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INCEPTION |OT| Movie of the Forever

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It's not that I COMPLETELY agree with brandonoh.

I thought the movie's concept was extremely interesting.

The foray into Cobbs' past was terrific and very interesting, as was Marion Cotillard.

It's the stupid fucking "action movie" part, which includes all the "we're characters in an action movie so the director is not going to give us any personality" of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, and the other random people Cobbs was with.

I just really don't like Nolan as an acting director.

They drained all the life out of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page. That Tom Hardy guy displays all but a spec of charm and everyone's jizzing themselves because most everyone is so boring and lifeless in comparison.

Why the fuck are so few of these characters human? Why do they all speak in monotone? Why is every single line completely hyper-serious and lacking in any sort of conviction -- except Leo. I felt Leo often only HAD conviction. Whether the emotion was there was really only determined by if Marion Cotillard was there or not.


Christopher Nolan has this really fucking annoying habit from some movies I've seen of his of DEMONSTRATING emotional impact and gravity by setting up SITUATIONS. The Dark Knight "if they push the button the rest die" thing is a perfect example. It's supposed to incite the audience to feel something through a situation, instead of having the audience respond to an actor's emotional life on screen. Much of Inception is like this. Just the sheer circumstances of the action going on are supposed to make us feel fear for these characters, to care if these characters are stuck in limbo, etc. etc.

Maybe that works for some people.

But it really doesn't do the job for me. What works for me is Marion Cotillard desperately pleading Leonardo DiCaprio to never let her go, to stay with her. When Fisher sees the pin wheel and begins to cry.

There needs to be more character in these things. More soul. Not just morally compromising CIRCUMSTANCES. Christopher Nolan is a really good director on a technical level, but I always walk away emotionally bored because he just fucks all the life out of his characters.

It makes Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker extraordinary -- because now after watching Inception I can "sense" how a lesser actor would've played the Joker (and it would've been just fine by Nolan) had Ledger not taken it to the level he did. Marion Cotillard also took her character to a new level. While she's SUPPOSED to be the emotional weight of the story, Nolan's pattern of making the audience care about the characters through the sheer circumstances of what's going on means it wouldn't have produced the performance of Cotillard without she herself bringing it to that next level.

Nolan lacks charm in his directing. There's almost no sense of humor. And it permeates almost all of the actors' performances. To quote the Joker himself, "Why so serious?"
 
polyh3dron said:
Estimates are moving up... Nikki Finke had it at $55 mil for the weekend this morning but now it looks like it'll rake in $62.1 mil.

"What an impressive start for the Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures mind-bending scifi thriller from 3,792 theaters, with Friday's $21.6 million (including $3M midnight shows in 1,600 locations) and Saturday's $22.5 million. The weekend opening should be $62.1M, solid for a 2D films, against a $150M budget. Audiences rated it an overall "B+" Cinemascore, with the under-25 crowd giving it an "A"."

Wow, it actually increased over Friday. Usually movies drop or stay flat after opening day. Hopefully this is a good sign.
 
mYm|17| said:
Just saw it and damn was it good stuff.

Arthur and Eames were my favorite in the movie.

67286_ori.jpg
 
DMczaf said:
"What an impressive start for the Warner Bros/Legendary Pictures mind-bending scifi thriller from 3,792 theaters, with Friday's $21.6 million (including $3M midnight shows in 1,600 locations) and Saturday's $22.5 million. The weekend opening should be $62.1M, solid for a 2D films, against a $150M budget. Audiences rated it an overall "B+" Cinemascore, with the under-25 crowd giving it an "A"."

Wow, it actually increased over Friday. Usually movies drop or stay flat after opening day. Hopefully this is a good sign.
62 mil is EXACTLY what I predicted

feelsgoodman.gif
 
Dead said:
62 mil is EXACTLY what I predicted

feelsgoodman.gif

If this goes over $60 mil opening weekend, I can see all the execs at WB breathing the biggest sigh of relief since Peter Jackson agreed to do The Hobbit movies.
 
