The story of Swan Lake is a beautiful ballet. It's about a virgin girl trapped in a swan's body. To break the spell, she must gain the love of a prince. Unfortunately the evil black swan tricks him into loving her. Upset by the life she must live, the white swan kills herself, and in death she finds freedom. The film Black Swan is a similar story of an innocent girl, Nina (Natalie Portman; Star Wars, The Other Boleyn Girl) who needs to learn to "let herself go" in order to dance the Black Swan, as well as the White Swan. The latter she does perfectly, but the former is a struggle due to her innocence. Her world is turned upside down when she meets a new dancer, Lily (Mila Kunis; That 70s Show, Forgetting Sarah Marshall), who's an exact opposite of Nina and helps her to let loose. The Black Swan turns into a great conflict of man vs. himself, when Nina works so hard on the role it drives her into insanity, struggling internally between staying the white swan and becoming the black swan.
Nominated for five Oscars including, Best Picture, Actress in a Leading Role (Natalie Portman), Cinematography, Directing (Darren Aronofsky; Requiem for a Dream), and Film Editing, Black Swan is considered to be one of the best films of 2010. I think Natalie did an outstanding job portraying both the innocent and the crazy. We're use to seeing her play smaller, "good girl" roles, but we did get a sneak of her rebellious side in Closer. She really broke out of her shell in V for Vendetta playing a rebellious freedom fighter. Natalie really got into her role as Nina and was believable as both good and bad.
Mila Kunis was surprisingly good. I always liked her on That 70s Show as Jackie Burkhart, but she had that role for so long, and I think that sometimes actors carry a role into other roles. Mila, however, didn't. She played a completely different character, and it was believable. I like Mila Kunis a lot, because even though she's done a lot of movie roles, she still continues to play the voice of Meg Griffin on Family Guy. She hasn't left the show thinking she could do better without it. She didn't have a big enough role to get nominated for Best Supporting Actress, but I think someday she'll make it to that point.
All together this film was pretty good. It was hard to separate fantasy from reality, which is a good thing considering the film's storyline. Not knowing whether the main character was hallucinating or not, almost made the audience go through it with her. There were a few queasy parts that I had to look away from too, but not so bad. One thing I noted was the emphasis on the feet. Ballet is a really beautiful form of dance. The prettiest in my opinion, and the cinematography during the dancing was excellent. It's hard to film dancing and have each shot be consistent. Also, in some films, the cinematographer will do a closeup of a body part instead of doing a full body shot, because they want to hide the fact that the actor isn't doing their own stunt. I often feel, however, that its obvious the actor isn't doing it and that's why they cut to the close up. However, in Black Swan, I believed it was Natalie Portman's foot and that the closeups were just to emphasize how good of a dancer Nina is and how hard she worked. It definitely was done very well and flowed nicely.
One thing I didn't like was the costume choice. Some dancers wore white, symbolizing good, and some wore black, symbolizing evil. None wore pink or any other color making the film typically feel like black and white. I thought that was a little obvious, especially when they did the wide shots of a whole room of black and white dancers. It was a good symbolization but over done. I liked at one point when she started the inner battle and was wearing gray to symbolize the mixture between good and evil. Also, once she put on the black tank top Lily gave her, she kind of lost control. Parts of it were good, but there were parts that was a little too much.
Some may argue with me, but I don't think the ending was very predictable. In a way I guess I saw it coming, but it was still a little shocker. Everybody will have their own opinion about this film, and that's what's so great about it. Whether or not it wins Best Picture, Black Swan will be talked about amongst friends for months (maybe even years) to come.
The Kids Are All Right
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Kids Are All Right starring Annette Bening (American Beauty), Julianne Moore (30 Rock, Children of Men), and Mark Ruffalo (Shutter Island, Just Like Heaven) is nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mark Ruffalo), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Annette Bening), Best Picture, and Best Writing (Original Screenplay). This dramedy, directed and written by Lisa Cholodenko, (who also directed The L Word and Six Feet Under) lives up to its expectations. It's simple yet heartwarming. Laser (Josh Hutcherson; Bridge to Terabithia, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant) and Jonie (Mia Wasikowska;Alice in Wonderland) , the children of two lesbians, decided they want to meet their sperm donor (Ruffalo). The rest of the story unfolds as everyone, but Nic (Bening) accepts Paul into their life. However, when she decides to finally be friends with him, a scandal is discovered , tearing the whole family apart.
