predator film, for all the failings of its various sequels and incarnations/crossovers, was a badass action/horror classic. This film appears to be returning to those roots, and I am extremely excited about that. A group of humans, all deadly killers in their own right, are dropped on a planet that serves as a game preserve for Predators, and hunted. The return to the jungle needed to happen, as the Predator was much more effective in the jungle than he ever was in urban environments. The cast, while unorthodox, has promise, and talent in spades, between Adrian Brody, Lawrence Fishbourne, Danny Trejo and others - if you ask me, it's a better idea to go in a different direction with the cast than try to match the original's musclebound collection of badasses. Predators opens July 9.



4. Get Him to the Greek

A few years back, Forgetting Sarah Marshall was a surprise for me, and in my book, ranks right up there with the best of the Apatow family of films. Now, the director reunites with Russell Brand and Jonah Hill, who reprise their roles from Sarah Marshall, to make what I hope will be the best comedy of the summer. Jonah Hill has 72 hours to get wild man Russell Brand from London to LA. Hijinks ensue.. count me in. Get Him to the Greek opens June 4.



3. Robin Hood

Robin Hood gets a much-needed update and revision, considering his last bigscreen treatment was the nonsensical "Prince of Thieves", in which Kevin Costner decided it was necessary to pretend that Robin Hood was from Missouri. Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe, also known as the powers that brought you "Gladiator", have reunited to bring a legendary figure to life, with a little updating and revision along the way. This is not the prankster thief of legend.. this is a full on rebel leader. Epic battles, grandiose spectacle and unbridled heroism will ensue. Count me in. Russ Crowe finally realized that he's best as a badass. Cate Blanchette as maid Marion? Awesome. The extremely underrated Marc Strong (Archie from "Rock N Rolla") as the sheriff? Awesome. In many summers, this one would be #1 on the list, but a couple of arrivals at the top make this not your average summer. Robin Hood opens May 14, and I'll be there May 14.



2. Iron Man 2

The first Iron Man was one of the all-time movie surprises. A relatively minor figure in Marvel's pantheon of heroes becomes one of the biggest films of all time. This is truly a testament to the talent involved. Favreau is more than competent behind the camera, Downey is truly immaculate as Tony Stark (I remember saying when I found out he was cast initially that he was truly perfect for the part), and the supporting players are all great. This remains the case even after Terrence Howard is replaced by Don Cheadle, as IM2 adds Mickey Rourke as the Russian whiplash, Scarlett Johannson as Black Widow, and Sam Rockwell as a rival arms manufacturer who wishes to hijack the Iron Man technology. (In case you're wondering, people trying to steal the Iron Man technology consists of about 92% of all Iron Man stories) Oh, how could I forget - War Machine (one of the biggest badasses in all of Marvel) makes his initial appearance as Rhodey dons the armor to help out his pal. I'll be there opening night, maybe even at midnight. Iron Man 2 opens May 7. Get there early, there's talk that this one might break TDK's opening weekend haul.



1. Inception

Chris Nolan is one of the few filmmakers about whom I can honestly say I'll see anything they make, no matter what. That, and the fact that he's teamed with my boy Leo for this one, make this the unquestioned number 1 of Summer 2010, despite the fact that I know very, very little about this secretive film. I do know that Leo's character is a new generation of Corporate spy in the near future who uses technology to go into people's minds in an effort to steal the contents of their minds. Other than that - I know nothing, except that this film will be stellar narratively, look amazing, and offer a whole hell of a lot more than your average summer blockbuster. Inception opens July 16, and I'll see you there.