Movie review: Inception *****

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy
Director: Christopher Nolan
Rated: PG-13
Showing: Speciality Cinema week of Friday, August 6 - showing daily at 2:30/6:15/ 9:30pm except Saturday 4/7/10pm and Sunday 1/4/7pm
Runtime: 148 minutes
Action/sci-fi/thriller

The plot of this blockbuster by Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan has ­largely been shrouded in mystery but this hasn’t stopped it becoming one of the most anticipated movies of the year.

And rightly so — Inception is a visual and narrative masterpiece that is a ­perfect antidote to the string of sequels, remakes and ­mindless action flicks we have endured all ­summer.

Leonardo DiCaprio is Dom Cobb, a skilled thief in the art of extraction — stealing information from people’s minds while they dream.

He is paid by business tycoons to invade rivals’ dreams and steal their ideas — but his unique line of ­corporate espionage has made him a fugitive and cost him his family.

Until wealthy businessman Saito (Ken Watanabe, Memoirs Of A Geisha) offers him his life back if he can achieve the impossible — inception. Instead of stealing an idea, Cobb must plant one. 

Inception follows the ­classic heist movie format but it is far from predictable.

Nolan’s engaging, multi-layered script forces you to pay attention and think, not simply sit back and watch things being blown up.

Its brilliance is that there is clarity amid the complexity — you won’t be left scratching you head in bewilderment yet will learn more with repeat viewings.

There is plenty of physics-defying action with exciting special effects and sets, exceptional cinematography and great acting.

Cobb is DiCaprio’s finest performance to date. He doesn’t force a weighty ­performance as he did in Gangs Of New York but effortlessly portrays the depth of feeling and empathy he did in Shutter Island.

He keeps you engaged even when you are unsure what is going on.

Other great performances come from Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) and young Ellen Page (Juno) as Ariadne, a new recruit to the world of dream theft.

Just as her namesake guided Theseus through the labyrinth in Greek mythology, she guides the viewer through the maze of invading minds as she herself learns the ropes.

Watch if you liked: Memento.

For more information about film times, call 292-2135.