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blamebrampton ([personal profile] blamebrampton) wrote2011-01-02 11:19 pm
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Finally saw Inception

Possibly the last person in the Western world to see this film ... But on a sweltering summer day, it was just the sort of thing that Mr B and I wanted to veg out in front of.

And ... I have a thought ...

That the whole thing is in Cobb's head and they're just all parts of his own mind. Whether or not there is any such thing as Extraction or Inception is open to debate -- he could have lost his wife in any manner. I do believe that he lost her, his guilt is the driving force for everything that follows, but I think that is the only real fact we can be certain of.

The team all function as facets of a personality -- competence, carefulness, charm, compassion ... And the Arthur - Eames dynamic (which I can see leading to A/E all you A/E folk) even has a level of internal irony that you would hope for in a proper grown-up (and which Cobb in the film rather lacks -- because he's not all of himself). That's why Ariadne is needed, because she is the younger, better Cobb, who remembers his life back when he had joy in it.

Does this make sense to anyone else? Or has the heat wholly melted my brain?


To finish the biggest film day in ages, we watched Strictly Ballroom, which may not be as hilarious to people who have never lived in Australia as it is to those of us who have (OH SO VERY!) and, observing the level of spray tan, I was moved to say to Mr B: 'How can he keep his face so straight when his whole body is so orange?'

Mr B looked at me and said: 'Because he's Bill Hunter, and right about now, he'd fancy a beer.'

(Yeah, you do need a high Oz-familiarity for that to be funny, too. But if you have it, it's a corker ;-))

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I copy this note from an email to friends sent several hours ago:
I agree that Eames started off crisper in accent, though I think that he was also playful in his first scene, just more focussed -- the job had only just started after all. His later broadening of accent I took as a reaction to the Anglophile structuredness of Arthur on the job, and Eames's taking the piss in response (were I to write fic on the topic, it would be based on the fact that Arthur's first words to Eames were
along the lines of 'Oh, English. How fascinating. I'm very fond of London.' to which Eames would doubtless have replied, 'I can see why you would be, but for me it's not a patch on Swindon ...')

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
You know how these things work! And yes, that was the wonderful part of it -- quite like that Rufus Sewell film of a few years back, the one where they said 'Shut it down!' in portentous tones ...

I have comments on Legoland but it is stupid o'clock and I need to get up soon. If I forget tomorrow, they are mostly 'delightful!' and 'Lucky duck!'

[identity profile] chantefable.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Christopher Nolan and a happy ending? *sigh*

Really, Mr Nolan is kind of a one trick pony: all his films are about a white shady man with trickster skills and a pretty young dead wife, and about his man pain.

All his protagonists are creating illusions to compensate for the fact that they lack confidence in their masculinity, and why do they lack it? Because their woman is dead. Just look at Batman, the Bale & Jackman magic show, and now Cobb. His narratives are rather predictable. :)

[identity profile] chantefable.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)

[identity profile] chantefable.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
*g* I like our theory better. *clings*

[identity profile] vertelemming.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
(Yeah, you do need a high Oz-familiarity for that to be funny, too. But if you have it, it's a corker ;-))

I was born in this country and I don't get it. :P

Then again, I watch the TV maybe once a month, and then only the ABC, so.

[identity profile] leela-cat.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
*koff*

Actually, not so much the last person in the Western, because I still haven't seen in.

*slinks away*
azurelunatic: Vivid pink Alaskan wild rose. (Default)

[personal profile] azurelunatic 2011-01-02 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I have not yet seen it! So you are the second to last.

[identity profile] sorrelchestnut.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
My problem with that Inception theory is that it makes so much sense, because I honestly hate the idea of it. I can't stand the idea that I was tricked into watching a whole movie of some dude's subconscious duking it out with himself. I could quite enjoy that kind of movie if I knew I was going into it, but as it is I wanted all of the characters and their accomplishments to have been real so that I could enjoy them succeeding, and if it was "all just a dream!" then that ruins it for me. Also, it's a cop-out ending. Ask any middle-school English teacher who has to train their students out of ending a story with "And then I woke up!" Bleh.