Julianne Moore is quoted as saying, "We’re all pretty much alike. Speak to anybody...about a long-term relationship and you’re going to hear the same kind of stories." The film shows the truth in this as the realism between the two moms. Because the children were raised by the two of them, they're familiar with it and the term "moms" comes off their tongue naturally. This causes the audience to have a familiarity with it as well and not be "wierded out" by the two women being in love and having a family together. I thought the love between the two characters, Nic and Jules, was genuine and realistic. They've probably have had the best chemistry between any on screen couple I've seen. It wasn't a movie about two hot lesbians that just happen to have kids. It was a movie about a family where the parents just happen to be two women. Their marriage was nothing special, just like any other marriage. One worked long hours, the other struggled to keep a job. They argued over regular things, like how to raise the children. It could have been the same movie with a straight couple that couldn't have kids so they needed a donor, which in a way shows that gay parents can be just as good parents as straight parents.
There was a bit of unnecessary nudity that I could have done without, however. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to know that Mark Ruffalo's ass is not hairy, despite the rest of his body, but I thought it took away from the film. There were so many parts that were so believable that I forgive the sex scenes.
I enjoyed the awkwardness of the first meeting between the sperm donor father, Paul, and the two kids. Most movies have too much or too little awkwardness, almost like they have to fill the silence with something. This scene had just enough awkward silence that I felt as if I was there.
Another scene I enjoyed is when Paul when to the house to have dinner with the family. Nic, who happens to be a doctor, was asking him questions about himself and his career, and he got a little defensive. Now I think owning a restaurant and an organic farm is impressive, but there are some people that don't. I empathized with him during this scene because I've been on the receiving end of the grilling constantly, and I know what its like to feel like you're not meeting someone's expectations. I believe that this is what he felt, and to be able to feel what the character is feeling is definitely something. It is always good to have characters an audience can relate to. As a screenwriter, this is something with which I struggle.
For that reason, I think The Kids Are All Right should win the Oscar Writing (Original Screenplay). I think it should have even got a nomination for Best Director because Lisa really pushed her actors to bring the audience into the story. I think Annette Bening deserves her nomination for Best Actress, but I feel as if Mark Ruffalo is always playing the same roles. Although this was a good character, I don't think it was challenging enough for him. He needs to step it up, take some bigger roles, then he'll deserve an Oscar nomination. No offense Mark, I love you, that's why I know you can do better. As for Best Picture, well it was good, but I have yet to decide if it was the best. I think, however, out of all the films released this year, it definitely deserves that nomination. Lisa showed the world something, not many people want to touch yet, and she did it in a tasteful way. This is definitely a must see movie, and I knew that the second I read the description for it in the newspaper.
Julianne Moore is quoted as saying, "We’re all pretty much alike. Speak to anybody...about a long-term relationship and you’re going to hear the same kind of stories." The film shows the truth in this as the realism between the two moms. Because the children were raised by the two of them, they're familiar with it and the term "moms" comes off their tongue naturally. This causes the audience to have a familiarity with it as well and not be "wierded out" by the two women being in love and having a family together. I thought the love between the two characters, Nic and Jules, was genuine and realistic. They've probably have had the best chemistry between any on screen couple I've seen. It wasn't a movie about two hot lesbians that just happen to have kids. It was a movie about a family where the parents just happen to be two women. Their marriage was nothing special, just like any other marriage. One worked long hours, the other struggled to keep a job. They argued over regular things, like how to raise the children. It could have been the same movie with a straight couple that couldn't have kids so they needed a donor, which in a way shows that gay parents can be just as good parents as straight parents.
There was a bit of unnecessary nudity that I could have done without, however. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to know that Mark Ruffalo's ass is not hairy, despite the rest of his body, but I thought it took away from the film. There were so many parts that were so believable that I forgive the sex scenes.
