Inception was an ok movie, not great.
I’ll now pause for some of you to take a breath and calm yourself.
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You good? Ok. Here it is.
Inception is as probably the best visual and thought provoking movie from an original source to come out of Hollywood lately. Its fans have been crying that it was robbed at the Oscars, many going as far to say that it should have won best picture. If you are one of those people, then I am sorry, you are wrong.
The story is imaginative and engaging, but at the same time not. It borrows elements from many movies (for example Dark City, Matrix, etc…). The visuals are excellent, but then again are akin to the same examples. The soundtrack is powerful and perfect for the film. The acting and direction are top notch. In fact, I would even say Chris Nolan (yeah, I’m close enough to him to call him Chris) was robbed again for best director for this film. All of those elements are needed for a GOOD film, but it’s missing what makes it GREAT.
The human element is what Inception is missing. Winners of the Academy Awards Best Pictures have a history of possessing a signature humanizing moment in addition to all of those elements listed above. It’s the reason The Hurt Locker won the year before and Slumdog Millionaire before that. Going back over the list, there are only a handful of exceptions. The oddball winners standout as much as me walking down the streets of Compton California, I would be noticed.
Inception is not the only movie I feel this way about. Toy Story 3 I feel is over hyped as well. It’s good but did not hold me like the two previous ones. The difference here however is that Toy Story 3 did have the signature moment but lacked in the areas. Now this is my opinion here, but if the Academy did not expand the nominees to ten, neither of these films would have received such a high honor.
My five nominees and winner would have been…
Black Swan
The King’s Speech
The Fighter
127 Hours
The Social Network* (winner)
All five of those films possess the elements that have the all the elements and affect the audience in different ways. Few people make movies like David Fincher. They are a complete experience and every detail is thought out. It is a movie that stays in my mind compared to Inception that I only recently remembered that I own, even with it being saved on my computer nonetheless.
I guess in my eyes, I was impressed only the first time I watched Inception, compared to continually being impressed for new things every time I watch the Social Network. I have the same reaction every time I watch Arrested Development and I cannot think of any higher compliment.
Speaking of Arrested Development… where did I put my seasons?
Although I agree with you on the feelings towards Inception, I strongly disagree with your choice for a winner. The movie I would had chosen wasn't even on your list. It was movie that was visually simulating, an excellent story line, and the actors nailed their rolls. I laughed, I cried, and I watched in awe. Hereafter was the winner in my book.
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