We've come across some fairly bad reviews of the film - but have to admit that those were none of our problems. It was a fun Hollywood flick, with enough semblance of a plot and possibility of analysis to make you feel happy with yourself, and with style worthy of a entire Chanel ramp-show.
So what were the dissident's common plaints?
1) No plot
This I thought was rather unfair. There was an extremely clear plot-line ... if you got lost along the way, there's a pardon for that, but I think Mr Nolan had a very clear story in mind when he sat down in the director's chair. The issue could have been one of over-sandwiching, or simply that irresistible Photoshop urge to keep adding layers because they look so nice. Could it have been made a little simpler? Definitely. But then we'd have been baying for him succumbing to dumbing it down. Somewhere along the way, a story of corporate espionage through a type of 'mind-reading' became a special effects extravaganza. Oh yes, we have never seen THAT happen before in Hollywood ...
2) All style no substance
Ahem. Have you seen Mr Nolan's other films? You don't go expecting the 'Pianist' at a 'Terminator' movie. So this is like that, but not exactly like that. You be happy for the substance that you get.
3) "I felt more for the guy sitting alone in front of me than for any character in the film."
One remarkable aspect of Christopher Nolan films for me is their ... umm ... 'frantic-ness'. All the scenes, characters and the story racing through like they're all on varying quantities of Red Bull ... and there is an almost conscious attempt not to let any character grow on you. You're not allowed to empathize with a character. Its difficult to as well, when you're jumping off buildings and racing up at angles opposing gravity. Nolan has never been about building characters. Which is why if a character ever did, it was just proof of his skills as an actor - to stand out despite the pace of the film.
4) "Climax which is clunky and confusing" / "overblown mess of an ending"
This I can still sort of subscribe to. I have hajar reservations about the ending, and despite a mess gargantuan enough to warrant 3 sequels of cleaning up ... I was a little uncomfortable about everyone waking up sweetly in their seats, seat-belts still conveniently in place. All they need were blonde air-hostesses handing them their travel toothbrush kits.
But I guess sometimes, the only way to go is pretend like it never happened - as in, in reality :-) if that makes any sense. So my review is - go watch. You may be violently disappointed, but for a year that has given us a range of fowl from 'Robin Hood', SATC2, 'Knight & Day' and the Prince of Whatever ... I think this is definitely more engaging stuff. Do let me know if you violently contradict.
But leaving 'Inception' aside - the telly does really seem to just get better and better. Last night we saw the first episode of the BBC series 'Sherlock'. Its a 90 minute show with an absolute cracker of a cast, a mean editor on the table and a totally fun premise. Watch the promo below ...
The lead character especially deserves special mention for totally bringing the 'off' quality of Holmes to life ... and of course the fact that I've violently fallen in love with him has a teensy bit to do with it as well. And come on - I'm sure all lit lovers have wondered what would Sherlock do today with the modern wonders of GPS, SMS and email. And I of course couldn't stop cracking up at poor Watson's feeble attempts to not be classified as Holmes's 'date' on one of their stakeouts at a restaurant. The perils of modern living when 2 guys share a apartment. Sigh. But friends - the game, is most definitely afoot. Do try and catch it.
Next post will be a travel one - from little Maastricht, a small city on the border of the Netherlands where we saw 'Inception' over the weekend. Lots of pictures in the next.
Cheers
Sush
3 comments:
inception really pissed me off when it was done. intermission.. happy. ending... unhappy. wtf. it was too self conscious a film.
I had no expectations going into the film, but I actually really enjoyed Inception. I disagree with the idea of being more invested with the lonely guy in front of you than with any of the characters. Besides being amused by Ellen Page's adorable sense of wonder, how can you not feel for Cobb when his wife is standing on that ledge of their hotel room telling him that he might as well jump because she had called their lawyer, and he would lose the kids anyways?
Well Prianka - somehow neither Ellen Page nor Cobb sort of ... 'got' me. I was just way too carried away with the shape-shifting buildings I guess :-) But still think that emotional points were just not allowed to 'simmer' in the film ... there was too much fun action!
Post a Comment