I've actually had this argument a few times with some irl friends, and I do actually find it a very compelling argument, and I actually think it's probably the closest to Nolan's vision. But I refuse to believe it, because it annoys me. I'm contrary like that.

[identity profile] wivern.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I left the film feeling unsatisfied because I didn't think it worked. But that reading sorts out the problems I had I think. I'm surprised I didn't think of it all being a dream.

I did wonder if it was the wife was alive and Cobb dead.

It's been so long I can't remember it clearly. Must see it again.
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[identity profile] meredyth-13.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
*roflmao*

I recorded SB because I couldn't be arsed to stay up and watch it. Might watch it today and dance around the house.

You can get it twirling, you can get it whirling, you can get it taking a bow. As a matter of fact, I've got it now ...

Inception was fun to watch (if a bit slow in parts) but the individual characters made so little impact on me that I can't recall enough of the dynamics to put your comments into any real context (although I suspect you may be right for that very reason). I remember being disappointed that Ariadne never really demonstrated the skills she was supposedly brought in for - instead she seemed to end up as Cobb's conscience/rational voice.

*sigh*

Stupid movie has eaten a large part of my flist, which is kind of sad for me (although they appear to be having a good time with it).

*smooches you*

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[identity profile] meredyth-13.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Dark City ROCKS! I love that movie. Especially as it was one of the first big, special effects driven movies made entirely in Australia.

*ducks back out of the conversation*

(Anonymous) 2011-01-02 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Really? It's a rare theory?

I was pretty sure it was all in his mind, not so much because of the totem at the end (which did in fact sound like it was slowing down right before the close- I've spun enough tops to recognise that) But because the children were exactly the same as in previous visits.

But I didn't enjoy the film too much, I think it was a good example of how the bells and whistles of cinematography help the atmosphere and the feeling that you are involved. I watched it on a small screen so missed that connection.

Something that did ring true, and may be a clue, was the discussion of how to tell if you are in a dream. That not knowing how you got there.

[identity profile] pinkdiamond.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Er, that was me. I got logged out as I was typing. Bizarre!

[identity profile] shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
I think your interpretation of Inception is entirely valid - fablous film isn't it - really must add it to my DVD collection.

And Strictly Ballroom - Antonio Vargas and Paul Mercurio in the same film, dancing and you have a classic - and a shushu doing a MASSIVE fangirl squee...... The oh so incredibly accurate (and so hilariously funny)depiction of the mindset of some portions of the competitive dancing world in Australia is an added bonus. It really is some quality acting work on show there - some of our finest - and yes Mr B had it in one - Bill Hunter can ignore the orange because it matches his favourite beverage :)

Some

[identity profile] mayela-delarue.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't seen it.. yet.
And I <3 Strictly Ballroom - but that's no surprise is it :)
Glad you're all well, I'll pop my head in some time soon, I swear!

[identity profile] drbunsen.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 02:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Speaking of Bill Hunter and Australiana, tell you have seen Muriel's Wedding??

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I have -- simultaneously hilarious and wholly disturbing.

[identity profile] drbunsen.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Far more of the latter for me, I'm afraid. Poor Mum :(

[identity profile] blamebrampton.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, the blackness was very, very black. It's certainly not a comedy, though I still laugh wildly at some of the scenes.
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[identity profile] rickey-a.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Lego Aussie Style:

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[identity profile] rickey-a.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
hmmm, Dark City ...goes to check if they haz it on Netflix
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[identity profile] rickey-a.livejournal.com 2011-01-03 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
ok I can get the orig or directors cut - which do I want?
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[identity profile] meredyth-13.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 09:58 am (UTC)(link)
I don't actually think I've seen the Director's Cut of DC - just the theatrical release. Not much help, that. It's a wonderful dark fantasy - twisted and moody, with a great mystery thrown in. I hope you enjoy it. :D

[identity profile] uminohikari.livejournal.com 2011-01-04 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I think the it-was-all-in-his-mind theory was pretty popular a while back in Inception fandom? It's the theory I believe anyway, since it explains the inconsistencies in the film.

I don't think I've ever seen it explained with the entire team as facets of his personality before though :O

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