Inception - 10 stars out of 10

Inception - 10 stars out of 10

"Inception" is the most mind-bending film since The Matrix. Where The Matrix operates on two levels, Christopher Nolan's film operates on FOUR (or possibly even five!) It's all-star cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Tom Hardy in his breakthrough performance. The acting is solid from start to finish. Although the acting does not create biopic realism (like The King's Speech or Twelve Angry Men), it possess the necessary intensity to drive this thriller for its entire 150 minute duration. Every aspect of this film works together to turn this into an "experience."  The amazing thing about Hans Zimmer's score does not come in the form of memorable themes that appear throughout the film; instead, it fills you with heart-pounding emotion without even realizing it.  The winner of 4 Academy Awards (including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects), Inception takes a far-fetched concept and makes it 100% believable from a visual and conceptual standpoint. The anti-gravitational scenes in the hotel takes "Matrix-esque" special effects to a new level with a smoothness that feels frighteningly real. The simultaneous timeframes, including the slow motion of the van, are genius and the only way to bring this mind-blowing situation to life. You won't need a map to navigate this film, but it gets better each time you watch as you can better grasp the depth of each level occuring on the screen. Though many have complained, the ending will leave you on the edge of your seat as the line between dreams and reality becomes blurred... and we're made to contemplate whether it matters.