Image Credit: Stephen VaughanIt’s been three days since I saw Inception, and I am still marveling at what Christopher Nolan was able to accomplish. Whenever a writer can construct a totally new world — with its own set of rules, its own fundamental logic — I am in awe. The way Christopher Nolan created and deeply understood every inch of his urban, surprisingly un-surrealistic dream world reminded me of J.R.R. Tolkien’s complete knowledge of Middle Earth . You might call him the architect of Inception. Making brilliant use of his talented cast, fascinating script, and $175 million budget, Nolan dreamt up a number of truly breathtaking scenes, each of which contributed to the movie’s grand, epic tone. Three particular scenes have been on my mind (or is it my subconscious?) since I saw the film, and each impressed me for totally different reasons: (Major spoilers ahead)
The spinning hallway fight in shifting gravity
Quite simply, this was the coolest special effects sequence I have ever seen on film. With the car in dream level one tumbling down a hill, dream level two enters into a state of constantly modulating gravity as Arthur begins to fight with a projection. The two men run on walls, fall into the ceiling, and thrash at each other in mid-air. It’s like a mix of The Matrix and High School Musical 3‘s spinning hallway of despair. I found myself enraptured, never wondering about any of the actual effects used, which is the highest compliment I can give an elaborate scene like this. The crowd in my theater burst into a joyous applause at its conclusion.
The simultaneous kicks back to the “real” world
The editing in this sequence was on par with the editing in the final scenes of Lost–lyrical yet effectively narrative. Watching Ariadne (Ellen Page) and the others simultaneously fall, “kick,” and wake up as they passed through the multiple levels of the dream was a welcome relief after two hours of convoluted tension. It’s a testament to the skills of editor Lee Smith that a slow-motion montage could provide so much plot resolution, and the synchronicity was beautiful.
Cobb and Mal’s final conversation/confrontation
Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mal’s (Marion Cotillard) tragic relationship was intriguingly written, though in the hands of less talented actors, their confused-reality storyline could have veered into the unintentionally comedic. Fortunately, DiCaprio and Cotillard’s superb, moving performances prevented that from happening, and grounded the complicated story in a much-needed emotional reality. DiCaprio used a sense of solemn detachment to convey Cobb’s relentless sense of guilt, while Cotillard’s restrained anger perfectly framed Mal as the movie’s love interest and antagonist. In their final moments together, I believed they were in love. I believed that they were heartbroken. Heck, I believed they had spent a whole lifetime inside a dream limbo!
What did you think of Inception, PopWatchers? Were you as blown away as I was? Which scenes impressed you the most?
The top symbolizes obviousness.
The spinning hallway scene was the best…my jaw actually dropped to the ground when I saw that. It was AMAZING!!!
AGREED. It was phenomenal. So simple in execution too. An example of analog triumphing over digital.
I also loved Cillian Murphy’s resolution of his relationship with his father. Shockingly moving seeing how truly manipulative it is, yet you are still happy that in his own mind he believes his father loved him.
Another great scene was the training session with Page. The folding city and mirror-bridge shocked us into a world without boundaries.
Really… All the scenes were classic. Just a classic film. Im not going to call it one of the best ever, because, well, it isn’t but it is worthy of and Oscar nom for best picture and director.
i agree. i just wanted to rewind and watch it all over again. The absolute best part of the movie.
I liked the movie very much, but I haven’t found myself obsessively thinking about it. I thought it was intelligent, but not as complex as other movies I’ve seen. However, the part that does stick with me is the city that Cobb and Mal created for themselves. For me it resembled what walking through the architecture of someone’s memory would be like – a childhood home next door to a admired skyscraper. That was the most intriguing aspect of the dreamworlds for me.
I’m with you Lisa. I thought it was an intelligent yet not complex movie. I thought the special effects were really cool and had enough of a strong plotline to keep it from being ridiculous. My favorite scene is the zero gravity/spinning hallway fight that Arthur had. It was very Matrix like. I wish the movie was more surreal, though, like an actual dream.
*SPOILER ALERT*
As Cillian Murphy’s character made up with the projection of his father, I liked that he reached for the pinwheel in the safe as opposed to the will. It made me think there was some secret message about using wind energy. lol.
they had to keep every dream as real as they could so they could get the guy believe it was really happening
the spinning hallway scene was one of the best scenes ever on film. So well done! and loved Arthur
Really? Better than ANY other scene in ANY other film? Man, you’ve probably seen A LOT of movies.
*cough* he said one of the best
can you read?
Why do people have such a problem accepting that new things can also be iconic and great. Name another scene in a movie you were that bedazzled by.
I got the sense that scene is close to the impact of the Neo bullet dodging scene in the first Matrix. It was new, and people took to it instantly. I think this will be the same, and hopefully not as over-used as the bullet dodging.
Then please tell us about some scenes in other movies you thought were better. And I mean special effects fight scenes, not just scenes in general. I’m no shut-in when it comes to movies, and I agree that that scenes was probably the best one I’ve ever seen. Although the second it was over, I wanted to know how on earth they did it and made it look so realistically like gravity was shifting.
I just wanted to say that I think Monty’s comment is spot on. Well said.
At the end of that scene, I leaned to my wife and said “That was the coolest fight scene I’ve ever seen.” Joseph G-L was so great in this movie. He could be the next big thing.
I agree. I love that scene. I loved Joseph Gordon-Levitt in this movie. It made me want to see him more bigger roles. Not to mention a newfound crush.
