Having seen the film twice, I think it’s safe to say that almost every scene in Inception is exceptionally well done. There really aren’t any scenes that feel clumsy, unnecessary or poorly constructed. That being said, there are a few scenes that really do stand out. Scenes that are just crafted so perfectly, you can watch them over and over and never tire of them. Here are five scenes from Inception that are truly remarkable. (There are spoilers in this article so if you haven’t seen the film you may want to hold off on reading this)
1) Zero Gravity Scene
Reminiscent of the lobby scene in The Matrix, the zero gravity scene in Inception is one of the most exciting scenes I’ve seen in a very long time. The scene sees Arthur (played by Joseph Gordon Levitt) floating around in a hotel that is currently experiencing a zero gravity atmosphere. The lack of gravity is due to the van on level one that is currently in free fall.
According to the rules of Inception, whatever happens on the dream level above seeps through to the level below. Arthur is the only one awake on the hotel level at this time and therefore, only he experiences the feeling of no gravity.
As Arthur fights off his adversaries, what we are seeing on screen can be described only as a dazzling array of stunt work and choreography. Arthur floats up and down through the hallway as he fends off enemies and desperately tries to figure out how to deliver a kick to his teammates.
As Arthur moves the team through the hallway and towards the elevator, we as the audience are kept in suspense as editor Lee Smith cuts the hotel level together with the snow fortress level. Things get even more mind bending as Arthur climbs around the elevator shaft while he tries to set up his ingenious idea for a kick.
The whole scene is completely wild. It’s very well done and doesn’t look corny or fake at all. The physics look real and I don’t think I’ve ever seen zero gravity handled better in a film. It’s exciting, interesting and one of the more ambitious scenes in the film.
2) Cobb Comes Home
In what is easily the most moving scene of the film, we finally see Cobb returning home to his children. Whether it’s a dream or not doesn’t really matter. Cobb has waited for this moment for far too long and to see him finally reunited with his children is truly touching.
As Cobb awakes on the plane we see him with a look of shock on his face. He looks around at his teammates and despite our best efforts, we as the audience can’t get any information from their facial expressions. Did they succeed? Are they still dreaming? Was it just one big dream all along? Perhaps we will never know, but what’s important is that Cobb has made it home.
Hans Zimmer’s song ‘Time’ starts to play and as Cobb walks through the airport we can’t help but to feel happy for him. There are very few words spoken in the scene but Zimmer’s score does all the talking we need. It’s a triumphant and moving piece of music and greatly enhances the scene.
When Cobb finally gets home and his kids come running to him, you may be struggling to hold back tears, it’s undeniably moving. As Cobb spins the top and walks away, we know that whether it’s a dream or reality, in the end it doesn’t matter. Cobb is finally reunited with his kids. His journey is over, his mind is at peace and he can finally move on. It provides for a beautiful ending that will truly stay with you for a while.
3) Chase Through Mombasa
Early on in the movie Cobb finds himself in a sticky situation as he travels to Africa to meet up with Eames. While there, he realizes he has a tail on him and he must lose it if he is to get out of there alive. As Eames runs interference, Cobb hops over the balcony and the chase is on.
Hans Zimmer’s pounding score kicks in and as Cobb runs through the streets of Mombasa, Nolan films the scene with intensity and velocity. Mixed in with some nice top down shots of the city, the scene follows Cobb as he tries to evade his captors. The scene culminates in a narrow (no pun intended) escape.
Equal to any chase scene in a ‘Bourne’ film, the Mombasa chase is truly thrilling. From the moment Cobb hits the ground and Zimmer’s track ‘Mombasa’ kicks in, the energy level shoots through the roof. Cobb frantically races through the overcrowded streets as he tries to make his way to safety.
Zimmer’s high tempo and upbeat track fuels the scene as Cobb tries to lose the thugs. As he makes a final push for escape, Cobb gets stuck between two narrow walls. He manages to push through the gap and runs into Saito who picks him up and ends the chase. Thrilling, exciting and a great score to accompany it, the Mombasa chase scene is a highlight of Inception.
4) The Final Kick
To say the editing in the movie is good would be a massive understatement. The editing seen here is nothing short of miraculous. Near the end of the film, editor Lee Smith frantically cuts four parallel action sequences together as he constantly keeps the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats.
After Mal stabs Cobb, Ariadne delivers the first kick by pushing Fischer off the building. The film then starts to furiously cuts between levels. We see Fischer approaching his fathers room, Arthur getting ready to deliver his kick, Eames setting up for his and all of this is going on while the van is still in mid air falling. Then all of the sudden everything happens. The kicks occur and our heroes move through the various levels as the cuts become quicker and quicker. We’re taken from level to level as our minds desperately try to keep up with what’s going on.
It may be a bit overwhelming and almost too much to handle at first, but it is enthralling and will definitely hold your attention. The final sequence is an in your face barrage of relentless suspense that will have you holding onto the edge of your seat.
5) The Rules Of The Dream World
The scene in which Cobb takes Ariadne into her first shared dreaming experience is the first time we as the audience really get a sense of what Nolan has created. In her first shared dreaming experience, Ariadne is introduced to the dream world and is given a quick rundown of how it works. It is at this point that the audience starts to realize what they are in for and just how exciting it all is. The moment where we see one city block fold on top of another is absolutely mesmerizing and the visual effects in this scene are superb.
As Cobb explains how things work in the dream world, we are instantly intrigued. We are pulled into this sci-fi world that Nolan has developed and we are instantly engaged and eager to see where it will take us. It’s a fundamental scene of the movie and a very interesting one to watch.
So there you have it, five fantastic scenes from Inception.
What were your favorite scenes in Inception?
Check out our review of the film here and our guide to understanding it here.
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