Inferno313 said:
Watch out Avatar, here we come. :lol :lol :lol /sarcasm

this is the worst kind of post. i don't even know the budget of the film but at least i hope something does well in the hopes that more projects like it can be made. anyone who thought this would outgross Avatar was either out of their minds or just making a bullshit comment like you just did.
 
I really really loved watching this movie. Felt everything was on point. Loved the soundtrack.

nothing but good things to say
 
SamuraiX- said:

This.

Eames completely stole the spotlight for me, just like Joker in TDK.

I came out a bit disappointed, I think I overhyped myself a bit too much thinking it could be Nolan's best movie, but I still think Momento and The Prestige are superior, and maybe TDK.

It was a great film but not much else, maybe I need to see it again.

Edit: Also, very dissapointed in the action scene, it felt like I was watching a Bourne movie with all the shaky cam, I came in expecting TDK style of action, but it was meh and generic, except for the JGL elevator hallway fight.
 
Also, if these Friday and Saturday numbers hold, it'll already be Leo's biggest opening weekend ever :lol

Shutter Island - $41,062,440

Inception (Fri. and Sat. only) - $44M
 
This doing well makes me really happy. Hopefully it'll lead to more thoughtful blockbusters that require an audience to engage their mind and pay attention. Always room for the big mindless action flick but it would be great to see more like Inception.
 
teiresias said:
Loved the movie, and it's good too see Tom Hardy is getting work again after that embarrassing role in the Star Trek franchise.
You forgetting about Tom fucking Berenger is in this movie?
 
You guys love The Prestige so much, but something about it just didn't grip me like this movie did.

Just saw it. Was completely absorbed, felt the rollercoaster ride and loved it. Great movie.
 
BobsRevenge said:
I don't know how you thought to mention Stephen Soderbergh in this thread, but yes. Yes he is significantly better than Nolan as a director.
Only enjoyable films he's ever made are The Good German and Che, and that got a bit tiring after the first 3 hours.




Disclaimer: This is just an opinion.
 
Sanjuro Tsubaki said:
You forgetting about Tom fucking Berenger is in this movie?
What does Tom Berenger have to do with what I said? Unless he's also had the misfortune to play a badly scripted clone of Captain Picard then why even mention him in relation to my post?
 
Veidt said:
Only enjoyable films he's ever made are The Good German and Che, and that got a bit tiring after the first 3 hours.




Disclaimer: This is just an opinion.
I haven't seen Che or The Good German. I feel like I really ought to though. I'm a huge fan (should be obvious by the fact that I have him from a scene in what is probably his most obscure movie as my avatar).

Don't know how you can call Ocean's 11 unenjoyable though! That's quite possibly the slickest, most genuinely entertaining Hollywood movie released in the last decade.

Traffic is also far more deep than Inception, and actually understands human drives and emotions.

edit: Have you seen The Limey? I think people who like Inception would probably like The Limey as well. It is probably the most Nolan-esque Sodebergh movie.
 
Rapping Granny said:
This.

Eames completely stole the spotlight for me, just like Joker in TDK.

Yeah, I liked all of the cast but Eames was the standout character for me too. Loved the final part where he was just fucking dudes up with explosions going on behind him and stuff, so badass.

Glad the movie is doing well so far. I have a feeling it will have huge legs cause the word of mouth is fantastic.
 
BobsRevenge said:
I haven't seen Che. I feel like I really ought to though. I'm a huge fan (should be obvious by the fact that I have him from a scene in what is probably his most obscure movie as my avatar).

Don't know how you can call Ocean's 11 unenjoyable though! That's quite possibly the slickest, most genuinely entertaining Hollywood movie released in the last decade.

Traffic is also far more deep than Inception, and actually understands human drives and emotions.
Yeah, Ocean 11 was rather fun to watch to be honest.
And I haven't watched Traffic, so I can't really hate on it. :lol

Che is his greatest work though.
 
teiresias said:
What does Tom Berenger have to do with what I said? Unless he's also had the misfortune to play a badly scripted clone of Captain Picard then why even mention him in relation to my post?
Because Tom Hardy isn't old and washed up. Nolan is running a soup kitchen for Berenger, Rutger Hauer, and Eric Roberts.
 
blame space said:
this is the worst kind of post. i don't even know the budget of the film but at least i hope something does well in the hopes that more projects like it can be made. anyone who thought this would outgross Avatar was either out of their minds or just making a bullshit comment like you just did.