I thought it was funny cause JGL wasn’t the main character but he was my FAVORITE. I loved how he executed the fight scenes. A great actor doesn’t get lost in the effects they are able to continue furthering the story. He spent so much time alone in level two but had some of the most exciting scenes.
i loved joseph gordon levitt in thi film. his scenes were some of the best in this film, and what made it great. love him
This is the first movie in a while I’ve wanted to see again after it was over. Not because it was complicated but because the time really flew by for me. I felt that way about Titanic, too, which might have been the last movie I saw in the theater more than once.
The movie was good, not great–I think it’s been overpraised due to the rash of terrible movies lately. However, I did like the zero-g hallway fight a lot, as well as its aftermath (the corraling of all the sleeping bodies to put them in the elevator was a nice touch).
What does being “overpraised” mean? Is there some limit to praise that I’m unaware of? Sure, people really liked it, but I doubt it’s because this summer’s been so bad. It’s just a solid film with good performances, and an engaging story. If that’s not a good film worthy of praise, I don’t know what is.
Whenever a really popular movie comes out there always has to be the condescending few who say boo to it. I guess they feel like it makes them seem “superior” because they see flaws on something the majority loves. To me, I just see a pretentious fool.
completely agree! loved it!
The Contrary Marys, I call them. “Yeah, well it’s not as good as you think. I know this because I’m smarter than you!”
angelo, i love your comment!!
I loved the film, I thought it was a thrilling and brilliant piece of work, but I totally respect anyone saying otherwise…
‘condescending’ ‘superior’ ‘pretentious fool’??
How about – “I worship this film, I will insult anyone who contradicts my one and only view!”
Jeez, you know people are allowed to have different opinions from you?
I was as enthralled by you, Grady. The special effects within the dreams seemed more real than most special effects in real world scenes in most blockbuster movies. I especially loved the scene where he wraps up about 5 people and pushes them down the corridor into the lift.
I found Inception thrilling, emotional, even witty in places. Only one person got up during the long running time, and everyone gasped at the ending.
Thats exactly the problem I have with most big budget movies in the last few years. The effects are often distracting to me, and take away from the story….in the case of Inception, I felt like it served a purpose when it was big, dramatic effects, and they also used more subtle effects too.
Honestly, the whole movie was amazing. I liked the car chase around the city in the rain. I liked the training mission at the beginning with Saito. I loved the open-ended conclusion. I loved the snowy fortress, but my favorite scene is probaly Joseph Gordon-Levitt kicking a** in zero gravity. So cool!!!
as you, I mean!
I’d also like to add that the two “paradox” moments were great.
those were really cool.
I loved the first one because I recognized it right away (from M.C. Escher)but I loved the second one even more because it caught me by surprise and I laughed out loud.
Actually the scene where Mal jumps out the hotel windom was brillantly acted by Leo and Marion. I know it’s not happy or cool scene but it stayed with me the longest.
I meant “window”, not “windom”. And I meant “a cool scene”, not just “cool scene”
I agree. The scene where he tries to talk her out of jumping was incredibly well acted by Leo and Marion. I’ve never been much of a Leo fan but that scene was so well done by him, I might be less hesitant to go see his movies…
Yeah, you know she killed herself. And yet the scene is still very gripping, shocking really.
I appreciate the scene not devolving into 2 minutes of blubbering after she jumps. Those few seconds of shock and despair (and such a fine use of blasphemy!) were splendid and sufficient.
I am fortunate to have never really suffered, let alone witness, a shockingly tragic moment. Watching the way Leo acts them out (Inception and Shutter Island) makes me hope that I never do. His pain is so real, it’s terrifying.
Hands down it has to be the hotel scenes with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. After seeing the scene with him floating down the hallway, I immediately want to watch the special features on the DVD to find out how it was filmed. My favorite part was when he was organizing the bodies and preparing them to put in the elevator.
If you have HBO, keep your eyes peeled for the HBO First Look on Inception. Caught it last night, and it talks about how Christopher Nolan chose to go the route of using real sets instead of CGI in a lot of places. AND how JGL did ALL his own stunts. I knew there was a reason I liked him so much
I saw a short little special about the movie where they actually talked about filming the hallway scene. The whole hallway was on a machine that spun it around.
that’s amazing!!
I loved this scene also because it wasn’t focused on the special effects so much as on the process of Joseph Gordon Levitt’s character completing the tasks of getting all the bodies together, moving them, jolting them, etc.
I totally agree! The scene with JGL moving and positoning the dreaming bodies was so ultra-cool!
I actually thought the scene where we meet Eames for the first time reminded me a lot of Raiders of the Lost Ark with the rooftop meeting and chase through the streets. That was my favorite action.
I thought that too.
The whole movie was epic, but the ending scene has not left my head since seeing the movie in Imax on Friday.
I had that too, especially because of the beautiful music in the ending scene
I thought the scene where Fischer finally reaches peace with his father (albeit, himself, projecting his father) was incredibly touching. Especially given that about 15 minutes into the climactic sequence, I had to remind myself they were going through all of these risks and perils just for some corporate competition, and this scene brought a bit of raised emotional stakes, aside from the wonderful Dom-Mal storyline.
Especially when you see the pinwheel. I thought that was a wonderful touch.
Seconding Fischer’s “peace with his father.”
The way the music rose to a crescendo, the editing, and the shot of Cillian Murphy’s teary face seemed to go on forever in my experience.
It had no dialogue and it was just beautiful.
The most amazing scene was the zero-gravity/moving hallway scene in the hotel. I agree that that was one of the coolest scenes I have ever seen in a movie EVER. And Cobb and Mal’s final scene was extremely well done too.