Inception served as a sort of message to Hollywood executives that movie-goers were totally okay with their movies being smart and intellectual - just as long as they were explosive and action-packed, too. Indeed, Christopher Nolan's complex and complicated blockbuster stirred up a hell of a lot of controversy with regards to its intricate and labyrinth-esque plot - and that's without taking the highly ambiguous ending into consideration. The image of that spinning top has become iconic as hell, of course, as fans were left to ponder as to whether or not Leonardo DiCaprio's "dream thief" Dominic Cobb has successfully pulled off Inception and had managed to reunite with his family. As the closing shot of the movie hones in on his totem, a spinning top, Nolan cuts away just as the thing is about to stop moving - a hint, perhaps, that the mission was a success, and all is right again? Hm.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
