The new film starring Leonardo DiCaprio is a BIG idea. Too big! The acting is great, the special effects superb, and the concept interesting. Yet after two and a half hours, it falls short. All the elements were there, but it just doesn’t hit the spot.
The dreams-within-dreams action is plenty, but beyond the concept’s coolness, the film misses the chance to explore the subconscious baggage we all carry yet remain unaware of, settling instead for action for action’s sake.
All in all, those that like mind benders will probably like this offering, though, at best, I can only recommend it with a 3-star rating. And that is mostly for the good acting, sleek photography, and special effects.
It is one of those few films that I have to disagree with Mr. Ebert on.
Note: A good foreign film that I recently saw was Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (the Swedish version)
