Inception: 4 stars

Plot Summary: In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption. This will involve executing his toughest job to date: Inception.

Yeah I know, a Summer 2010 blockbuster that I'm posting about in late January 2011. My best of 2010 list (well, more "these are the movies I watched in 2010" list) will be posted soon with more explanation of what I've been up to. For now, I need to focus and tackle this review, within a review, inside another review.

First, I need to expand on the plot summary above. Mr. DiCaprio (Cobb) plays a hired hand, a man with the technology and skills to infiltrate peoples dreams and steal their secrets and ideas. Apparently in worlds I'm not a part of (high finance and crime to name a few) people will go through any length to get what they need. The execution of something like this is just as complicated as you'd imagine it to be. However, it's something that Cobb has done many times before. He's very good at what he does. Stealing an idea isn't the hard part; implanting an idea is. That is called Inception. So we're introduced to Cobb, to his team and the story rolls forward towards the grand finale of Inception. The details of that journey are for you to discover. However, I can tell you what I thought of the journey; that's no secret.

Inception is a bold piece of filmmaking. Bold in that it is a completely original idea. We're not seeing much of those anymore in Hollywood. It was conceived of and written by Christopher Nolan from his original thought. It's not a sequel (or a squeakquel) or a remake of a better crafted foreign film. What is even more impressing is that while the idea itself is pretty simple, one would imagine the execution of that idea on screen would be very difficult. Nolan pulls it off effortlessly (seemingly), and it is incredibly fun to watch. What you may have heard is true; there is a dream, inside a dream, inside a dream all happening at once. Why you ask? Because in order to implant an idea, you have to go as deep into the subconscious as you can so the victim doesn't know the idea isn't his or hers. While it sounds confusing, and easy to make fun of, it is quite a sight to see unravel in front of your eyes. The amazing thing is that I was not confused or lost at any point during the sequence. That is reason enough for any fan of celluloid to see Inception as soon as possible; but wait, there's more.

The thing that impressed me most about this film is that I was treated to an actual story. You may have, as I did, assumed that Inception was just going to be about the act itself. A caper inside someone's mind. There would be a set up, the gathering of the top notch team, the planning, the buildup, the heist itself and then a resolution. A Summer blockbuster doesn't need anything else. Throw in amazing special effects, and you're done. Why do anything more? Christopher Nolan knew that in order to reach a broader audience and to keep people interested beyond the wow factor he would need more. Cue Marion Cotillard; the love interest. I won't reveal anything about this aspect of the story, but adding this depth to Cobb's character in turn adds something for viewers to latch onto, to root for and to identify with. This was a great move by Nolan. It illustrates why he is one of the best filmmakers of this generation. Inception was Nolan's baby. It is the film he has been working towards, earning money and reputation for, since Memento was a sleeper hit. He could have taken the easy route, but he chose to lend some heart to a beautiful technical idea, and it's what pushes Inception towards the realm of masterpiece. There are a few small details that I felt held it back a bit, and I would have to watch it again to determine if it reaches that realm. Only time will tell.

Green Zone: 3.5 Stars

Plot summary: During the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Damon) and his team of Army inspectors were dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in Iraq. Rocketing from one treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission.

Don't let some critics fool you, Green Zone is one of the MOST American films you'll see. I'm glad I live in a country where we can question our government without being punished or killed. In fact, we don't use that particular freedom quite enough.

Green Zone walks a tricky line. It attempts to veil a fictional action movie over a very touchy event. That event is the invasion of Iraq and specifically the reason for invasion. We were told there were WMD's in Iraq. I personally feel we were told this in a way that struck fear in our country. When we invaded there were none to be found. Now, feel free to argue that point, but it's a fact. Were there other weapons there that cause destruction of some kind? I'm sure there were. That's to be expected. Citizen's of America, however, were led to believe there were weapons there that could cause destruction on the scale of nuclear or biochemical. Those weren't found. Now, from here on out, one has to be careful. There is nothing more being asserted. There is no argument that Saddam Hussein isn't evil, no argument that Iraq never had WMD's or possibly moved them before the invasion, no argument against the horrible things that were going on in Iraq. All we ask as citizens of this great country is that when our government goes to war and puts our youth in danger, they better tell the truth about why they're doing it. Politically speaking, that is what Green Zone is trying to say. It portrays the anger many people feel about being misled. If you think that is anti-american then I have to question your definition of American. To blindly follow your country is one of the most anti-american things I can think of. The film makes other comments on missteps during the invasion, such as dismissing the Iraqi army and leaving them unemployed and agitated, and I can go on to talk about them but I'm here to critique a film.

If you liked any of Paul Greengrass' previous films, especially the Bourne sequels, I see no reason why you wouldn't thoroughly enjoy Green Zone. It is taut, exciting and kept me engaged and guessing all the way until the end. Greengrass employs the same shaky hand-held camera work that he always has and in a film set amongst the confusion of war it has never been more effective.

One of my favorite aspects of Green Zone is the subplot of Freddy. Freddy is an Iraqi citizen who approaches Miller and his unit (while they are at another site containing no WMD's) with information about a meeting occurring of suspected high priority targets. After the invasion of the meeting, and the discovery that Hussein's top ranking general was there, the film's spider web cover-up plot takes off as Miller slowly peels back the layers of what's really going on. What is so interesting about Freddy is that he personifies the complications of the occupation. He also has one of the most powerful lines of the film. Miller continually states how he is there to do his job; find WMD's and save lives, but Freddy is there to remind him (and us) that it is a little more complicated than that.

The story line of Green Zone has many ins and outs. In other hands the film could have become confusing and irritating but the story is told with great ease by director Paul Greengrass and writer Brian Helgeland. One way to do this, which has been portrayed as a negative by many critics, is one dimensional characters and simple yet powerful dialogue. That way, there is less to get in the way. Let me be clear though, the characters are in no way dull, boring or poorly written. I think a better way to describe them, and the film as a whole, is focused.

I think in order to enjoy this film, you really have to go into it with an open mind. I say that to both sides of the argument. If you completely disagree with my second paragraph above, you could still enjoy the film as it is a thriller, not a documentary. Even if you agree with the assertions of the film, you also have to realize that it is a work of fiction and not something to use to further your contentions. Bottom line: Green Zone is a very effective thriller that was a blast to watch.