Inception

The world we live in is full of information and material goods. Some people have them and many more wish to have them... by whatever means necessary. However, Inception isn't a smash and grab job - far from it. Whilst Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, his art is not akin to the Ocean's heists - he steals secrets from his victim’s subconscious.

Over time, Cobb has learned to steal the information he requires during his target's sleep, whilst they are in dreaming state and their mind is at its most vulnerable. Skills like these don't just prove useful for the individual - Cobb's abilities have rendered him a key asset to corporations keen to unveil their opponents' secrets. He is a weapon in the war of corporate espionage.

It hasn't all been plain sailing for Cobb. Whilst at the top of his game, he has become a fugitive, hunted down wherever he goes and losing all the people and things he held dear. He needs one chance to change things, to quit, to escape... and an offer is on the table. This isn't just a heist though. Together with his team, Cobb has to plant an idea, rather than stealing one. They need to commit "inception". They need to commit the perfect crime.

Christopher Nolan takes his time over his projects, though when he delivers, he delivers big. Memento, The Prestige and the Batman reboot: not a bad career, let alone the beginnings of one. Inception continues his series of successes, realising a project he'd pondered for over a decade. In DiCaprio he has another top lead actor, ably backed by a stellar cast and a mind-bending plot that will drive you to reconsider the fabric of the world we live in.

Robert Gardner