10 Movie Directors Who Cast Actors As Cinematic Versions Of Themselves
6. Inception Is About Christopher Nolan's Filmmaking Process
There's very little question that Inception, Nolan's dreamworld sci/fi fantasy thriller, is about filmmaking himself.
The characters even take on roles of members that create a set, with Tom Hardy's strongman being the actor, Ellen Page the art director, Joseph Gordon Levitt handling stunts, Ken Watanabe producing and the troublesome Marianne Cotillard acting as pesky studio interference.
We can debate all the intricacies of the plot, the levels of dream jumping and that damn French song, but those are all minor details. Ultimately, it's just about trying to successfully execute a movie, a feat filled with plenty of potential snags and conflictiing opinions it's a wonder any are ever finished at all.
But it's Leonardo DiCaprio himself that serves as Nolan's writer/director. He not only creates the story, but pushes the narrative in whatever direction necessary to get the "film" made. Cillian Murphy's unwitting billionaire is just a bit player who refuses to cooperate.
Further evidence? DiCaprio even dresses in the exact same dapper suits you often find Nolan donning in interviews.