Sorry. I was just making a joke. I love this film, and want it to do very well though. I have no hope for it outgrossing Avatar, but I'd love for it to crest $200 million domestic.
 
I ain't no punk, but when
it became clear that he would finally see his kids
tears came on out.

Classic ending too. ;)

Very well done. Will see again.

9/10 from me.
 
I thought it was a great movie, was very entertained, but I didn't have an emotional reaction to the film like I did with The Dark Knight or (more appropriately) The Prestige, so I was a little disappointed.

I didn't board the hype train, so I was surprised I felt this way.

Great filmmaking though, just wish there was a little more emotional. But then again it is a pretty cerebral flick, maybe it was intentional that way. Certain things were impactful, but yeah on the whole, not as much.
 
The Good

Strong performances across the board. No stand outs, no weak spots; a fantastic ensemble.

A clever premise.

A couple of neat sequences.

Good sets?

The Bad

Rarely does a movie find so many ways to piss me off.

Chris Nolan can't direct an action scene to save his fucking life. Nolan, study James Cameron movies to understand how to frame and film a coherent action scene. Jesus christ on a pogo stick this made Batman Begins' action scenes look elegant.

It ran a half hour too long.

Omitting key information that everyone in the movie knows but which the audience does not is a terrible way to generate suspense.

The score was intrusive and way too constantly noticeable. It was good but far too obnoxiously used.

The ending shot: FUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCKYOU

I'm not into grading movies, but I'd give it a C were I to do so. Strong acting and a great concept with shoddy direction and editing, and a giant "fuck you" of an ending. It didn't ruin my date night, but it did get my wife and I trashing it hard on the way home. I respect what Nolan was trying to do, but hate how he did it.

Way, way over-rated. I might have to go defend BenjaminBirdie in the spoilers thread...
 
Dreams-Visions said:
I ain't no punk, but when
it became clear that he would finally see his kids
tears came on out.

Classic ending too. ;)

Very well done. Will see again.

9/10 from me.
Yeah, I teared up and I'm not even a Dad yet ..
 
GhaleonEB said:
The Good

Strong performances across the board. No stand outs, no weak spots; a fantastic ensemble.

A clever premise.

A couple of neat sequences.

Good sets?

The Bad

Rarely does a movie find so many ways to piss me off.

Chris Nolan can't direct an action scene to save his fucking life. Nolan, study James Cameron movies to understand how to frame and film a coherent action scene. Jesus christ on a pogo stick this made Batman Begins' action scenes look elegant.

It ran a half hour too long.

Omitting key information that everyone in the movie knows but which the audience does not is a terrible way to generate suspense.

The score was intrusive and way too constantly noticeable. It was good but far too obnoxiously used.

The ending shot: FUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCKYOU

I'm not into grading movies, but I'd give it a C were I to do so. Strong acting and a great concept with shoddy direction and edition, and a giant "fuck you" of an ending. It didn't ruin my date night, but it did get my wife and I trashing it hard on the way home. I respect what Nolan was trying to do, but hate how he did it.
Say what? Just wow, I havent seen a single person complain about the ending until now .. just no words ..
 
Byakuya769 said:
Incredible movie. The supporting cast could have used a little more fleshing out, but I'd recommend this film to about anyone.
I said this to myself leaving but ultimately it would have been pointless to start building stories for all the various players. The core and emotion of the story was with Cobb and the payoff by the end is much more stronger and involving. That being said, the job all the supporting actors did with limited inspiration were all tremendous...this is something great directors accomplish from their actors.
 
irfan said:
Yeah, I teared up and I'm not even a Dad yet ..
Me either, but when you know how much a guy has been through and is about to finally get what means most to him...shit is touching. It's easy to put yourself in the characters shoes considering how much of his background we got.
 
