Christopher Nolan's "Inception" (We're giving up on spoiler tags)

[megladon8]

Christophen Nolan has signed with Warner Bros. to develop an original film before tackling the next Batman film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i15435a14e5c99a2008298c38dea 49c30), the film will be titled Inception, and is based on a screenplay he wrote.

While no one seems to know what the film is exactly about, it's described as...


...a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind.

I liked the way that Nolan went from Batman Begins into The Prestige before doing The Dark Knight. It seems like this is his way of "refreshing" himself before diving back into the Batman mythos.

I'm really looking forward to more info on this project.

[Dukefrukem]

I don't approve. Get on Batman 3 now.

[number8]

I approve. Please never make Batman 3.

[transmogrifier]

...a contemporary sci-fi actioner.

Okay, I'm down with that....


...set within the architecture of the mind.

....on the other hand, pass.

[DavidSeven]

He does know that non-Batman films are allowed to have multiple word titles, right?

[Winston*]

He does know that non-Batman films are allowed to have multiple word titles, right?
"The" is a word, DavidSeven.

[[ETM]]

Okay, I'm down with that....

....on the other hand, pass.

Quite the opposite.

[megladon8]

...set within the architecture of the mind.

....on the other hand, pass.


That's a strange detail to make someone uninterested in a movie.

What gives?

[DavidSeven]

"The" is a word, DavidSeven.

Stop being so serious all the time, Mr. Serious.

[Skitch]

I don't approve. Get on Batman 3 now.


I approve. Please never make Batman 3.

I approve, but please make Batman 3 next.

:pritch:

[Kurious Jorge v3.1]

I have liked his non-Batman, non-Insomnia films, so bring it on.

[Milky Joe]

That's a strange detail to make someone uninterested in a movie.

What gives?

I dunno, that detail is the reason I AM interested in the flick, so I suppose it would be reasonable that the opposite could be true for some people. I don't understand why, though.

[megladon8]

It shall star Leonardo DiCaprio. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3iee48bd23f07a5c21d709c66ae4e ca8dd)

[D_Davis]

I don't approve. Get on Batman 3 now.


I approve. Please never make Batman 3.


I approve, but please make Batman 3 next.

:pritch:


I am ambivalent, please do something, or don't.

[Morris Schæffer]

some cast news:


Christopher Nolan's follow-up to The Dark Knight is a still-under-wraps sci-fi action film called Inception - but who needs plot details when you've got one of the best directors in Hollywood involved? And he's lining up a rather spiffy cast to fill out his line-up: Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy and Ellen Page are all in talks to star.

The film is described as a "contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind", which sounds right up Nolan's alley: sort of The Prestige meets Memento meets Batman Begins only different, eh?

There's no telling yet what roles the three stars will play, but as hot young things go Nolan couldn't do much better. Cotillard's coming off the back of last year's Oscar win and recently working with Michael Mann and Johnny Depp on Public Enemies, while Murphy and Page just worked together on Peacock.

The film goes into production for release next year, so keep eyes peeled for more as we get it.

[megladon8]

Sounds good. Three great young actors.

I'd trust Nolan with my children's lives, so I am greatly anticipating more news/pics/teasers. Probably by this fall we'll be seeing stuff, I imagine.

[DavidSeven]

I'd trust Nolan with my children's lives

What an odd thing to say.

[Amnesiac]

What an odd thing to say.

I did a double take of that comment as well for some reason. :)

[Sycophant]

I did a spit take.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I did a double spit take.

[Sycophant]

I did a double dog spit take.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Damn grade school rules!!

[Ezee E]

Will it begin filming right away?

I, also, would trust Christopher Nolan with the lives of meg's kids.

[chrisnu]

I did a double dog spit take.
I did a TRIPLE dog spit take!

Anyway, looking forward to the movie.

[number8]

I took a dog's spit.

[Grouchy]

Nolan would probably just use meg's kids as tests for car chase stunts.

Every name on that cast sounds good except for Ellen Page. Fuck that brat.

[megladon8]

Joseph Gordon Levitt joins the cast. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i360cdd62fc9ca5a8f1a89b3de01 5ac98)

My interest grows every day.

Oh, wait, that's not my interest. *nervous chuckle*

[Ezee E]

Joseph Gordon Levitt joins the cast. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i360cdd62fc9ca5a8f1a89b3de01 5ac98)

My interest grows every day.

Oh, wait, that's not my interest. *nervous chuckle*
Don't worry. I'll say it for you.

"My interest grows every day."

Top movie to see for 2010 as far as I'm concerned.

[megladon8]

Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy have joined the cast. (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i9813ed99c5e2b4f3c9796f4087e 3ad00)

[angrycinephile]

Tom Berenger joins the cast and Hans Zimmer will be scoring the film (http://www.cinemarewind.com/2009/07/inception-cast-and-crew-updates.html)

The cast sure is great. Oh, and I'm a big fan of Hans Zimmer's music so this is awesome news to me.

[Dukefrukem]

I also like Zimmer. Good news.

[Skitch]

Excellent news!

[[ETM]]

Zimmer is the worst news possible, score-wise.

It's the music equivalent of "and the action lead will be played by Will Smith".

[Morris Schæffer]

Zimmer is usually bombast, but oh what glorious bombast it usually is.

[Watashi]

Teaser trailer will premiere in front of Inglourious Basterds.

Inception teaser and Avatar teaser in front of Basterds? Fuck yes.

[Watashi]

;187931']Zimmer is the worst news possible, score-wise.

It's the music equivalent of "and the action lead will be played by Will Smith".
Except that Zimmer has never scored a Will Smith movie.

[Amnesiac]

Some news. Teaser trailer description:


The teaser trailer for Christopher Nolan’s Inception, which is attached to Inglourious Basterds, might not be online until next week. If true, this means you’ll have to see it on the big screen if you want to see it before next week. So I thought now would be a good time to tell you about the 58-second trailer. Want to know what Inception is really about? We might have the answer.

A scooper on IMDB called WiiMovies has seen the teaser, which is almost a minute in length. Full description after the jump.

Now, I wont give much away because it was a pretty good teaser trailer. It got you wanting more. Their is actual footage of the movie, with Leo and others. Their is One fight scene in what looks to be in a hotel hallway, but not just any fight scene. They were fighting all over the hallway, on side walls, ceilings everywhere. I thought Matrix (Don’t panic it’s not the matrix but thats what I came up with) Its gonna be a trippy movie. The end music kind of reminded me of Terminator, not the theme music but u will know what I’m talking about. Its only like a minute long and you will want to watch again to see what you just saw. All in all, it was really good.

More Details: It starts with the Warner Bros Logo in grey. Then you see Chris Nolan name. This dradle like thing is spinning around. Director of The Dark Knight words. You see Leo’s face. Over shot of a city, shaking camera shot. Words come on screen “YOUR MIND”. Shot of Leo. More words “IS THE SCENE OF THE CRIME” Then you see a glass of water, with the water in the glass startes to tilt. People fighting in hallway. Gordon-Levitt is one of the guys that’s fighting in the Hallway, on the ceiling and walls. You see a quick shot of his face. The word “INCEPTION” comes up. Then SUMMER 2010.

Sounds pretty cool, but what is Inception about? A possible plot description has been floating around the interwebs for a couple months now, mostly under the radar. I have found a Rotten Tomatoes forum posting from June 25th 2009 which reposts the plot line:

Inception is about entering peoples’ minds/dreams. A technology to do so has been developed and is done through an injection. DiCaprio and his team work to enter the minds of other characters in order to retrieve/plant information.

[transmogrifier]

Some news. Teaser trailer description:

So it is simply The Cell, but homogenized Nolan-style?

[Amnesiac]

So it is simply The Cell, but homogenized Nolan-style?

Are you the one predisposed to hate Nolan or was that another guy?

[transmogrifier]

Are you the one predisposed to hate Nolan or was that another guy?

Possibly me, though I love Memento.

[megladon8]

Yeah, it's trans who hates Nolan without question.

I happen to think he's quite the filmmaker. Doesn't quite have a body of work large enough for me to really praise the hell out of him - I want to see more stuff outside the "Batman" universe before I start wanting to romance him.

But yeah, can't wait. With the two Nolan's behind it, this is practically guaranteed to be a thought-provoking flick.

[number8]

I like this better than ratings:

The Prestige > The Dark Knight > Batman Begins > The Following > Insomnia > Memento

[Watashi]

I like this better than ratings:

The Prestige > The Dark Knight > Batman Begins > The Following > Insomnia > Memento
Not even close.

Memento > The Dark Knight > The Prestige > Insomnia > Batman Begins

[megladon8]

The Prestige = The Dark Knight > Batman Begins > Memento > Following > Insomnia

[Rowland]

Memento [~95]
The Dark Knight [66]
Batman Begins [64]
Insomnia [~58]

I should rent The Prestige soon.

