INCEPTION: THE SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER THAT COULD

Is all that we see or seem, but a dream within a dream? -Poe

I'm not sure if it is a relief or a shame that this movie is part of the movies that I am skimming over just to get caught up. By far this was one of the most creative, innovative mesmerizing films of the year. At its core, it's a caper film on acid. A set of unspecified agents are charged with taking their skills taking ideas people's minds to planting them. And mind you, this is just the short explanation. There are so many themes, so many alternative meanings, so many explanations it would take a whole blog on its own just to further explore these questions. Technically it was a masterpiece and one of those films that I could just watch over and over and over, and still probably not be able to tell you what it was about. Christopher Nolan has made a true masterpiece and if any movie deserves to be seen is this one.

BABIES: DOCUMENTARY AND NO SUBTITLES NECESSARY

This documentary follows the lives of four babies from their births until their first steps in different parts of the world; Mongolia, Tokyo, Namibia, and San Francisco. I have a friend who hates the use of this word in everyday speech, but I found this movie to be totally awesome. There is no voice over, and no explanation is necessary. The camera is like a fly on the wall recording each baby's development. It is amazing to see personality come through and in essence each cute and cuddly newborn turn into an actual person. I know this happens every day and I know that many people have already seen this occurrence, but to see it happen in comparison to other babies being raised very differently having different ways of living makes it somehow more poignant. Yes, there are the parts of the movie where everyone will say oooh and aaah, how cute, but this movie is more than that. The bonus features in this DVD include a visit to the children three years later. I absolutely loved this movie.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT: AND SO IS THIS MOVIE

In fact, this movie is more than all right. It is one of the best films of the year involving some of the best performances as well.

Laser: I don't think you guys should break up.
Nic: No? Why's that?
Laser: I think you're too old.
Nic: [wryly] Thanks, Laser.

If you can the fact that someone named their child Laser, overall this is a movie about a loving family with some unusual caveats. Nic and Jules are a loving couple portrayed by Juliana Moore and Annette Benning. Yes, Nic is a woman. However, that's not what is unusual about this story. Nic and Jules are the proud parents of two lovely children Joni and Laser, conceived by artificial insemination. Now as Joni (played by the lovely Mia Wasikowska from Alice in Wonderland) prepares to head off to college, her slightly younger brother asks for her help in finding their father, a sperm donor. Both Nic and Jules used the same sperm donor, so it doesn't make it that difficult when the children search for their father. Enter Mark Ruffalo as Paul, the very testosterone filled male. A chef and owner of a local restaurant Paul is at first taken aback by the situation but soon grows to realize the benefits of having a family. Of course, this is not his family, a fact that will hit home a little hard leader in the movie. Ruffalo does an absolutely fantastic job of a man who has been hit upside the head with a big dose of reality and does his best to make lemonade out of oranges. What makes this movie absolutely wonderful is the stellar performances by both Moore and Benning. I predict that come awards season, these two will be neck and neck competing with each other after a performance where they complemented each other so well. Both characters have their issues. Nic the heavy handed one, the strict mom, who despite her tendency to drink too much needs to have everything in control. While Jules is a free spirit who has been bouncing from job to job trying to find and/or express herself. Of course, Jules is the mom who gave birth to Laser. If you haven't noticed, that was the thing that I have the most difficulty with in this film, someone naming their son Laser. I guarantee that this film will be nominated for best picture this year. It's a movie about family, the difficulties of marriage and relationships, the difficulties of raising children; I guess it's just another really good film about the struggle to get through this thing called life.