Rickard said:

I assume he's talking about
limbo.
To be honest though, not mentioning it makes sense given that it's never a problem unless
you go get the super powered sedative from some underground chemist.
 
GhaleonEB said:
Omitting key information that everyone in the movie knows but which the audience does not is a terrible way to generate suspense.
What is this in relation to? I honestly can't recall anything that would give me that complaint.
 
Dreams-Visions said:
Me either, but when you know how much a guy has been through and is about to finally get what means most to him...shit is touching. It's easy to put yourself in the characters shoes considering how much of his background we got.
Yeah, I dont think I've felt as much emotion in Nolan's previous movies. To think some people are saying this movie is emotionless, robotic, cold is just ..
 
KHarvey16 said:
I assume he's talking about
limbo.
To be honest though, not mentioning it makes sense given that it's never a problem unless
you go get the super powered sedative from some underground chemist.
Not knowing what it is isn't causing artifical suspense because what it is has no bearing on the film until the rest of the characters know the score later in that scene - at which point it is explained. The audience knows about it when it becomes a factor to the characters.
 
irfan said:
Yeah, I dont think I've felt as much emotion in Nolan's previous movies. To think some people are saying this movie is emotionless, robotic, cold is just ..
Indeed. Indeed.

That train scene
with his wife
blew me away. Some the hardest, fastest, emotional stuff I've seen in a film in some time. Toy Story 3 notwithstanding.
 
That being said, the job all the supporting actors did with limited inspiration were all tremendous...this is something great directors accomplish from their actors.

Um, no they didn't. This was the worst part of the fucking movie.

I mean, what the fuck did Joseph Gordon Levitt say/do outside of kissing Ellen Page?

Where did all the life of Ellen Page go?

Why does Tom Hardy's smirk now count as a "tremendous job"?

They SUCKED.


But it was the direction. Chris Nolan insists that everything be hyper-serious and monotone. You don't need to spend more time than the movie did to add some characterization to the mix; there just was none.

That train scene with his wife blew me away. Some the hardest, fastest, emotional stuff I've seen in a film in some time. Toy Story 3 notwithstanding.

Jesus, you clearly need to watch more movies that don't involve blowing shit up more.
 
GhaleonEB said:
The Good

Strong performances across the board. No stand outs, no weak spots; a fantastic ensemble.

A clever premise.

A couple of neat sequences.

Good sets?

The Bad

Rarely does a movie find so many ways to piss me off.

Chris Nolan can't direct an action scene to save his fucking life. Nolan, study James Cameron movies to understand how to frame and film a coherent action scene. Jesus christ on a pogo stick this made Batman Begins' action scenes look elegant.

It ran a half hour too long.

Omitting key information that everyone in the movie knows but which the audience does not is a terrible way to generate suspense.

The score was intrusive and way too constantly noticeable. It was good but far too obnoxiously used.

The ending shot: FUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCKYOU

I'm not into grading movies, but I'd give it a C were I to do so. Strong acting and a great concept with shoddy direction and editing, and a giant "fuck you" of an ending. It didn't ruin my date night, but it did get my wife and I trashing it hard on the way home. I respect what Nolan was trying to do, but hate how he did it.

Way, way over-rated. I might have to go defend BenjaminBirdie in the spoilers thread...

JGL's fight sequence may be the best film editing I've seen in a decade... and lol at complaining at the ending, do you enjoy all your movies being spoonfed to you?

CoolTrick said:
Um, no they didn't. This was the worst part of the fucking movie.

I mean, what the fuck did Joseph Gordon Levitt say/do outside of kissing Ellen Page?

Where did all the life of Ellen Page go?

Why does Tom Hardy's smirk now count as a "tremendous job"?

They SUCKED.


But it was the direction. Chris Nolan insists that everything be hyper-serious and monotone. You don't need to spend more time than the movie did to add some characterization to the mix; there just was none.

Hyperserious? This was a pretty damn fun movie. You've gone from thinly veiled trolling to just being obnoxious.
 
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