[Qrazy]

I like this better than ratings:

The Prestige > The Dark Knight > Batman Begins > The Following > Insomnia > Memento

Do some other contemporary American filmmakers. I want to see if you rank their best films last too. ;)

[number8]

Do some other contemporary American filmmakers. I want to see if you rank their best films last too. ;)

Nolan's not American, you know.

Inglourious Basterds > Kill Bill Vol 1 > Reservoir Dogs > Kill Bill Vol 2 > Jackie Brown > Death Proof > Pulp Fiction

[megladon8]

OK I'll join in.

Pulp Fiction > Jackie Brown > Kill Bill Vol. 2 > Kill Bill Vol. 1 = Reservoir Dogs > Death Proof

Ratings would be (respectively) - 10, 6.5, 5.5, 5, 5, 4

[Dead & Messed Up]

Memento > Batman Begins > The Dark Knight > The Prestige > Insomnia

Jackie Brown = Pulp Fiction > Reservoir Dogs > Kill Bill Vol. 1 > Kill Bill Vol. 2 > Death Proof

[Qrazy]

Nolan's not American, you know.

Inglourious Basterds > Kill Bill Vol 1 > Reservoir Dogs > Kill Bill Vol 2 > Jackie Brown > Death Proof > Pulp Fiction

Fuck, I knew that. Epic alcohol induced fail.

No I meant aside from Tarantino.

[Ezee E]

Pulp Fiction = Kill Bill V. 1 + 2 > Jackie Brown > Reservoir Dogs > Death Proof

[transmogrifier]

PF > M > RD > DP >>>>> TP > KB1 > I > KB2 > JB > TDK > BB

[Grouchy]

The Dark Knight > Memento > Following > Batman Begins > Insomnia > The Prestige

Pulp Fiction > Reservoir Dogs > Jackie Brown > Kill Bill > Death Proof

[Skitch]

Inglourious Basterds > Kill Bill Vol 1 > Reservoir Dogs > Kill Bill Vol 2 > Jackie Brown > Death Proof > Pulp Fiction

I haven't seen IB yet, but I completely agree with you here.

[Ezee E]

Now THAT's a teaser. Holy crap.

[Ezee E]

No one's seen this teaser yet?

[Milky Joe]

Yeah I saw it. You're right about it. Loved the soundtrack. Hope the movie can live up to it though, of that I'm not certain.

[Pop Trash]

No one's seen this teaser yet?

I saw it before Basterds and I hate to say it but I liked this teaser better than Avatar's.

Anyway, I'll play too:

Memento>The Dark Knight>Batman Begins>Following>Insomnia>The Prestige

Pulp Fiction>Reservoir Dogs>Jackie Brown>Kill Bill>Inglorious Basterds>Death Proof

But Basterds might shoot up upon multiple viewings.

[eternity]

I watched The Prestige a few nights ago, the only Nolan film I previously liked a lot, and it's a shit sandwich.

This guy is a little fucker, isn't he?

[Qrazy]

I watched The Prestige a few nights ago, the only Nolan film I previously liked a lot, and it's a shit sandwich.

This guy is a little fucker, isn't he?

No.

And.

You're wrong.

[Acapelli]

Now THAT's a teaser. Holy crap.
i didn't really find anything all that exciting about the teaser. 10 seconds of footage and then "INCEPTION". i could've done with just a real trailer a couple months from now and no teaser

[Sxottlan]

Anyway, I'll play too:

Memento>The Dark Knight>Batman Begins>Following>Insomnia>The Prestige

Pulp Fiction>Reservoir Dogs>Jackie Brown>Kill Bill>Inglorious Basterds>Death Proof

Me three.

Hmm:

The Dark Knight=Memento>The Prestige>Batman Begins>Insomnia

Pulp Fiction=Kill Bill 1>Death Proof>Reservoir Dogs>Jackie Brown>Kill Bill 2

[Morris Schæffer]

The Dark Knight >>> Batman Begins > Insomnia > The Prestige > Memento

[Dukefrukem]

So this isn't online anywhere yet? (the trailer that is)

[Qrazy]

So this isn't online anywhere yet? (the trailer that is)

There's a horrible quality bootleg on youtube which I did not watch.

[Ezee E]

It's going to be on yahoo sometime today.

[Silencio]

Here it is: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810099246/video/15201197

[Kurosawa Fan]

Interesting.

[Dukefrukem]

Holy awesome. So Awesome. I didn't even see anything and it's awesome.

[Henry Gale]

Before all I really knew was Nolan, the cast and a very vague plot description:


A CEO-type becomes involved in a blackmailing scandal.

So okay, tells me nothing. But I love Nolan so I would have seen it anyway.

THEN this teaser.

WTF YEEESSSS.

Too bad it still has Ellen Page in it.

[number8]

Awesome.

[Skitch]

Wow, sweet. Also, happy to see Tom Berenger's name in the credits.

[megladon8]

My penis is hard.

[Morris Schæffer]

Very very cool! I got some Matrix vibes from that corridor scene.

[Rowland]

The sound design reminds me too much of a Transformers trailer.

Look at that cast!

[Dead & Messed Up]

Curiouser and curiouser.

[number8]

About that plot. I found out that... (spoiler just in case)

Apparently it's about corporate espionage. So something like Duplicity, but it's by entering people's minds.

[Sven]

About that plot. I found out that... (spoiler just in case)

Apparently it's about corporate espionage. So something like Duplicity, but it's by entering people's minds.

Like Disclosure, only the brain instead of a computer program! More movies like this...?

[number8]

Like Disclosure, only the brain instead of a computer program! More movies like this...?

I dunno, it weirded me out when I heard it. But I think I like it.

[megladon8]

Definitely the coolest teaser I've seen in a long while.

I really can't wait for this one. The cast is incredible, it's by one of the best writer/directors working in American film today, the premise sounds fascinating.

Can't. Freaking. Wait.

[Acapelli]

i still don't see what's so impressive about leo gawking like a maroon and some gravity-defying fighting scene (which while cool looking, is not nearly enough to get me creaming my jeans for a movie these days)

still looking forward to it. happy to see nolan doing a non-batman film, since his last one of these is my favorite of his

[megladon8]

Acapelli, I don't think I've seen you say anything positive about anything in weeks.

I think you should put down that bottle of Hatorade and start drinking some Love Brew.

[Acapelli]

Acapelli, I don't think I've seen you say anything positive about anything in weeks.

I think you should put down that bottle of Hatorade and start drinking some Love Brew.
i thought inglorious basterds was awesome. and the avatar preview. just because i didn't like shoot em up or arkham asylum doesn't make me a hater

still doesn't change how disappointed i was with the teaser. then again, my expectations may have been a bit too high for a teaser

[Morris Schæffer]

Still, 200 million dollars sounds like a disgustingly high budget for something like this. Especially when the likes of District 9 have shown that 30 mill can buy you a heck of a lot.

Nonetheless, I suppose when the 200 million will be clearly visible on the screen, you won't hear me complaing.

[Dukefrukem]

i still don't see what's so impressive about leo gawking like a maroon and some gravity-defying fighting scene (which while cool looking, is not nearly enough to get me creaming my jeans for a movie these days)

still looking forward to it. happy to see nolan doing a non-batman film, since his last one of these is my favorite of his

the best part of the teaser is;

'from Christopher Nolan Director of Dark Knight'

[megladon8]

Still, 200 million dollars sounds like a disgustingly high budget for something like this. Especially when the likes of District 9 have shown that 30 mill can buy you a heck of a lot.

Nonetheless, I suppose when the 200 million will be clearly visible on the screen, you won't hear me complaing.


I didn't realize it had a budget like that.

[transmogrifier]

Plot summary from Jeffrey Wells, avoid if you don't want spoilers.



