Inception (2010)

This is another 2010 film with ambiguous ending. I enjoyed watching it, though went back to the film and studied final scenes all over again to finally accept the truth.

Entering subconscious minds through dreams and “extract”ing important information is a cool and great idea for film. Scenario of film was written by Christopher Nolan, director of film. One might get easily confused counting dreams in dreams, but not the writer. Nolan wrote the script for almost a decade. He clearly and beautifully delivered Inception as he knew what it is all about.

Film characters, Dom Cobb and his friend Arthur are professional thieves - extractors. Each mind-spy has a “totem”, small object that helps them determine whether they are in somebody’s dream. Cobb’s object is a spinning top. His wife Mal’s memory disturbs him frequently in his dreams and spoils his efforts of extraction. Lovely, sexy, beautiful Marion Cotillard stars as Mal.

Cobb takes the last extraction offer of performing ‘inception’ from wealthy Mr.Saito (Ken Watanabe). Saito promises to use his contacts to clear Cobb of the murder charges for his wife’s death. It will allow Cobb to return to the United States and reunite with his children. In return Mr. Saito asks to enter the mind of his competitor’s son who will inherit the vast energy company and plant in him the idea of breaking up the company.

They sedate their target during the long flight from Sydney to Los Angeles and build a three-level shared dream. This is where story gets complicated. I loved the idea of ‘militarized subconscious’ – subconscious trained to find and kills extractors. Going into limbo upon death in the dream is interesting as well.

Though team accomplishes the task and plant the idea in target’s mind, Saito gets killed inside the dream and Cobb searches for Saito in limbo. He finds old Saito who has been waiting in limbo for decades and brings him back.

Extractors awaken on the flight. Cobb returns to United States and turns his spinning top to check reality. But he cannot see the result as he gets distracted by his children, inviting the speculation on whether the final scene was reality or another dream. It is up to viewer to decide.

I am positive about Inception. It is a nice evening watch in the company of friends and family.

Reviewer's rating: 8.5 out of 10

Shutter Island (2010)

In my opinion, this is one of the best films from Leonardo Dicaprio. But that is partly because of Martin Scorsese who flawlessly directed Shutter Island and because of Dennis Lehane who wrote the same name novel. This film has all three things that make a great film: experienced (and talented) director, talented actor and catching story.

It takes place in 1954 on Shutter Island in Boston harbor. US marshal Edward “Teddy” Daniels arrives at the Ashecliffe hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island with his newly assigned partner Chuck Aule to investigate disappearance of a patient. Throughout the film, viewer is perfectly fed with the details of story and has no suspicion of what will come next. The ending is unexpected and unbelievable. Somehow you want to believe in conspiracy rather than reality.

As soon as truth was out, my mind went back to the beginning of story and tried to analyze every little detail to find out whether marshal is sane in reality. Edward’s partner turned out to be his doctor –Dr. Sheehan and Andrew Laedis, who he searched for throughout the film and blamed in his wife - Dolores’ death, is actually Edward himself.

Doctors explain that Edward went through repeating cycles of realization of truth. Whole this investigation was part of an experimental therapy and another attempt to help him realize the truth.  I believed Andrew when he protested violently to doctor’s explanations only to realize that doctors are right. This is where Leonardo must be praised since he excellently delivered the scene.

After explanations, Andrew accepts the reality and blames himself for ignoring his wife’s illness until she drowned their children. Though he finally accepts the truth, he pretends that he is still into conspiracy story for his doctor and calls him Chuck. After this, hospital workers approach him to take for lobotomy. He asks his doctor whether it would be worse to "live as a monster, or die as a good man" and goes calmly with workers.

I have to say, it is an interesting and catching film that leaves ambiguous feelings. Since not every film is able to do so, it is definitely one of a kind.

Reviewer's rating: 8.5 out of 10