Grab your totem and your seat for Inception

Before you see Inception, grab your Gingko-Biloba or whichever new age vitamin/drug will quicken your synaptic connections. You're going to need it. You SHOULDN'T see Inception if you aren't prepared to push your brain into overdrive. You're going to be thinking and trying to sort things out from the opening sequence to the twist-ish ending. 

This film is, in essence, a quintessential action flick. The special effects are mind-blowing. The constraints of the dream world are few, and Christopher Nolan didn't forget that while making Inception. 

The concepts of Inception are complex. It is for this reason that the first half of the two and a half hour long gauntlet is laden with explanation. Explanation of the rules of the dream world, but it is necessary. It's easy to feel bogged down during the first half, trying to sort all the rules you're being given so quickly, but trust me when I say it pays off in the second half. 

This film is 100% constructed for multiple viewings. And yes, things make much more sense the second time around, but it doesn't detract from the first. After you see this film, you will leave the theater with your mind reeling. You're probably going to be as drained as if you had taken a two and a half hour calculus lesson. But try again to trust me when I say it's totally worth it.

My one criticism of this film is the emotional connection Nolan tries to establish with the audience. It doesn't work. We're asked to feel sympathy for the relationship between Cobb (DiCaprio) and Mal (Marion Cotillard), but she, in his dream world, is a cold, callous, mechanical being. The emotional content seems dry and without chemistry. They seem like two people who are desperately trying to collide but just keep shooting past each other. 

My only other criticism is of the criticism of this film (try that on for the "dream within a dream" concept). It seems that many people are most admiring of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance in this film. Yes, he was great. No, he's no longer the little boy from Third Rock From the Sun. But Ellen Page kills it in this film. Yes, she's already a well established actress that's helmed the leading role in several films, but she's great as Ariadne. Marion Cotillard is entrancing as Mal. But the one performance I was most amazed by was Cillian Murphy as Fischer. He was the one character for which I actually felt sincere sympathy. He deserves all the recognition in the world for this role. Don't forget about him.

Inception is great. It's above our heads at times. It's in our face at times. It's gripping ALL the time. See it. You have to.