To keep "Inception" at least approachable, Nolan maintains a steady influx of exposition to clarify the dreamland surroundings. This is a complex and charged feature, but it's also unbelievably verbose, electing to explain every trip to the brain in laborious detail Movie Inception. The chatter has a nasty way of disrupting the flow of the feature, with much, if not all of the first half devoted to discussion and uninspired explanation, keeping the picture dangerously monotone as everything is spilled in a clunky fashion that betrays the imposingly esoteric visual impression. Nolan aims to position viewers in a place of comfortable confusion, but to achieve that difficult posture, he robs "Inception" of outrageous pace and invigorating character transitions, draining the story of emotional involvement (Dom's red-faced struggle with Mal is key here, but doesn't reverberate as intended) Movie Inception. Every character is saddled with nonstop questions in this script; after an hour of unbroken chatter, it seems as though Nolan might've fallen asleep as well. DiCaprio, who has never been better as the tortured hero, draws you in with a love story that will appeal even to non-sci-fi fans. Meanwhile, Nolan ratchets up the suspense as he shifts seamlessly between the different dreams and reality Movie Inception. But the the idea of dream capture is far too simple for Nolan, who forced himself to tell "Memento" in reverse order. Here, he compels Cobb not to extract information from his victim but to implant it, and in such a way that the fellow believes it was his idea Movie Inception. This requires the assemblage of a sizable support team, notably including his factotum (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a forger or fabricator of dream states (Tom Hardy), a designer pharmacist (Dileep Rao) and an architect (Ellen Page), who can fashion dream worlds Movie Inception. Watching Inception is like striking a match and setting your brain on fire Movie Inception. The movie's tagline, your mind is the scene of the crime, is so much more than a reference to what happens in the film. Sure the plot involves a group of dream-invading thieves, but in the process of telling that story, something much bigger happens inside your own head Movie Inception. It's as if writer/director Chris Nolan has invaded your brain as well Movie Inception. As he attempts to unlock the secrets of the human psyche, his movie implants its own ideas in your subconscious Movie Inception. You'll walk out of Inception questioning your own reality Movie Inception. It's a feeling I haven't had since the first time I saw The Matrix, only, Inception pulls it off without fetish leather and kung fu. The performances are good Movie Inception. DiCaprio is properly anguished, Marion Cotillard does well as his tormented wife, and Nolan's good-luck charm Michael Caine brings his trademark charisma to a throwaway role Movie Inception. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who's always good, is permitted to contribute a few (very few) lighter moments to an otherwise deadly serious narrative Movie Inception. Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, and Dileep Rao complete DiCaprio's "team," adding life and color to the ensemble Movie Inception.