July 'Nick's Pix:' INCEPTION & Book Signing

Once again, it’s time for another 'Nick’s Pix' Screening at the beautiful Lake Theater in Oak Park, and I have to tell you, I’m especially excited about this one.

Not only is it happening just a couple of days after my birthday (which means I’ll basically be celebrating with all of you) but the movie we’re gathering to watch is one of the greatest science fiction films of the 21st century and, without question, one of Christopher Nolan’s finest achievements.

On Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 p.m., we’ll be presenting Nolan’s astonishing 2010 masterpiece Inception on the biggest screen in the building: the magnificent Theater 2 at the Lake. And if there were ever a movie designed to be experienced on a giant screen with a crowd of fellow movie lovers, this is it.

A True Classic

I remember the first time I saw Inception. I was completely blown away. Here was a movie that dropped you into its world immediately, trusted you to keep up, and then proceeded to take you on one of the most exhilarating cinematic rides imaginable.

It’s enormously ambitious, endlessly imaginative, emotionally engaging, and packed with breathtaking action sequences and visual ideas that still leave audiences speechless.

The premise is brilliant. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb, a professional thief who doesn’t steal money or jewels, he steals ideas by infiltrating people’s dreams. He’s given one impossible assignment: instead of extracting information from someone’s subconscious, he must plant an idea there.

What follows is an intricate, globe-spanning heist that unfolds inside layers upon layers of dreams, where time bends, gravity disappears, architecture folds in on itself, and reality becomes increasingly difficult to define.

That may sound hopelessly complicated, but here’s one of the reasons Inception is such a masterpiece: despite all of its complexity, it’s remarkably easy to follow. Nolan never loses sight of the human story underneath the puzzle-box mechanics. At its core, this is a film about grief, guilt, memory, regret, and redemption. The emotional stakes are every bit as compelling as the dazzling visual spectacle.

And What a Spectacle It Is

The rotating hallway fight. The folding Paris streets. The impossible staircases. The mountain assault. The dream collapses. The zero-gravity sequences. One jaw-dropping set piece after another, all executed with astonishing craftsmanship and remarkable practical effects that still hold up beautifully more than a decade later.

Then there’s the cast, and it’s an absolute embarrassment of riches. Leonardo DiCaprio anchors the film with one of his most vulnerable performances, surrounded by an incredible ensemble that includes Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine, and more. Every actor contributes something memorable, creating a true ensemble piece where everyone has a purpose.

Christopher Nolan has made some terrific movies, but Inception remains one of the clearest examples of why he is considered by some to be one of the defining filmmakers of his generation.

It’s intellectually stimulating without becoming inaccessible. It’s emotionally resonant without becoming sentimental. It’s blockbuster entertainment with genuine artistic ambition. Most importantly, it respects its audience enough to challenge them while still delivering an unbelievably satisfying ride.

And Then There’s That Ending

The final image sparked conversations the day the movie opened and continues to inspire debates all these years later. It’s one of the great endings in modern cinema, and I guarantee we’ll be talking about it after the credits roll.

That’s one of my favorite parts of these monthly screenings. I’ll introduce the film beforehand, then after we watch it together, I’ll come back out for a Q&A session, movie trivia, and prize giveaways. We’ll hand out T-shirts, movie passes, and other goodies, and we’ll get to geek out about one of the smartest and most entertaining science fiction films ever made.

And there’s even more happening that night.

It's a Book Signing!

Before and after the movie, I’ll be in the lobby signing and selling copies of my book, 40 Years, 40 Films. It’s an autobiographical journey through my four decades as a film critic, built around my favorite movie from every year since 1985. The book contains forty original essays, my annual Top 10 lists, and discussions of more than 400 films that have shaped my life and career.

I’m incredibly proud of this book from Eckhartz Press, and I’d love the chance to sign a copy for you, take a photo, and talk movies.

So here’s the deal.

• Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 p.m. 

• The Lake Theater in Oak Park 

• Tickets are just $9 for adults and $7 for seniors

• You can reserve your seats now at classiccinemas.com/nick.

  
  

Come celebrate one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. Come experience it the way Christopher Nolan intended: on a huge screen with an appreciative audience.

Come stay afterward for discussion, trivia, prizes, and a lot of laughs. And if you’re so inclined, pick up a signed copy of 40 Years, 40 Films while you’re there.

I’m looking forward to another terrific night at the Lake Theater, and I hope you’ll join me.

I’ll see you on Wednesday, July 8th.

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