Inception (2010)
A film you could only dream of.
Presentation:
Right after The Dark Knight, Nolan surprises the world with a high concept thriller turning his movies into international events. Dreams within dreams and complex layers, Nolan manages to distill the essence of a dream into a tangible concept. Dazzling mazes and gravity defying practical effects mixed with Zimmer’s influential score delivers a cinematic blockbuster of the decade. The effect of this film on the decade could be on par with what The Matrix did for the beginning of Y2k. This is a film you shouldn't ever get bored of watching. This encapsulates Nolan’s work in a nutshell utilizing large casts, non linear concepts, and multiple timelines.
Conclusion:
Nolan manages to recreate all of the subconscious emotions we feel when dreaming. At least for me, I've felt a lot of the similar ideas that were addressed: waking up by a jolt, not remembering who you are, dream within dreams. It's wonderful how he was able to solidify vague thoughts, which seem to be an established norm today. The story rooted in reality doesn't have a ton of substance as I never really cared for the context behind the company dissolving mission, which felt like a generic heist plot, but it doesn’t matter when the details are this complex and rich. Also the Mal plot was an afterthought, only there for the Hollywood drama. It may not have the same emotional connection as his other films, but still has the action and all the thrills you’d expect. You've likely already watched this, but for those that somehow haven't, this is a dream you don't want to wake up from.
Recommendations
Riding sandworms into a satisfying sunset.