In Contention's Kris Tapley's hasn't read the script for Chris Nolan's Inception (http://inceptionmovie.warnerbros.com/), but a source has so KT has decided to pass along a second-hand synopsis of the plot. He says he can't be 100% sure of the particulars because WB publicity won't comment "but it all seems fairly legitimate to me."
The Big McGuffin, he says, is that some kind of ability/technology used by a team of shady espionage operatives led by Leonardo DiCaprio's "Cobb" to nefariously dive into people's dreams and extract information.
Leo's team members (this will eventually become a kind of Mission Impossible-like TV series with operatives hired each week to solve a problem by mind-scanning this and that "mark") include Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Arthur, Tom Hardy's Eames and Ellen Page's Ariadne, a college student studying in Paris.
Jacob's team, says Tapley, "creates" the dreams and Ariadne is an "architect" or "engineer" of sorts. I'm already lost. If Team Leo is diving into people's dreams and extracting info, how and why would they want to create dreams? Wait...perhaps they don't just steal information from people's minds but implant information of their own? Information that is (a) designed to manipulate and (b) may or may not be false?
Jacob's team enters this and that dream via some kind of injection, and the technology can easily be transported in a suitcase, Tapley says. "In one scene (featured briefly in the trailer?), the team actually enters a person's dream while on an airplane," he writes.
Cillian Murphy stars as Fischer, "a business-type who is soon to become the head of a company. Jacob's team is attempting to insert an idea into Fischer's mind to compel him to separate the company into two smaller companies.
Ken Watanabe plays Saito, a character who's blackmailing Jacob. Aside from Watanabe there is no classic villain in the story, but Cobb's wife (Marion Cotillard) causes some trouble.
"Cobb and wife at some point find themselves stuck in many levels of a dream and she tries to convince him to stay in that world, that it is much better than real life. However, Cobb wants to return to his children and the real world.
"This plot point is a bit unclear, but I'm told that Lisa commits suicide in the dream in order to return to the real world. When Cobb himself returns, he is charged with his wife's murder and has to flee with his children.
"The film will not be typical sci-fi fare at all," Tapley conveys. "It's set in the present-day real world" but with "virtually all of the 'action' scenes taking place in the dream environment. This should go a long way toward explaining the 'Your mind is the scene of the crime' tagline that accompanied the trailer. Ultimately it seems like a grounded, more tangible blend of Minority Report and The Matrix."


Sounds really, really, really dumb.

[number8]

Sounds pretty awesome.

[Sycophant]

Never stop, trans~. <3

On paper, it sounds like a pretty standard, high-concept, late-Spring/early-Fall Hollywood thriller, now borrowing from Kon's Paprika (and other stories using similar devices).

Can't say that Nolan's name is enough to get me excited, and the trailer didn't do anything for me either. *shrug*

[megladon8]

Awesome. Can't wait.

[transmogrifier]

I'm not saying the movie can't turn out good, but it would have to rely on more than the plot above to do so. I'm not a big fan of dream movies anyway, for the same reason that I don't like ghost horror - the lack of rules and logical action-reaction that typifies the genre bleeds all suspense and engagement out of the plot for me. What is the point of trying to follow the story, when at random intervals, any bloody thing can happen? The reason why The Matrix works so well is that the "dream" world is specifically designed to mimic reality, and thus has basic laws most people have to follow. It is no coincidence that the sequels - which flout the rules to greater and greater degrees - are mammothly inferior to the first film.

Also, the subconcious thoughts of an individual are pretty fucking boring, if you ask me. There is nothing of value to be gained from spending two hours with someone's subconcious, because it is so particular and insular that there is not points of attachment for me, the viewer.

Now, Inception may avoid this trap (I hope so), but the plot described above doesn't fill me with optimism.

[Stay Puft]

I'm not a big fan of dream movies anyway, for the same reason that I don't like ghost horror - the lack of rules and logical action-reaction that typifies the genre bleeds all suspense and engagement out of the plot for me.

Completely agree, especially as it pertains to ghost horror, which is just about my least favorite thing ever (always exceptions, qualifying statements, etc.).

Still, I enjoyed The Prestige, so I'm hoping for another quality in-between Batman refreshment (not so much a fan of the Batman stuff).

[EvilShoe]

Can't be worse than Dreamscape.

http://www.roberthood.net/reviews/images/dreamscape.gif

[megladon8]

Did either of you like Wise's The Haunting?

Or Kubrick's The Shining?

Or The Innocents?

[transmogrifier]

haven't seen it
didn't like it
haven't seen it

[Dead & Messed Up]

Good ghost movies:

Dead of Night
The Uninvited
The Innocents
The Haunting
Kwaidan
The Legend of Hell House
The Sixth Sense
The Devil's Backbone
The Others
Pulse

Any others I'm forgetting? I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Yes, they don't have a standard set of rules, but most of those circumvent that because their goal is to present a sense of mystery and atmosphere. In the case of films like Haunting and Innocents, the purpose is to make the ghosts oblique, possibly even nonexistent.

[Grouchy]

The idea that ghost movies or supernatural Horror don't have internal logic and rules is moronic and shows how little you thought about those genres before dismissing them, trans.

[megladon8]

trans caustically dismissing things??

Nooooooo.

[transmogrifier]

I feel like I'm being tag-teamed by The Bushwhackers

[Dukefrukem]

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2009/InceptionPoster.jpg

[Ezee E]

Feels like I've seen that poster before......

[Dukefrukem]

Feels like I've seen that poster before......

the Matrix? Reminds me of;


http://artfiles.art.com/images/-/The-Matrix-Reloaded---Agent-Smith-Movie-Poster-C10099512.jpeg

[EvilShoe]

http://chud.com/articles/content_images/5/the-dark-knight-joker-poster-500w1.jpg

[Ezee E]

That's right EvilShoe.

So similar, it's silly.

[Skitch]

Hey, if it aint broke, why fix it.

[Dukefrukem]

http://chud.com/articles/content_images/5/the-dark-knight-joker-poster-500w1.jpg

Never seen that one before

[megladon8]

You've never seen that poster before?

Seriously?

[Dukefrukem]

You've never seen that poster before?

Seriously?

No I'm lying, I have.

[eternity]

Christopher Nolan just keeps making the same sub-par movie.

[megladon8]

Yes, Memento and The Dark Knight are practically indistinguishable.

[Morris Schæffer]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43466

French trailer

check it out!

[B-side]

Yes, Memento and The Dark Knight are practically indistinguishable.

This was a pretty sweet burn, actually. Eternity's a bit silly when it comes to Nolan, anyway.

[B-side]

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/43466

French trailer

check it out!

Please don't be a slow-mo half-disaster movie. Pleeeaaassseee.

[Dukefrukem]

Translation pleaseeee

[eternity]

Translation pleaseeee


Here's a rough translation of the French dialogue in the trailer:

What is the more tenacious parasite?
An idea.
A single idea from a human brain can build cities.
An idea can transform the world.
And rewrite the rules.
That's why... I have to steal it.

Never draw from your memory. Create completely new locations.

They're hiding something and we must discover what it is.

We have to go out.
It's over.

It wasn't supposed to happen like this!

Help me! Help me! OR Wake me up! Wake me up!

In short, this looks fucking stupid.

[number8]

Boy, I love movies about dreams.

[megladon8]

Still looks awesome.

Can't wait.

Wish it had a more original poster, though.

[angrycinephile]

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/inception/

Heh, it's pretty weird seeing the trailer in English after watching the French one about 20 times.

[megladon8]

I still have no clue what this movie is about.

Looks pretty neat, though. I really like the quasi-retro look.

[Qrazy]

Is the entire film shooting in IMAX?

[angrycinephile]

Is the entire film shooting in IMAX?

Just like with The Dark Knight it's only a few scenes.

[number8]

Just like with The Dark Knight it's only a few scenes.

Possibly a bit more than TDK, I hope. Nolan said he wants to keep using the IMAX cameras until it's finally possible to shoot an entire feature with it.

[Qrazy]

Possibly a bit more than TDK, I hope. Nolan said he wants to keep using the IMAX cameras until it's finally possible to shoot an entire feature with it.

Why isn't it possible now?

[Grouchy]

Why isn't it possible now?
Maybe the cost. Just speculating here.

[number8]

Why isn't it possible now?

IMAX cameras weigh like a ton and sound like a factory. They'd have to ADR the entire movie.

[Ezee E]

Awesome teaser.

[BuffaloWilder]

I will film an entire movie in IMAX, make a huge deal about it to the press, and then release it only in standard theaters, on April Fools. This, I promise.

[KK2.0]

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/inception/

Heh, it's pretty weird seeing the trailer in English after watching the French one about 20 times.

Gives me Paprika flashbacks, which is a good thing.

[eternity]

Gives me Paprika flashbacks, which is a good thing.Yeah, it just looks like a live-action Paprika with a bunch more dudes and all the depth sucked out of it.

[megladon8]

Still can't get over the visual style. Looks great.

I wish all people still dressed up like that for everyday casual dress.

[Qrazy]

Yeah, it just looks like a live-action Paprika with a bunch more dudes and all the depth sucked out of it.

Ah k ye no christ nolan owns ur soul.

[B-side]

Kinda neat. Still not sure how I feel about this whole mind infiltration premise.

[Skitch]

I still have no clue what this movie is about.


Thats my favorite part. With trailers ruining nearly every movie these days, I'm finding good trailer creation a lost art.

[MadMan]

The cast (plus Nolan) is selling me on this so far, as the full actual trailer has me left to wonder WTF any of this is all about.