I enjoyed the awkwardness of the first meeting between the sperm donor father, Paul, and the two kids. Most movies have too much or too little awkwardness, almost like they have to fill the silence with something. This scene had just enough awkward silence that I felt as if I was there.
Another scene I enjoyed is when Paul when to the house to have dinner with the family. Nic, who happens to be a doctor, was asking him questions about himself and his career, and he got a little defensive. Now I think owning a restaurant and an organic farm is impressive, but there are some people that don't. I empathized with him during this scene because I've been on the receiving end of the grilling constantly, and I know what its like to feel like you're not meeting someone's expectations. I believe that this is what he felt, and to be able to feel what the character is feeling is definitely something. It is always good to have characters an audience can relate to. As a screenwriter, this is something with which I struggle.
For that reason, I think The Kids Are All Right should win the Oscar Writing (Original Screenplay). I think it should have even got a nomination for Best Director because Lisa really pushed her actors to bring the audience into the story. I think Annette Bening deserves her nomination for Best Actress, but I feel as if Mark Ruffalo is always playing the same roles. Although this was a good character, I don't think it was challenging enough for him. He needs to step it up, take some bigger roles, then he'll deserve an Oscar nomination. No offense Mark, I love you, that's why I know you can do better. As for Best Picture, well it was good, but I have yet to decide if it was the best. I think, however, out of all the films released this year, it definitely deserves that nomination. Lisa showed the world something, not many people want to touch yet, and she did it in a tasteful way. This is definitely a must see movie, and I knew that the second I read the description for it in the newspaper.
Three O'Clock High
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I love the innocence of an 80s movie. Movies and even sitcoms (Full House) show that it was okay to be cheesy 20 years ago. But cheesy is good. I watched Three O'Clock High, a film from 1987, that had some cheesy parts in the beginning so the viewer knew they were watching an 80s movie, but it was actually a pretty good movie.
It starts out with the main character Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko; Stand by Me, Back to the Future, Public Enemies) frantically getting ready for school as he realizes he is late opening up the school store. I appreciated the rushing around because as a person that has always been late and probably always will be late I can relate to having to rush. I could have done without the Captain Obvious younger sister (Stacey Glick; Brighton Beach Memoirs) but she got a little tamer as the movie went on.
Lisa Simpson makes a cameo in this movie which I was pretty excited about, but that's beside the point. So Jerry is told by the editor of the school paper to do a piece on the new kid Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson; Black Hawk Down, There's Something About Mary) who of course is the epitome of scary bully kid. He reminded me of Heath Ledger (may he rest in peace) in 10 Things I Hate About You except meaner and bigger. But they pretty much had the same reputation. So after an awkward conversation in the bathroom, Jerry touches Buddy, which was stated earlier that he hates being touched, and gets himself in a predicament. Buddy threatens him to a fight at 3:00 in the parking lot "or else".
So throughout the entire movie, Jerry tries to find ways to get out of it, and of course every situation puts him in deeper and deeper trouble. The fight scene wasn't exactly as predictable as I thought it would be, but maybe for some people it is. Considering it had a no name cast, this film, directed by Phil Joanou (directed 2nd season finale of 3rd Rock from the Sun) was pretty good. I recommend it for an 80s movie night. It's a classic, I've decided. I was also happy to learn that it wasn't about getting high or drug related at all. I miss those days when you could make a good movie and not have drugs, nudity, or violence in it. Although, technically there was violence in it but it wasn't tasteless. See Tarantino there is such a thing as tastefull violence, you should try it sometime and maybe I'll actually watch your films.
Anyway, I'm getting beside myself. Add 3 O'Clock High to your list of good 80s movies. Right next to Stand by Me, Say Anything, Sixteen Candles, and I guess I'll have to add a non John Cusack movie, Pretty in Pink. Huh, I feel an 80s movie night marathon coming up, but after I watch my Oscar nom movies of course.
I'll keep you guys posted on who I think deserved the nomination and who doesn't.
