Unreality

So I saw 'Inception'. And I thought it was lovely, much like everyone else. Lets see if I have anything valuable to say about it, though the web is filled with too much about it already.

Many of the themes Nolan explores in 'Inception' are not new. In fact, I could argue that none are new (but I am prone to arguing that no themes can claim true novelty). For the past decade many films have themes concerning the nature of our reality (or un-reality). Immediately we find precedent for 'Inception' with Scorsese's 'Shutter Island' from earlier this year. And not so surprisingly we encounter again Leonardo DiCaprio in a role where the sanity of his character comes into question.

Nolan is no stranger to these thematic explorations. 'Memento' explored many of the same issues. Increasingly directors have begun to toy with narrative in their movies. This is not a new thing, but the last decade or so has shown that mainstream audiences are increasingly compelled by meta-narratives. Films like 'The Matrix' involve the viewer in different levels of seeming-reality, a sort of puzzle you're encouraged to contemplate, an alternate labyrinthine reality to systematize.

Nolan creates this involving meta-world very successfully. To get us all contemplating is enough proof of value. It's almost as if what was so compelling 70 years ago in a Borges' short story is finally making its way to the mainstream, albeit with a little more flash-bang and ooh-aah. But then again I'm overstating its importance, many movies of the past decade have explored themes of memory and consciousness, reality and unreality, the mind's participation in its reality and the way these things relate to narrative. Gondry has done so delightfully.

And a final note on Nolan's deft and tidy use of ambiguity. He stresses a dream's unreality in contrast to a conscious reality, but allows this analogue to slyly stretch further. By the end of our ride we are unsure whether what we've considered our reality is truly real. What are the bearings by which we prove our reality? How can we ever be sure the things we believe we experience are not illusory? As soon as he has us really contemplating these things, he leaves us hanging.

So overall, I think 'Inception' is a lovely tool for contemplation. In the end I find it useful, and this I value highly in art. Nolan has us discussing and contemplating many questions that have perplexed humanity since time immemorial, and will undoubtedly continue to perplex us. By weaving some modern action, suspense and firepower with questions about dreams and their 'unreality', he has made us all take a step back and think. What more could we ask of an artist?