Inception

god this is so fucking rewatchable. arguably a better experience each time. this thing is so incredibly dense. every line spoken and each individual shot is so meticulously thought out to not only drive the plot further along this winding road but also speak towards such a rich subtext that is the basis for the entire emotional journey throughout the film. i was questioning whether or not nolan had made this film as a way to cope with some sort of loss in his life. the way dicaprio’s cobb deals with the grief of his late wife is to continue to live with her exclusively through their memories together. he is unable to move on and it creates a truly multifaceted take on how we choose to live our lives. is it better to let the loss consume you if that brings you back to a familiar reunion? ultimately the film says no but it’s such an interesting question to grapple with.  i’ve been thinking a lot lately about how to structure a fiction story. obviously i fucking love this film and part is the reason is because the world that nolan creates still feels grounded in reality. i’m pivoting towards speaking on modern horror but theres a current trend (im look at you weapons) to alter your otherwise grounded story with a bonkers third act that’s filled with supernatural elements. and while that can be effective, it really has never done anything for me as it feels like a way to tie your screenplay together at the last second. i believe that there needs to be established rules to the world that is built, and while it’s okay to bend those rules and add to them as the story unfolds, i think it feels cheap to flip the rules completely around in the third act. there’s something so satisfying in watching a film that achieves the same levels of bonkers but then is able to tie it all back together at the very end. and now for my final thought: i believe the tension between eames and arthur is completely homoerotic and they have most definitely explored each other’s wet dreams