It starts out with the main character Jerry Mitchell (Casey Siemaszko; Stand by Me, Back to the Future, Public Enemies) frantically getting ready for school as he realizes he is late opening up the school store. I appreciated the rushing around because as a person that has always been late and probably always will be late I can relate to having to rush. I could have done without the Captain Obvious younger sister (Stacey Glick; Brighton Beach Memoirs) but she got a little tamer as the movie went on.
Lisa Simpson makes a cameo in this movie which I was pretty excited about, but that's beside the point. So Jerry is told by the editor of the school paper to do a piece on the new kid Buddy Revell (Richard Tyson; Black Hawk Down, There's Something About Mary) who of course is the epitome of scary bully kid. He reminded me of Heath Ledger (may he rest in peace) in 10 Things I Hate About You except meaner and bigger. But they pretty much had the same reputation. So after an awkward conversation in the bathroom, Jerry touches Buddy, which was stated earlier that he hates being touched, and gets himself in a predicament. Buddy threatens him to a fight at 3:00 in the parking lot "or else".
So throughout the entire movie, Jerry tries to find ways to get out of it, and of course every situation puts him in deeper and deeper trouble. The fight scene wasn't exactly as predictable as I thought it would be, but maybe for some people it is. Considering it had a no name cast, this film, directed by Phil Joanou (directed 2nd season finale of 3rd Rock from the Sun) was pretty good. I recommend it for an 80s movie night. It's a classic, I've decided. I was also happy to learn that it wasn't about getting high or drug related at all. I miss those days when you could make a good movie and not have drugs, nudity, or violence in it. Although, technically there was violence in it but it wasn't tasteless. See Tarantino there is such a thing as tastefull violence, you should try it sometime and maybe I'll actually watch your films.
Anyway, I'm getting beside myself. Add 3 O'Clock High to your list of good 80s movies. Right next to Stand by Me, Say Anything, Sixteen Candles, and I guess I'll have to add a non John Cusack movie, Pretty in Pink. Huh, I feel an 80s movie night marathon coming up, but after I watch my Oscar nom movies of course.
I'll keep you guys posted on who I think deserved the nomination and who doesn't.
The 83rd Academy Awards
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Oscar nominations were announced this morning. I have attached the link below. The Oscars will air live on Sunday Feb. 27 at 8PM ET, 7PM Central.
Oscar Nominations
Oscar Nominations
2011 Golden Globe Winners
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Golden Globes aired Sunday, Jan. 16. Although I did not watch them, I have the winners listed below.
Best Motion Picture-Drama
The Social Network (Really??)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama
Natalie Portman-Black Swan (No surprise there, I still really want to see it)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama
Colin Firth-The King's Speech
Best Motion Picture -Comedy or Musical
The Kids Are All Right(Personally I don't think the other films should have even been nominated, can't wait to see this one!)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Annette Bening-The Kids Are All Right
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Paul Giamatti-Barney's Version
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Melissa Leo-The Fighter
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale-The Fighter
Best Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3
Best Foreign Language Film
In A Better World (Denmark)
Best Director-Motion Picture
David Fincher-The Social Network (Really?? Over Inception? I don't know about that)
Best Screenplay-Motion Picture
Aaron Sorkin-Social Network (Again?)
Best Original Score-Motion Picture
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross-Social Network
Best Original Song-Motion Picture
"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me"-Burlesque
Best Television Series-Drama
Boardwalk Empire(HBO)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series-Drama
Katey Sagal-Sons of Anarchy
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series-Drama
Steve Buscemi-Boardwalk Empire
Best Television Series-Comedy or Musical
Glee(FOX) (Congratulations Gleeks)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series-Comedy or Musical
Laura Linney-The Big C
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series-Comedy or Musical
Jim Parsons-The Big Bang Theory
Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Carlos(Sundance C)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Claire Danes-Temple Grandin(HBO)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Al Pacino-You Don't Know Jack(HBO)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jane Lynch-Glee
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Chris Colfer-Glee
Best Motion Picture-Drama
The Social Network (Really??)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama
Natalie Portman-Black Swan (No surprise there, I still really want to see it)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama
Colin Firth-The King's Speech
Best Motion Picture -Comedy or Musical
The Kids Are All Right(Personally I don't think the other films should have even been nominated, can't wait to see this one!)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Annette Bening-The Kids Are All Right
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Paul Giamatti-Barney's Version
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Melissa Leo-The Fighter
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale-The Fighter
Best Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3
Best Foreign Language Film
In A Better World (Denmark)
Best Director-Motion Picture
David Fincher-The Social Network (Really?? Over Inception? I don't know about that)
Best Screenplay-Motion Picture
Aaron Sorkin-Social Network (Again?)