[KK2.0]

Thats my favorite part. With trailers ruining nearly every movie these days, I'm finding good trailer creation a lost art.

this

but they still have another trailer to ruin the entire thing, i guess i'll stop watching them before it´s too late

[SirNewt]

I'm just going to say it. I'm pretty stoked for this flick. I think Nolan lacks as a director but he's a hell of a writer (not of dialog particularly but plot, characters, etc.)

I'm glad to see Nolan doing something ground up again as the Prestige was from a book, a pretty kick ass book mind you. What was Nolan's last completely new film. By that I mean the last thing he made not tied to an existing property or license?

[baby doll]

Saw the trailer. Pass.

[angrycinephile]

Warner screened new footage of this at ShoWest.

Here's a description:


Before this afternoon's Warner Bros. presentation at ShoWest I asked Christopher Nolan how much he was about to reveal about Inception, and he replied "Not much." And while the selected footage he showed off revealed very little about the story, and exactly what's causing all the amazing visuals and fight scenes, it was all stunning. Almost too much to process, really-- the minute I started scrawling notes about people falling down snowy mountains, it was on to a scene of Joseph Gordon-Levitt floating in zero gravity and tying up a bunch of corpses.

Perhaps the biggest plot detail revealed is that Leonardo DiCaprio's investigator character isn't just using technology to jump into peoples' minds, but into their dreams-- as he sees it there are people who would use this dream-investigation technology for evil, and it's up to him and partner Joseph Gordon-Levitt to stop them. One of the few dialogue scenes involves the two of them explaining their job to Ken Wantanabe's character, though it's unclear exactly who he is and if he's on their side during the action scenes we see later. And despite initial speculation that Gordon-Levitt may be a villain character, he and DiCaprio seems to be partners-- though DiCaprio does let him have it in one scene, which might mean a rift develops between them that makes Gordon-Levitt the villain in the end.

We finally get to see Michael Caine in the film, seemingly some kind of recruitment officer for the agency that employs DiCaprio, convincing Ellen Page to join his time. "Like job placement?" Page asks, making both of them chuckle. Will Michael Caine's character basically be DiCaprio's equivalent of Alfred? We can only hope so.

There was a lot more Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the footage, which convinced me he's more of a lead role than I previously believed, but there was also intriguingly little of Marion Cotillard-- we see her holding a gun a few times, but mostly she's shown crying or smiling or hugging DiCaprio. Her character may very well be the most mysterious of them all.

It's hard to describe much of the scenery featured in the movie, from the elevator opening into a room without gravity to the city folding up and falling into the ocean and Ken Wantanabe's gorgeous office. Because so much of the movie apparently takes place in dreams, much of the imagery follows no rules of logic-- just beauty. I'm not sure how much of the Inception footage screened today will ever make it into a trailer or online-- Nolan seemed mostly to want to throw a bone to the exhibitors who will be showing his crazy esoteric movie-- but it made me all the more excited for what Inception had to offer. In the midst of a really impressive WB presentation, Inception was probably the most exciting of all.


They revealed a bit more of the plot but it was still hard to follow exactly what the storyline is. Leonardo leads a team of security people who go into people's dreams to "guard their subconscious". Here is a quick list of some of the scenes they showed:

- Leonardo and Ellen Page walking down a long hallway.
- A scene with Joseph Gordon-Levitt telling Ken Watanabe about what it is Leonardo does.
- Another scene that looked like something out of a Modern Warfare game. Guys dressed in white military outfits battling on a snow capped mountaintop. One scene showed Ken in military gear tossing a grenade through a window.
- Another scene with Leo in a car filled with water.

There were quite a few more scenes but I didn't learn a lot about the film. From what I could gather, Leonardo enters people's dreams to solve or prevent crimes. The last shot showed an entire city collapsing into the ocean. Someone's dream or reality? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

God, please release this footage online. Like now.

[Sxottlan]

I've been watching the trailer again lately and I love the little detail of the window rattling with that explosion in the distance.

Can't wait for this one!

[Skitch]

http://themoviemash.com/2010/04/more-new-inception-stills-feature-leo-being-badass/

New stills. JGL and Leo together...man, what a good matchup!

[angrycinephile]

New trailer will be attached to Iron Man 2.

Oh, and new poster:

http://www.nolanfans.com/forums/download/file.php?id=81

It's OK. At least it's not another floating heads.

Edit: Plus it's officially rated PG-13.

[Watashi]

Is Inception: Mind Crime the new title?

If so, that's uber-lame.

[Spun Lepton]

Is Inception: Mind Crime the new title?

If so, that's uber-lame.

How much do you want to bet that Nolan is being pressured by WB's marketing division to dump the entire "Inception" part of the title?

[Spun Lepton]

New trailer will be attached to Iron Man 2.

Oh, and new poster:

http://www.nolanfans.com/forums/download/file.php?id=81

It's OK. At least it's not another floating heads.

Edit: Plus it's officially rated PG-13.

I don't know about you folks, but I freaking LOVE that poster. Seriously, that is cool as hell.

[angrycinephile]

No, the film is still called Inception.

Mind Crime is just the name for the viral online game that's apart of the marketing campaign.

http://www.mind-crime.com/

[Skitch]

How much do you want to bet that Nolan is being pressured by WB's marketing division to dump the entire "Inception" part of the title?

I'd bet money on it! Mind Crime is the kind of title that screams studio head thinking...and sucks ass.

[megladon8]

Yeah, I love that poster.

I really want to know more about this movie, but at the same time, I get the feeling it will greatly benefit from going into it knowing next to nothing.

[Morris Schæffer]

A bit more on the story [SEE BOLD]

Mildly spoilerish


“Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable.
“Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but, it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption.
“One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible — inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime.
“But, no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.”

[angrycinephile]

Another new poster
(http://www.nolanfans.com/2010/05/06/new-poster-released-ahead-of-3rd-trailer/)
Hmm...

[D_Davis]

That poster above looks like one that might be for a Johnny To film.

[megladon8]

That poster above looks like one that might be for a Johnny To film.

:D

Funny, I thought the exact same thing! I was looking at it thinking "that looks like alternate artwork for Exiled or PTU or something"

[Spun Lepton]

Another new poster
(http://www.nolanfans.com/2010/05/06/new-poster-released-ahead-of-3rd-trailer/)
Hmm...

Eh, I like the other one better. I love the horizon bending in the wrong direction. I think that embodies the dreamworld better than the 2nd poster.

[D_Davis]

:D

Funny, I thought the exact same thing! I was looking at it thinking "that looks like alternate artwork for Exiled or PTU or something"


Nice. Glad I'm not the only one.

[D_Davis]

I immediately thought of these images:

http://www.electricsheepmagazine.co.u k/reviews/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/review_ptu.jpg

http://www.cinemastrikesback.com/news/sitges/2006/2006/films/exiled/300-3.jpg

http://en.cnci.gov.cn/eWebEditorNet/UploadFile/20077271251229846.jpg

[megladon8]

Johnnie To is someone whom I think could make waves in Hollywood.

He'd throw most American action directors for a loop. I mean, he already does...but you know what I mean :)

[number8]

Johnnie To is someone whom I think could make waves in Hollywood.

He'd throw most American action directors for a loop. I mean, he already does...but you know what I mean :)

That's what they said about John Woo 20 years ago. Never underestimate the bureaucracy and power-trip of the Hollywood studio system.

[angrycinephile]

New trailer in good quality (http://wbads-98.vo.llnwd.net/e1/wbmovies/inception/mcre/cobb3.ogv)

This looks amazing.

Edit: Another link (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xd83rl_inception-trailer-bande-annonce-3-h_shortfilms)

[Henry Gale]

Ummm that looks fuckin' amazing.

[number8]

I'm still confused, but I like that. Nice images.

[transmogrifier]

Looks good, for sure. But the key is in the story. As I've said, I'm not really a big fan of psychological dream movies, because it is all so arbitrary and weightless, with no tangible emotional connection. Coupled with a generic double-cross and "hero is trapped in the world he was once the master of" story, and it could be deadening. We'll see.

[Spun Lepton]

That's what they said about John Woo 20 years ago. Never underestimate the bureaucracy and power-trip of the Hollywood studio system.

Yup.

[Henry Gale]

Looks good, for sure. But the key is in the story. As I've said, I'm not really a big fan of psychological dream movies, because it is all so arbitrary and weightless, with no tangible emotional connection. Coupled with a generic double-cross and "hero is trapped in the world he was once the master of" story, and it could be deadening. We'll see.

Well it seems like the main path the story goes along heavily involves Ken Watanabe's character (he has second billing after DiCaprio), who we barely see in that trailer. Basically, from what I gather about the plot is instead of extracting secret information from people's dreams time and time again, DiCaprio's character tries to devise a way to create a crime in the subconscious of the powerful corporate antagonist dude (Watanabe) to try and make it a reality. (Or something...)

