Saturday, July 17

Inception
Bones, Season Three

I will not say that Christopher Nolan's Inception just saved movies.

However, as far as the summer box office goes, it will (hopefully) prove to be a much needed lifejacket. There have been a lot of box office disappointments over the past few months (Carrie, I'm looking at you -- well, you and that green ogre whose movies I don't care for). Inception isn't overly cerebral like many of Nolan's films are perceived. Inception is actually pretty straightforward. It's about penetrating dreams to find information. However, the blend of action and brain stimulation is beautifully crafted, and I don't think there is a single scene that wasn't a tiny eyegasm - here's looking at you Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as you float around in a gravity-less space kicking ass and working to save your team -- and your adorable butt and really great vest.

Really, the cast was top notch, great form. Tom Hardy, who was a familiar in an I can't place you kind of wave, was witty and charming (and from Meadowlands!). Cillian Murphy was just too trusting behind his heavily hooded eyes, and I always enjoy Ken Watanabe - he's absolute magic in any film. My real concern was Ellen Page playing outside her well-known acting space as quirky (Hard Candy notwithstanding). I admit to being very pleasantly surprised with her performance - not annoying or overly pushy as the character could have easily gone, in my view. My only regret about the cast is Leo DiCaprio - not for his performance in this film, but - for me - the general character that echoed of his character in Shutter Island. Overall though, brilliant. Jo-Go has a voice like milk chocolate as he explains he wonderfully complicated but not world he and team create and inhabit.

It's rare that a movie makes me so excited I have jitters when I walk out. It looks like I've taken a five hour energy. I shake a little, my hands clench and unclench, and I look around a little manic - I probably look a little like a meth head. The last time I felt this was after The Dark Knight (which I also saw on an IMAX screen -- maybe there's a connection?). Best movie ever? Not necessarily. Best movie of the year? I've seen some good ones but it's definitely top three, especially considering how well-blended the genres were. It's an action movie with some heart and head and not completely predictable dialogue. Saving the summer box office? Well I'm seeing it again (probably a matinee though -- so I'm throwing like $24 bucks at it, and I recommend you do the same.

Bones has been taking over my life, along with trying to make my cat like me. Nothing new to say other than the Widow's Son Killer is creepy, and I really hate Bones' fugitive family.