Best Original Score-Motion Picture
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross-Social Network
Best Original Song-Motion Picture
"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me"-Burlesque
Best Television Series-Drama
Boardwalk Empire(HBO)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series-Drama
Katey Sagal-Sons of Anarchy
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series-Drama
Steve Buscemi-Boardwalk Empire
Best Television Series-Comedy or Musical
Glee(FOX) (Congratulations Gleeks)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series-Comedy or Musical
Laura Linney-The Big C
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series-Comedy or Musical
Jim Parsons-The Big Bang Theory
Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Carlos(Sundance C)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Claire Danes-Temple Grandin(HBO)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Al Pacino-You Don't Know Jack(HBO)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jane Lynch-Glee
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
Chris Colfer-Glee
Inception
Sunday, January 2, 2011
After patiently waiting so long to see this film, I finally waited no longer and rented Inception. I deeply do regret not seeing it at the IMAX, as my small non-HD television couldn't even compare to the sound and better quality picture I would have gotten at the IMAX. Anticipated by many to be the best film of 2010, surprisingly Inception only received 4 Golden Globes nominations, leaving me to wonder if the Academy has better taste and will give it multiple nominations for an Oscar. One would think. In my opinion, it was a very good looking cast, and they all deserve an award for their performances. Props to the casting director! Actors in a film often make the film what it is. A film, to me, is only as powerful as its weakest actor. Although Inception was nominated for Best Motion Picture-Drama and Best Director, it didn't get any nominations for Best Actor, Actress, or Supporting roles, and more often than not a Best Actor/Actress nomination goes hand in hand with a Best Film nomination. It was also nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Score (which was intense). I guess its up to the academy to pick up the slack.
All in all this was a great movie. I'm not even being bias even though Leonardo DiCaprio is hands down my favorite actor of all time. He's done everything with such greatness, and when there's a film he's going to be cast in, chances are its going to be pretty epic. I've noticed over the years that he'll fall off the radar for a few years then do two or three movies at a time. I believe he does this, not because he can't find work, but because he's choosing his roles wisely. And every role he's had since he was a child has been pretty great, as has his supporting actors and the film itself. Even if the supporting actors were terrible (which they hardly ever are) he's such a strong actor that, contradicting what I stated earlier, he would make that movie great. He should just do a one man show, it'd be great! Unfortunately, he's only been nominated for three Academy Awards ever and hasn't won any! But moving on to the film, this blog, after all, is called Inception not The Great DiCaprio....
I was told by so many people that this movie is amazing, and I was not disappointed. I normally don't like SciFi films, other than the Twilight Saga but honestly those are more or a drama than sci-fi, but Inception has a good, original storyline. I'm a huge fan of originality, which is hard to find these days in a world of cover songs and remakes. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, known for other great films as The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, and Memento, the film is about a team of experts who invade people's dreams in order to get information from them. After failing to retrieve the information they were assigned to get by their corporation, Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 500 Days of Summer) are given a second chance by Saito (Ken Watanabe, Letters from Iwo Jima and Memoirs of a Geisha). The task at hand, inception, which is planting an idea in someone's mind. Cobb is tempted by the idea of being able to see his children again and assures his partner, Arthur, that it can be done. Saito wants the heir (Cillian Murphy, The Dark Knight and Tron) of a rivalry company to break up his father's (Pete Postlethwaite who returns for his second performance with Leo, the first being Romeo + Juliet) empire. In order for Robert Fischer (Murphy) to believe he thought up the idea himself, Cobb and Arthur round up a team of experts to help them dig deep enough in Fischer's mind to safely plant the idea. Ellen Page (Juno and Whip It) plays the young architect, Ariadne, who builds three levels of dream sequences to make it possible for the team to go deep enough. Eames (Tom Hardy, Marie Antoinette and Band of Brothers) is the team's conman and can change his appearance to anyone who's personality he has observed making it easier for Fischer to trust him. Finally, the chemist, Yusuf (Dileep Rao, Avatar and Drag Me to Hell) creates a sedative strong enough to keep Fischer out for ten hours without being woken up. The film focuses on the team's struggle to get the idea planted in Fischer's mind within the ten hours, or one week in dream time, with such conflict as Fischer's security and Cobb's secret enemy that seems to follow him in all his shared dreams.