[B-side]

I'm officially looking forward to it.

[megladon8]

I dunno, it looks just like all of Christopher Nolan's other movies.

Seriously, you could take scenes from The Dark Knight, Memento and The Prestige, throw them in a blender, and you wouldn't be able to tell anything was different.


:lol: Seriously, this looks fantastic. Can't wait.

[Rowland]

That's some Nolan dialogue right there.

[Ezee E]

I'm still kind of amazed that this type of movie is getting made.

[Boner M]

Looks pretty good. Sweet music. I share some of trans' concerns, I hope the film isn't just 2-3 hours of TrIpPy ViZzULz and shot/reverse-shot themespouting sessions. Also Page looks out of place.

[eternity]

This doesn't make sense and I don't think it will when it's two hours instead of two minutes.

[megladon8]

Any other links to the trailer? I have yet to see it. I can't play .ogv files.

[DavidSeven]

Any other links to the trailer? I have yet to see it. I can't play .ogv files.

Trailer on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OuWY1wdEDQ)


I'm still kind of amazed that this type of movie is getting made.

A $200 million arthouse thriller without a clearly stated concept? What could possibly go wrong?

Can't wait to see it.

[Adam]

I agree on Page looking out of place. I think Gordon-Levitt looks equally out of place and I predict Marillon Cottillard is going to win this year's "most egregiously thankless flashback wife role" award. Even if the movie's as silly as it seems, though, I also predict I will like it just enough to not feel cheated. I hope Nolan makes a crazy expensive, sleek and shiny minor epic every year for the rest of his career, because at least he's trying. This is in direct contrast to most other summer blockbusters I give my $22 to, which are invariably getting increasingly lazy, if not wholly unenjoyable. Fuck you, Jon Favreau

[megladon8]

Trailer on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OuWY1wdEDQ)


Thanks!

That looks very cool.

[DavidSeven]

I dunno, it looks just like all of Christopher Nolan's other movies.

Seriously, you could take scenes from The Dark Knight, Memento and The Prestige, throw them in a blender, and you wouldn't be able to tell anything was different.

Truthfully, all of Nolan's films up to and including The Prestige look pretty generic. Sure, they're mostly well-composed -- but well-composed in the same sort of way that most big budget Hollywood films with competent directors are. I can think of very few really distinctive images from his pre-Dark Knight catalogue (maybe the garden of lightbulbs in The Prestige and the swarming bats in Batman Begins). The inventiveness of Memento was obviously in the editing, not the imagery. I never really thought Nolan would be capable of including a shot like Joker/cop car in one of his films. Or the 360 camera rotation on a dangling Joker. Or any number of shots from TDK really. The striking images from the Inception trailer suggest a continuation of his sudden evolution as a filmmaker.

[Qrazy]

Truthfully, all of Nolan's films up to and including The Prestige look pretty generic. Sure, they're mostly well-composed -- but well-composed in the same sort of way that most big budget Hollywood films with competent directors are. I can think of very few really distinctive images from his pre-Dark Knight catalogue (maybe the garden of lightbulbs in The Prestige and the swarming bats in Batman Begins). The inventiveness of Memento was obviously in the editing, not the imagery. I never really thought Nolan would be capable of including a shot like Joker/cop car in one of his films. Or the 360 camera rotation on a dangling Joker. Or any number of shots from TDK really. The striking images from the Inception trailer suggest a continuation of his sudden evolution as a filmmaker.

Thanks for your opinion! It is of course 100% utterly false but it is an opinion nonetheless!

[B-side]

Qrazy laying the smackdown tonight, huh?

[KK2.0]

those thundering horns in the soundtrack are creepy, and I'm glad they're keeping it vague, can't wait!

Freddy Krueger aside, are there any great dream movies?

[number8]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c6/Kurosawasdreams.jpg

My favorite Kurosawa.

[Skitch]

My favorite Kurosawa.

Absolutely love it.

[megladon8]

I still haven't seen Dreams.

I hear it's one that would be divine on BluRay.

[Sycophant]

Paprika.

[number8]

Paprika.

Durrrr.

[Watashi]

Does Femme Fatale count?

[Qrazy]

Brazil.

[Derek]

Thanks for your opinion! It is of course 100% utterly false but it is an opinion nonetheless!

No, it's right on the mark. Nolan is a pretty average director who finally showed a flair for compelling imagery with The Dark Knight. I still think he'll always be a better writer than director.

As for great dream movies, there's obviously Mulholland Dr. Kurosawa's Dreams is one of his weakest IMO.

[megladon8]

I completely disagree with Nolan being an average director.

I thought both Batman Begins and The Prestige were knocked out of the park. They each had their sets of problems for sure, but unimaginative, stale direction did not rank among them.

[Qrazy]

No, it's right on the mark. Nolan is a pretty average director who finally showed a flair for compelling imagery with The Dark Knight. I still think he'll always be a better writer than director.

As for great dream movies, there's obviously Mulholland Dr. Kurosawa's Dreams is one of his weakest IMO.

No he rulez ur face off.

1. Following: Lots of nice black and white photography throughout.

2. Memento: Just because he shoots the film tight doesn't mean it isn't well shot. I particularly like the moments at the end as he's driving with his eyes closed. A number of the flashback sequences.

3. Insomnia: Imagery with the blinds, chase over the logs, flashbacks to the blood, iceberg/fjord stuff.

4. Batman Begins: Batman jumping down the stairwell, plenty of nice shots with the young Bruce, flying over Gotham, jumping out the back of the falling rail car.

5. The Prestige: Lots of great stuff here some of which has been mentioned.

And that's just talking imagery... direction also relates to mise en scene, direction of actors, creation of atmosphere and editing amongst other things. And personally I think he's quite good at all of those but excels at editing.

Now all that being said I"m not saying he's one of the most amazing directors ever or that his mise en scene or compositions are at the pinnacle. But I love the atmosphere he creates and while he doesn't strive for heavily iconic imagery usually his visuals are always in the service of his moods, themes and stories. And he's way, way above the level of an average Hollywood director.

---

In other news you're right about Gunga Din, what a racist movie.

[Pop Trash]

Waking Life!

[Pop Trash]

And that's just talking imagery... direction also relates to mise en scene, direction of actors, creation of atmosphere and editing amongst other things. And personally I think he's quite good at all of those but excels at editing.

Now all that being said I"m not saying he's one of the most amazing directors ever or that his mise en scene or compositions are at the pinnacle. But I love the atmosphere he creates and while he doesn't strive for heavily iconic imagery usually his visuals are always in the service of his moods, themes and stories. And he's way, way above the level of an average Hollywood director.


I agree with Qrazy for once. I think visuals/mise en scene get a bit overrated when talking "direction" (blame the French New Wavers for that). I also like Nolan's use of sound/sound-editing. He uses a lot of sound bridges, matching dialogue from one scene with visuals from another, creating a weaving effect from scene to scene. It works almost like V.O. narration but I like it better since it's diagetically in the film itself and not just laid out on top like a seperate track.

[Raiders]

I agree with Qrazy for once. I think visuals/mise en scene get a bit overrated when talking "direction" (blame the French New Wavers for that). I also like Nolan's use of sound/sound-editing. He uses a lot of sound bridges, matching dialogue from one scene with visuals from another, creating a weaving effect from scene to scene. It works almost like V.O. narration but I like it better since it's diagetically in the film itself and not just laid out on top like a seperate track.

You'd talk about sound/sound-editing in relation to direction over mise-en-scene/visuals? I would say the latter is likely much more influenced directly by the director than the former.

[Derek]

You'd talk about sound/sound-editing in relation to direction over mise-en-scene/visuals? I would say the latter is likely much more influenced directly by the director than the former.

Yeah, I'm not sure why editing and sound are now being bunched in with directing. If you want to add directing actors into the mix, that's legitimate, but sound and editing fall outside of directorial duties. Not saying Nolan's not involved in those processes, but they're not typically what a director does.

Anyway, I should restate my opinion about Nolan being average. He is certainly better than your run-of-the-mill director-for-hire, but I don't think he stacks up favorably to most of working American auteurs. I see him as a good writer who shows flashes of greatness as a director, but also in the case of Insomnia, Batman Begins and The Prestige is unable to come up with an overall compelling vision.

[Ezee E]

Yeah, I'm not sure why editing and sound are now being bunched in with directing. If you want to add directing actors into the mix, that's legitimate, but sound and editing fall outside of directorial duties. Not saying Nolan's not involved in those processes, but they're not typically what a director does.

Anyway, I should restate my opinion about Nolan being average. He is certainly better than your run-of-the-mill director-for-hire, but I don't think he stacks up favorably to most of working American auteurs. I see him as a good writer who shows flashes of greatness as a director, but also in the case of Insomnia, Batman Begins and The Prestige is unable to come up with an overall compelling vision.

