Hi Scott, you've chosen a movie that fascinates me, and this week I actually have a bit of time to read and respond to your blog.

"Inception" is loaded with layers of meaning, not just in terms of its plot, which explores layers of dreaming.

"Inception" can be seen as driven by the theme of redemption of the relationship with the father. It's a primal relationship. I love how easy it is to see the protagonist as either Fisher or Cobb, and to see father-son redemption within each of their character arcs. So, you can see the exploration of the same theme from different vantage points.

In addition, it's possible to see "Inception" as a buddy movie and as a love story.

Any way you look at it, "Inception" explores primal relationships in a new way by using psychological concepts to create potent visual images. Really fun stuff!!

Inception is also one of my favourite movies, and a great example of a high concept that - like all the best movie concepts - is actually incredibly simple.

All those layers of theme, genre, plot and character growth arise from one simple motivation: get one man to make a decision that he wouldn't normally be minded to make. Nolan is able to add all that complexity largely because Cobb's goal is so straightforward. Whatever's happening or whoever's dream we're in, we always have that simple goal to cling to, so we always know what the hero wants and where the movie's going.

I always know I'm onto a good story concept when it gets simpler, not more more complex, as it develops...

ascribe and debbiemoon: Isn't it interesting how one of you focuses on how many layers and narrative perspectives the story has, while the other focuses on the clear, clean motivation Cobb has: to get back to his children. And both of your points are absolutely right!

Per debbie's point, I happened to watch the first 15 minutes of Inception this weekend. The 3rd or 4th image of the movie -- where Cobb washes up on the ocean shore -- are quick images (inside Cobb's mind) of his two children. Right there, from the very beginning of the story, Nolan wants to plant that motivational goal into viewer's mind.

Think about it: Here Cobb is in a state of near-drowning and what does he 'see' on death's door? His children. It underscores the "primal" nature of his desire to see them, as ascribe points out.

We'll be digging into the movie in depth throughout the week in this 5-part series.

Great discussion. It think that many wonderful stories build complexity around simple themes.

I don't even like this movie and I loved reading what you had to say. I look forward to more in this series.

As always, thanks for thinking of the people who read your blog. Thanks for writing it.

The amazing thing about this logline, to me, is that it sets up a world with different rules, succinctly and clearly, and in a single phrase.

That's hard to do!