The special effects in this film were phenomenal. The morphing buildings and even the sound effects. I really hope it gets some recognition with the Academy. This movie was obviously made to be viewed in 3-D, and even though the experience was great on my tiny TV, it could probably be even better with an updated system. This film will make you want to forget your own reality and get lost in your dreams. Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom Hardy can invade my dreams anyday!
All in all this was a great movie. I'm not even being bias even though Leonardo DiCaprio is hands down my favorite actor of all time. He's done everything with such greatness, and when there's a film he's going to be cast in, chances are its going to be pretty epic. I've noticed over the years that he'll fall off the radar for a few years then do two or three movies at a time. I believe he does this, not because he can't find work, but because he's choosing his roles wisely. And every role he's had since he was a child has been pretty great, as has his supporting actors and the film itself. Even if the supporting actors were terrible (which they hardly ever are) he's such a strong actor that, contradicting what I stated earlier, he would make that movie great. He should just do a one man show, it'd be great! Unfortunately, he's only been nominated for three Academy Awards ever and hasn't won any! But moving on to the film, this blog, after all, is called Inception not The Great DiCaprio....
I was told by so many people that this movie is amazing, and I was not disappointed. I normally don't like SciFi films, other than the Twilight Saga but honestly those are more or a drama than sci-fi, but Inception has a good, original storyline. I'm a huge fan of originality, which is hard to find these days in a world of cover songs and remakes. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, known for other great films as The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, and Memento, the film is about a team of experts who invade people's dreams in order to get information from them. After failing to retrieve the information they were assigned to get by their corporation, Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 500 Days of Summer) are given a second chance by Saito (Ken Watanabe, Letters from Iwo Jima and Memoirs of a Geisha). The task at hand, inception, which is planting an idea in someone's mind. Cobb is tempted by the idea of being able to see his children again and assures his partner, Arthur, that it can be done. Saito wants the heir (Cillian Murphy, The Dark Knight and Tron) of a rivalry company to break up his father's (Pete Postlethwaite who returns for his second performance with Leo, the first being Romeo + Juliet) empire. In order for Robert Fischer (Murphy) to believe he thought up the idea himself, Cobb and Arthur round up a team of experts to help them dig deep enough in Fischer's mind to safely plant the idea. Ellen Page (Juno and Whip It) plays the young architect, Ariadne, who builds three levels of dream sequences to make it possible for the team to go deep enough. Eames (Tom Hardy, Marie Antoinette and Band of Brothers) is the team's conman and can change his appearance to anyone who's personality he has observed making it easier for Fischer to trust him. Finally, the chemist, Yusuf (Dileep Rao, Avatar and Drag Me to Hell) creates a sedative strong enough to keep Fischer out for ten hours without being woken up. The film focuses on the team's struggle to get the idea planted in Fischer's mind within the ten hours, or one week in dream time, with such conflict as Fischer's security and Cobb's secret enemy that seems to follow him in all his shared dreams.
The special effects in this film were phenomenal. The morphing buildings and even the sound effects. I really hope it gets some recognition with the Academy. This movie was obviously made to be viewed in 3-D, and even though the experience was great on my tiny TV, it could probably be even better with an updated system. This film will make you want to forget your own reality and get lost in your dreams. Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom Hardy can invade my dreams anyday!
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