Inception (2010)

In this week’s episode of Born to Watch , we’re diving deep, like three layers deep, into Christopher Nolan’s reality-bending sci-fi thriller with our Inception (2010) Review. The team celebrates three years of podcasting with one of the most mind-twisting films of the 21st century.

It’s only fitting that a film about dreams, time loops, and subconscious sabotage kicks off our birthday episode. With a cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Ken Watanabe, this Nolan original has become a modern classic. But is it as smart as it thinks it is? Does the top fall? And how many times do you really need to watch it to understand what the hell is going on?

Whitey, G-Man, and Damo don’t just scratch the surface, they go full inception mode, breaking down the film’s ambitious plot, its dream architecture, and whether Cobb is actually home with his kids or just lost in another layer.

From Dreamscapes to DiCaprio

Whitey kicks off with his usual gusto, revealing that he saw Inception solo on opening day, classic cinephile move. He hails it as peak Nolan and DiCaprio’s most complex role, while G-Man confesses he just watched the movie in full for the first time this week. Damo, meanwhile, delivers the ultimate snob flex: he’s seen it three times and still finds new details with each watch.

The team breaks down Dom Cobb’s fractured psyche, the emotionally rich (and confusing) relationship with Mal, and how Ariadne (played by Elliot (Ellen) Page) is more than just the new recruit; she’s the audience surrogate. There’s praise for Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s gravity-defying hallway fight and Tom Hardy’s cheeky charm as dream-forger Eames. Hardy might just be playing his most “normal” character ever.

The Nolan Effect

From the layered timelines to the rules of the dream world, Nolan’s script is pure high-concept storytelling. The boys debate the film’s exposition-heavy style, with Damo defending it as necessary and Whitey pointing out how cleverly the rules are integrated into dialogue. G-Man admits that the film almost lost him early on, but it eventually clicked.

The group agrees that what sets Inception apart isn’t just its ambition, it’s the balance between visual spectacle and emotional stakes. Cobb’s longing to return to his children grounds the entire story. As Whitey puts it, “Love is the engine of the movie.” And that spinning top at the end? The debate rages, with Damo arguing that the wedding ring, not the top, is Cobb’s real totem.

Zimmer’s Sonic Boom

Hans Zimmer's iconic score is one of the true stars of the episode and the film. The guys take a detour to relive their recent trip to see Zimmer live, where “Time” was the final encore and “Mombasa” opened the show. Damo drops some deep trivia, including Zimmer’s creation of the signature “braaam” sound that became a staple in modern trailers.

Zimmer’s blend of orchestral grandeur and percussive power is credited with elevating Inception to the next level. It’s not just background music, it’s narrative glue.

Big Ideas, Bigger Debates

The episode also tackles the meta: could inception be real? Is dream-sharing possible? The crew has fun exploring the logic (and illogic) of the film’s concept, concluding that it’s a hard "maybe". They also dive into Nolan’s place in the pantheon of modern directors, putting him above even some of the biggest names for his commitment to originality.

Damo offers a run-through of the best Nolan films, debating whether Inception tops The Dark Knight , Interstellar , and Memento . G-Man drops trivia about the film’s production and cast (yes, Pete Postlethwaite was only in it for three minutes), and the whole crew salutes Nolan’s ability to deliver blockbuster-level art films.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Dream physics, logic puzzles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in zero-G
• The tragic brilliance of Mal and why Cobb’s guilt is the real villain
• Tom Hardy: suave or too normal?
• The mystery of Ariadne’s tiny pants
• Is this peak Nolan? (Spoiler: probably)

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your movie fix.

Join the conversation:

• Does the top fall or spin forever?
• Is Inception Nolan’s best film or just his most ambitious?
• Who out of the cast would make the best Bond?

Drop us a voicemail at BornToWatch.com.au and tell us your dreams—or nightmares—about the movie.

#InceptionReview #ChristopherNolan #LeonardoDiCaprio #BornToWatchPodcast #HansZimmer #TomHardy #MoviePodcast #SciFiMovies #MindBendingCinema #DreamWithinADream