Your Mind is the Scene of the Crime: Brief Thoughts on Inception

Leonardo DiCaprio knows how to pick his roles! It's one thing to be a great actor, but another thing to pick projects that not only showcase your skills but also are quality films. Whoever is picking his gigs deserves a raise, because his filmography is nearly flawless (Producer credit on Orphan, really?!).

Inception is a mind-bending twisty film that tackles some lofty ideas. It's similar to The Matrix in that it makes you question reality after viewing. Is this the real world? Or we all just dreaming?

It's hard to detail out the plot because the storyline itself is a maze that the viewer must navigate. We are thrown into this world where dreams can be infiltrated and get the details of the how and why one note at a time, through the new architect's introduction to the job. This is a film where there is no good time to dash out to the bathroom, lest you miss a crucial tidbit of information on how everything is falling into place.

Christopher Nolan has become a brand in himself, which I don't think many directors have been able to do since the glory days of George Lucas and Steven Speilberg. The only other director who is instantly recognizable today for his style and writing credit is M. Night Shyamalan. However, for M Night, his brand is seen as a negative now thanks to a steady decline in the quality and reception of his work.
Are these really the only 2 directors who are branded?

For more thoughts on Inception, check out these UPDATED articles:
Ebert's Review
Nine Ways That 'Inception' Will Wake Up The Summer Movie Season
The season of 'Inception' begins, but where will it end?
Inception’s Dileep Rao Answers All Your Questions About Inception
The Truth in THE DARK KNIGHT and INCEPTION
An Illustrated Guide To The 5 Levels Of Inception
NEVER WAKE UP: THE MEANING AND SECRET OF INCEPTION
Dissecting 'Inception': Six Interpretations and Five Plot Holes