I'd say a director has plenty to do with the editing and sound process. His editor is Dody Dorn. If you were to look at Australia and Nolan's works, there'd really be nothing comparable between them in my mind. However, Nolan has a very similar crosscutting technique that's in all his movies.

Sound, same deal.

Saying that is basically like saying that cinematography is not typically what a director does.

[Derek]

I'd say a director has plenty to do with the editing and sound process. His editor is Dody Dorn. If you were to look at Australia and Nolan's works, there'd really be nothing comparable between them in my mind. However, Nolan has a very similar crosscutting technique that's in all his movies.

Sound, same deal.

Saying that is basically like saying that cinematography is not typically what a director does.

Obviously the director can be involved with ALL of these processes depending on his attachment to the material or the amount of control he takes from pre- through post-production. A director is usually going to work closely with the cinematographer and editor, but when discussing whether or not someone is a good director or not, one does not normally factor in every element of filmmaking with the same weight. With Nolan, as Tarantino, I'd factor in editing more heavily, with someone like Altman, sound design comes more into play. However, first and foremost, most of us tend to be referring to blocking, mise-en-scene, camerawork, lighting, etc. Any and all other elements tend to be secondary in most cases and editing particularly is occurring throughout post that in really is a separate component from directing, even though it's something that obviously factors into how the film is shot.

[Pop Trash]

Most filmmakers, particularly the ones that have their 'auteur' bona fides, are involved in all the aspects of a production, post included. It's just a matter of how much control they want to have over a particular formal aspect. It's clear that the sound bridges Nolan uses has become something of a trademark (and I'll bet they show up in Inception as well) so he probably 'directs' his editor and sound editor to use those in substantial ways. It's like saying Tarantino has no say in the music choices, that those are picked by the music supervisor cuz that's 'their job.' Which would just be retardo.

[Derek]

Most filmmakers, particularly the ones that have their 'auteur' bona fides, are involved in all the aspects of a production, post included. It's just a matter of how much control they want to have over a particular formal aspect. It's clear that the sound bridges Nolan uses has become something of a trademark (and I'll bet they show up in Inception as well) so he probably 'directs' his editor and sound editor to use those in substantial ways. It's like saying Tarantino has no say in the music choices, that those are picked by the music supervisor cuz that's 'their job.' Which would just be retardo.

I hear what you're saying and responded in part to that in my last post, but at what point are directorial duties separated from other duties. If you consider the editing part of directing because a director "directs" his editor, even though it occurs in post, why not consider screenwriting part of director. When Nolan works on his scripts, they are likely written with a particular vision in mind, including directions for actors, lighting, camera moves, etc., so his screenwriting is part of his directing. Point being, yes, everything can be considered part of directing if you take a loose enough definition of the word, but I think it's clear there are 1st tier, 2nd tier, etc. duties that director's take on, though obviously it varies on a case to case basis.

[megladon8]

I have a very hard time with the "auteur theory".

[Qrazy]

Obviously the director can be involved with ALL of these processes depending on his attachment to the material or the amount of control he takes from pre- through post-production. A director is usually going to work closely with the cinematographer and editor, but when discussing whether or not someone is a good director or not, one does not normally factor in every element of filmmaking with the same weight. With Nolan, as Tarantino, I'd factor in editing more heavily, with someone like Altman, sound design comes more into play. However, first and foremost, most of us tend to be referring to blocking, mise-en-scene, camerawork, lighting, etc. Any and all other elements tend to be secondary in most cases and editing particularly is occurring throughout post that in really is a separate component from directing, even though it's something that obviously factors into how the film is shot.

As much as it pains me to say this though (because I like to crush on my favorite directors) I find that many of my favorite filmmakers don't do their most visually interesting stuff without a great DP behind them. Sometimes they switch between different great DPs and the quality remains consistent and other times the director does truly carry the visual weight but I can think of a number of directors where I've seen a huge decline in the visual quality between films, then I've checked on imdb and saw that the DP had changed. I actually find that on average (a personal perspective more so than statistically based) directors have more of a say in/spend more time with editing than the visual direction. For instance Orson Welles obviously has visual chops and was a true auteur but he did do his best work with great DPs but was known to spend a ton of time in the editing room. And The Immortal Story and The Stranger aren't that visually interesting really.

Some examples of directors who do their best work with great DPs and you can notice a visual decline when they don't...

George Roy Hill
Peter Weir
Coppola
Woody Allen
John Carpenter
Cassavetes
Bogdanovich

[Melville]

Looks pretty good. Sweet music. I share some of trans' concerns, I hope the film isn't just 2-3 hours of TrIpPy ViZzULz and shot/reverse-shot themespouting sessions. Also Page looks out of place.
Replace the theme-spouting sessions with ominous music and romantic longing for Marion Cotillard, and you've got a recipe for awesome. Even as it is, it still looks pretty awesome. That trailer rocks.

[Watashi]

How is romantic longings for Marion Cotillard a negative?

[B-side]

How is romantic longings for Marion Cotillard a negative?

He said it was a recipe for awesome.

[B-side]

BTW, speaking of Nolan the image-maker, this is a pretty cool image from Inception:

http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs587.snc3/30984_395597673700_91290503700 _3962127_1787269_n.jpg

[Winston*]

Has Ken Watanabe done any work in Japanese that's worth checking out?

[Grouchy]

re: Qrazy's post

That's exactly why I want to take some special courses for camera operator. I find that most directors (and I don't mean known directors, but my co-students and myself included) are not really knowledgable enough about photography to communicate exactly what they want to just any DP. I'm fortunate enough to have good relationships with two cinematography students who always understand me in less technical terms, but I think you've reached a good point about directors and I'd love to be able to pinpoint and achieve an image exactly the way I want it.

[Qrazy]

re: Qrazy's post

That's exactly why I want to take some special courses for camera operator. I find that most directors (and I don't mean known directors, but my co-students and myself included) are not really knowledgable enough about photography to communicate exactly what they want to just any DP. I'm fortunate enough to have good relationships with two cinematography students who always understand me in less technical terms, but I think you've reached a good point about directors and I'd love to be able to pinpoint and achieve an image exactly the way I want it.

I have the exact same attitude on the matter. I feel like I understand composition and camera movement well enough but lighting is a huge blind spot. I understand basic lighting and knowing how to achieve some more interesting stuff with blinds/reflectors/etc but achieving the level of cinematography of the best DPs/directors is still way beyond my reach. Even if I had the funds I wouldn't know where to set up the lights to achieve an incredible image.

[Ezee E]

I have the exact same attitude on the matter. I feel like I understand composition and camera movement well enough but lighting is a huge blind spot. I understand basic lighting and knowing how to achieve some more interesting stuff with blinds/reflectors/etc but achieving the level of cinematography of the best DPs/directors is still way beyond my reach. Even if I had the funds I wouldn't know where to set up the lights to achieve an incredible image.
And that's why DPs take photography classes.

[Qrazy]

And that's why DPs take photography classes.

Yar, sign me up.

[KK2.0]

Fine arts or photography, i believe they can be of great help in order to get lightning and compositions right.


As for great dream movies, there's obviously Mulholland Dr. Kurosawa's Dreams is one of his weakest IMO.

Mulholland Drive is my choice as well, Lynch (and Gilliam) pretty much nail the dream-like experience in his films. i'll choose Dreamscape as a guilty pleasure

i've watched Kurosawa's Dreams far too long ago, maybe it's time for a second check.

[Qrazy]

Fine arts or photography, i believe they can be of great help in order to get lightning and compositions right.

Mulholland Drive is my choice as well, Lynch (and Gilliam) pretty much nail the dream-like experience in his films. i'll choose Dreamscape as a guilty pleasure

i've watched Kurosawa's Dreams far too long ago, maybe it's time for a second check.

Well I'd say only studio photography for the lighting I"m talking about really. I know how to get the lighting effects I want vis-a-vis the image I desire, I just don't know how to set up the lights to achieve that effect.

[Fezzik]

He said it was a recipe for awesome.

Indeed. Marion Cotillard has become my latest Hollywood crush. She's the best thing about any of the movies I've seen her in lately, and she has the "i'm sweet looking but I'm a tiger" thing pegged.

[Derek]

Indeed. Marion Cotillard has become my latest Hollywood crush. She's the best thing about any of the movies I've seen her in lately, and she has the "i'm sweet looking but I'm a tiger" thing pegged.

Plus she seems to be a little bit crazy from interviews I've read. And not that "oh, look at me with a vile of Billy Bob's blood around my neck" attention-whoring crazy, but the "I'll stab you if you cheat on me or maybe just so I can drink your blood to have you inside me at all times" type of crazy, which is pretty hot.

[Melville]

"I'll stab you if you cheat on me or maybe just so I can drink your blood to have you inside me at all times"
Hot.

[Sxottlan]

A host of new character posters are up over at Awards Daily here (http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=22153).

I seriously want the Ellen Page poster:

http://www.awardsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/inception2b.jpg

[Qrazy]

http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/images/matrixreloaded63.jpg

+

http://toaspern.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/juno.jpg

=
http://www.thefightins.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/baby-1.jpg

[Sxottlan]

http://www.cyberpunkreview.com/images/matrixreloaded63.jpg

+

http://toaspern.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/juno.jpg

=
http://www.thefightins.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/baby-1.jpg

Therefore ergo vis a vis, I could like, have this baby and give it to someone who like totally needs it.

[BuffaloWilder]

I had a girlfriend like that once, when I was a bit younger. She was crazy. And, she did stab me. In the leg. With a knife.

I told her Green Day wasn't my favorite band - ah, emo teenybopper girls. :lol:

[angrycinephile]

vFjAbCl6m1Q

[Barty]

Looks absolutely awesome.

[Boner M]

Mild anticipation quelled by that last trailer.

[baby doll]

In regards to Nolan's talent as a director, I'm in the camp that considers him an average commercial filmmaker at best. I think the lighting in his films is usually pretty good--not La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc good (those textures!), but slick and attractive (it's actually not that hard to do high contrast, noirish lighting; I'm much more impressed by something like Au hasard Balthazar than any film noir). However, I find his staging of actors, particularly in the dialogue scenes in The Prestige and The Dark Knight, painfully static, which necessitates another cut every few seconds. Browsing around on YouTube, I found this clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1kZRFdGqko) of two dialogue scenes from the latter, one with Morgan Freeman (essentially static), and one with Michael Caine that's a bit more elaborately staged (at one point, Christian Bale walks away from Caine to regard his Bat-suit). If he's above average insofar as being more impressive as a metteur en scène than a hack like Jason Reitman, that hardly puts him in the same league as Bresson and Dreyer.

In any event, whether or not you consider Nolan an auteur, his films live or die on their screenplays, and The Dark Knight was a lousy movie because the script sucked. Also, Heath Ledger gave a terrible performance.

[Qrazy]

Mild anticipation quelled by that last trailer.

Yeah it wasn't a great trailer, but the atmosphere of the earlier trailer was quality. I have faith that Nolan will deliver.

[Qrazy]

In regards to Nolan's talent as a director, I'm in the camp that considers him an average commercial filmmaker at best. I think the lighting in his films is usually pretty good--not La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc good (those textures!), but slick and attractive (it's actually not that hard to do high contrast, noirish lighting; I'm much more impressed by something like Au hasard Balthazar than any film noir). However, I find his staging of actors, particularly in the dialogue scenes in The Prestige and The Dark Knight, painfully static, which necessitates another cut every few seconds. Browsing around on YouTube, I found this clip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1kZRFdGqko) of two dialogue scenes from the latter, one with Morgan Freeman (essentially static), and one with Michael Caine that's a bit more elaborately staged (at one point, Christian Bale walks away from Caine to regard his Bat-suit). If he's above average insofar as being more impressive as a metteur en scène than a hack like Jason Reitman, that hardly puts him in the same league as Bresson and Dreyer.

In any event, whether or not you consider Nolan an auteur, his films live or die on their screenplays, and The Dark Knight was a lousy movie because the script sucked. Also, Heath Ledger gave a terrible performance.

Obviously Nolan isn't on the same level as Bresson or Dreyer or Bergman or Kurosawa or Fellini. These are silly comparisons. Nolan is in my books a very good contemporary American director, but he's nowhere near the masters. And you're just wrong about the script for The Dark Knight and Ledger's performance... and I'm not even the film's hugest fan. Furthermore, personally I look for the atmosphere in a Nolan film more so than the narrative so I don't especially agree that script is everything with him.

[megladon8]

I didn't realize Armond White had a MatchCut account.

[baby doll]

I didn't realize Armond White had a MatchCut account.Hipster.

[Ezee E]

That post is amazing in how it contrasts itself.

[baby doll]

Obviously Nolan isn't on the same level as Bresson or Dreyer or Bergman or Kurosawa or Fellini. These are silly comparisons. Nolan is in my books a very good contemporary American director, but he's nowhere near the masters. And you're just wrong about the script for The Dark Knight and Ledger's performance... and I'm not even the film's hugest fan. Furthermore, personally I look for the atmosphere in a Nolan film more so than the narrative so I don't especially agree that script is everything with him.As far as his being a very good contemporary American director, that only makes sense if by "American," you mean Hollywood (isn't he British?), and then, only sort of. I wouldn't put him in the same league as studio directors like Wes Anderson, Albert Brooks, the Coen brothers, Ang Lee, Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, or Quentin Tarantino. David Fincher and post-Bringing Out the Dead Scorsese, yes, that's who we should be comparing him to.

I think the mad-hyping of Ledger's performance is indicative of just how much of the movie is dead weight. In between the action scenes, that is, the "good stuff" action fans are looking for (themselves undistinguished; let's just say this is no Raiders of the Lost Ark), there's a lot of solemn talk talk talk, so just as a character actor could suddenly inject some life into an average Hollywood film of the 1940s, Ledger's showboating, "Look at me! I'm ca-ray-zee!" nonsense serves to suddenly jolt the movie back to life at exactly the points where it threatens to descend into exposition and Big Theme purgatory. That said, it's hardly strong acting.

[Qrazy]

As far as his being a very good contemporary American director, that only makes sense if by "American," you mean Hollywood (isn't he British?), and then, only sort of. I wouldn't put him in the same league as studio directors like Wes Anderson, Albert Brooks, the Coen brothers, Ang Lee, Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, or Quentin Tarantino. David Fincher and post-Bringing Out the Dead Scorsese, yes, that's who we should be comparing him to.


Ah yes I always forget he's British, so yeah, Hollywood. I prefer him to most of those directors personally. But I'd have to compare on a film by film basis. Spielberg is obviously more formally excellent than him but his later films have a ton of third act issues. I greatly prefer the atmosphere he creates to Wes Anderson. While I like Anderson's earlier films I'm starting to find his shtick to wear a bit thin. Spike Lee is very hit or miss and while Do the Right Thing is great, for me he doesn't have much else that compares to Memento.

[baby doll]

Ah yes I always forget he's British, so yeah, Hollywood. I prefer him to most of those directors personally. But I'd have to compare on a film by film basis. Spielberg is obviously more formally excellent than him but his later films have a ton of third act issues. I greatly prefer the atmosphere he creates to Wes Anderson. While I like Anderson's earlier films I'm starting to find his shtick to wear a bit thin. Spike Lee is very hit or miss and while Do the Right Thing is great, for me he doesn't have much else that compares to Memento.I find Spielberg hit-or-miss myself, but A.I. is a flat-out masterpiece in my books (and the ending is perfect, I don't care what anybody says), and Minority Report, despite its flaws, is a lot more ambitious and exciting than anything Nolan's attempted to-date. It even has comprehensible action sequences.

In terms of atmosphere, I think Memento is still Nolan's best for its übber-anonymity (all diners, dive bars, and motels), which fits well with the story since none of the characters has much of a family life. He can't really be credited with the atmosphere in Insomnia, since it's a remake of a (superior) Norwegian feature. And though the décor is certainly handsome, I thought The Prestige's recreation of Victorian-era London was somewhat limited, especially alongside Neil Burger's evocation of turn-of-the-century Vienna in the not unsimilar The Illusionist, where we get more of a sense of the society as a whole (instead of just a handful of magicians).

But as much as I like Memento, its story loses pretty much all interest on second viewing when you know what's already happened, and it's entirely apolitical. In addition to being more political, Spike Lee is much more distinctive as a stylist (Mo' Better Blues is a relatively minor work, but there are some strong individual sequences, such as a very funny three-way sex scene), and has a stronger sense of character (especially in Summer of Sam and 25th Hour). Incidentally, his films are also a lot sexier.

The filmmaker I would contrast Wes Anderson with is Steven Soderbergh, because where the former is almost an American Ozu at this point, the latter starts again from scratch every single time, both in terms of style and subject, and though I generally like his films, they all seem to me half-baked and derivative. The Girlfriend Experience is a so-so pastiche of '60s Godard, and Che is a so-so homage to The Battle of Algiers, and Bubble is a so-so attempt at a kind of American neo-realism. (The two Soderbergh movies that I like the best, sex, lies & videotape and King of the Hill, are his most conventional stylistically and best-written works.) Anderson, on the other hand, having arrived at a mature style by the time of Rushmore, begins each film with an existing framework already in place, so even if I like one film better than another (although, other than Bottle Rocket, I think they're all pretty terrific), they're all--to paraphrase Jacques Rivette--exciting and vital in relation to his entire body of work.

[baby doll]

Speaking of who and who isn't an auteur, here's Jacques Rivette in an interview:

"Minnelli is regarded as a great director thanks to the slackening of the 'politique des auteurs.' For François, Jean-Luc and me, the politique consisted of saying that there were only a few filmmakers who merited consideration as auteurs, in the same sense as Balzac or Molière. One play by Molière might be less good than another, but it is vital and exciting in relation to the entire oeuvre. This is true of Renoir, Hitchcock, Lang, Ford, Dreyer, Mizoguchi, Sirk, Ozu... But it's not true of all filmmakers. Is it true of Minnelli, Walsh or Cukor? I don't think so. They shot the scripts that the studio assigned them to, with varying levels of interest. Now, in the case of Preminger, where the direction is everything, the politique works. As for Walsh, whenever he was intensely interested in the story or the actors, he became an auteur - and in many other cases, he didn't. In Minnelli's case, he was meticulous with the sets, the spaces, the light...but how much did he work with the actors? I loved Some Came Running (1958) when it came out, just like everybody else, but when I saw it again ten years ago I was taken aback: three great actors and they're working in a void, with no one watching them or listening to them from behind the camera."

[number8]

http://www.themppc.com/magpress/dark-knights-christopher-nolans-sweet-ride/

[Pop Trash]

Mild anticipation quelled by that last trailer.

Agreed, but I get the feeling that's the 'mainstream' trailer directed at people afraid this might be too cerebral and arty for them.

[Grouchy]

Speaking about who is or isn't an auteur... How about not speaking about that bullshit anymore?

[baby doll]

Speaking about who is or isn't an auteur... How about not speaking about that bullshit anymore?In my defense, I wasn't the one who brought it up.

[BuffaloWilder]

Every time Baby doll starts posting in a thread, this happens.

[Russ]

Seems as if baby doll's Dark Knight diatribe is less a crititcism of the film itself and is more of a lamenting of the type of film he wishes it to be. If I'm incorrect, baby doll, are there any films that fall into the superhero genre that you regard highly?

EDIT: And, apologies, for further derailing this thread into such obscure off-topic-ness.

[BuffaloWilder]

Also, as far as it goes, I'd probably back the opinion that Nolan's a far stronger filmmaker than either Wes Anderson or, on the whole, Steven Soderbergh.

[megladon8]

Seems as if baby doll's Dark Knight diatribe is less a crititcism of the film itself and is more of a lamenting of the type of film he wishes it to be. If I'm incorrect, baby doll, are there any films that fall into the superhero genre that you regard highly?


This is exactly how I've been feeling about the posts, too.

Not only his opinions on The Dark Knight, but on all of Nolan's films. Why is it that The Prestige needed to show a better glimpse of Victorian era London? The story it was telling was set in that time, but was not about that time, so why pad it with looks at everyday life in this society?

Again, exactly like you said, Russ, his criticisms add up to nothing more than "I would have wanted it this way, and since it's not that way, it sucks"

[baby doll]

Seems as if baby doll's Dark Knight diatribe is less a crititcism of the film itself and is more of a lamenting of the type of film he wishes it to be. If I'm incorrect, baby doll, are there any films that fall into the superhero genre that you regard highly?

EDIT: And, apologies, for further derailing this thread into such obscure off-topic-ness.I like both versions of Judex, and look forward to Michel Gondry's The Green Hornet.

[baby doll]

This is exactly how I've been feeling about the posts, too.

Not only his opinions on The Dark Knight, but on all of Nolan's films. Why is it that The Prestige needed to show a better glimpse of Victorian era London? The story it was telling was set in that time, but was not about that time, so why pad it with looks at everyday life in this society?

Again, exactly like you said, Russ, his criticisms add up to nothing more than "I would have wanted it this way, and since it's not that way, it sucks"Qrazy, if I'm not mistaken, praised Nolan's films for their atmosphere, and I responded simply that I wasn't overly impressed with the film's recreation of the Victorian era (which I recall as being limited to a handful of characters), and then compared it to another period magician movie that came out around the same time (albeit one set in Vienna rather than London), in which the story wasn't merely about the rivalry between two magicians, but managed to deal with more interesting subjects like class and antisemitism. That's not to say that Nolan's film sucks for that reason (although I did hate the movie, that's largely because I felt the style, particularly the editing, made it painful to watch), but that I don't think it's deserving of praise on the basis of its atmosphere. Then again, maybe Qrazy simply meant the lighting and decor, which I recall being quite good.

[Raiders]

Speaking about who is or isn't an auteur... How about not speaking about that bullshit anymore?

How about we let people talk about whatever they want. Thanks.

[BuffaloWilder]

I'd say Nolan's an auteur - on a technical, narrative and thematic basis.

[Qrazy]

Qrazy, if I'm not mistaken, praised Nolan's films for their atmosphere, and I responded simply that I wasn't overly impressed with the film's recreation of the Victorian era (which I recall as being limited to a handful of characters), and then compared it to another period magician movie that came out around the same time (albeit one set in Vienna rather than London), in which the story wasn't merely about the rivalry between two magicians, but managed to deal with more interesting subjects like class and antisemitism. That's not to say that Nolan's film sucks for that reason (although I did hate the movie, that's largely because I felt the style, particularly the editing, made it painful to watch), but that I don't think it's deserving of praise on the basis of its atmosphere. Then again, maybe Qrazy simply meant the lighting and decor, which I recall being quite good.

Well I didn't say anything about The Prestige per se, although I would defend it. I was speaking more generally about the atmosphere in all of his films. A lot of his atmosphere is generated via David Julyan's terrific scores, but the soundtracks don't only stand alone, they act as a throughline for Nolan's other talents... pacing, lighting, etc.

The only Nolan film that I personally found a little weak was his Insomnia remake. But even that was fairly well acted, well made and had enough of his atmosphere and style to keep me satisfied.

[Derek]

I was speaking more generally about the atmosphere in all of his films. A lot of his atmosphere is generated via David Julyan's terrific scores, but the soundtracks don't only stand alone, they act as a throughline for Nolan's other talents... pacing, lighting, etc.

But his atmosphere isn't nearly as impressive as Tarkovsky nor as magical as Melies. In terms of soundtrack, I find that Bela Tarr has a more evocative combination of sound and image, while his films lack the fleshed out political commentary of Glauber Rocha. His lighting clearly doesn't hold a candle to Hiroshi Teshigahara's, so I don't know what you're thinking about there.

[Qrazy]

But his atmosphere isn't nearly as impressive as Tarkovsky nor as magical as Melies. In terms of soundtrack, I find that Bela Tarr has a more evocative combination of sound and image, while his films lack the fleshed out political commentary of Glauber Rocha. His lighting clearly doesn't hold a candle to Hiroshi Teshigahara's, so I don't know what you're thinking about there.

When you're right you're right, and you, you're always right.

http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Spaceballs-BH-01.jpg

[Sxottlan]

Not exactly the first review, but a preview (http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies/first_review_praises_inception _but_I98ITiMl14xzC8nI9BZFhO) of Peter Travers' review. He liked it.

[Ezee E]

Preview of a review. Someone thinks their word actually means something.

[Boner M]

As much as I doubt I'll enjoy this film, I at least hope it's a commerical success. I feel its (almost inevitable) box-office failure will just fan the flames for more sequels, franchise reboots, childhood rape, and general Summer movie unpleasantness.

[Spun Lepton]

As much as I doubt I'll enjoy this film, I at least hope it's a commerical success. I feel its (almost inevitable) box-office failure will just fan the flames for more sequels, franchise reboots, childhood rape, and general Summer movie unpleasantness.

Funny, everybody -- and I mean everybody -- I've spoken to who have seen the trailer have very enthusiastically said they would see it. It may be the one movie that will get me to the theater this summer, I know that much.

[Boner M]

Funny, everybody -- and I mean everybody -- I've spoken to who have seen the trailer have very enthusiastically said they would see it.
Me too, but then everybody I know is a dweeb.

[megladon8]

Pretty much everyone I know wants to see it, as well.

I think it's cool that audiences seem to be into more intelligent stuff. Or at least, what seems to be more intelligent than your average Transformers/Twilight summer movie fare.

[Watashi]

I think most people are going to see it for Leonardo DiCaprio.

A lot of people saw Shutter Island at my theater not knowing what the hell it was about and not knowing who Martin Scorsese is.

[megladon8]

I think most people are going to see it for Leonardo DiCaprio.

A lot of people saw Shutter Island at my theater not knowing what the hell it was about and not knowing who Martin Scorsese is.


Really? I honestly didn't think Leo still had that kind of box office pull. I thought he picked some great scripts and projects to work on.