Born to Watch Turns 3: Celebrating with Christopher Nolan’s Inception

It’s been three years since Born to Watch launched with our Top Gun: Maverick instant review—and what better way to mark the occasion than diving into the cinematic labyrinth that is Christopher Nolan’s Inception? In this special anniversary episode, Matt, Gow, and Damo unpack the dreamscapes, heist twists, and metaphysical mind games of Nolan’s 2010 blockbuster, a film that’s as complex as it is captivating.

Inception is more than just a movie; it’s an experience. A cinematic puzzle that demands your full attention and rewards you with every watch. As Matt says, "it could fall into the ludicrous so easily, but Nolan balances it on a knife’s edge.” With Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, our emotionally damaged dream thief, and a stellar ensemble cast including Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, and Ken Watanabe, the film layers action, philosophy, and a deeply emotional core into one of the most original blockbusters in Hollywood history.

In classic BTW fashion, we’re not just reviewing a movie but celebrating its context. We look back at where Inception sits in the 2010 cinematic landscape (spoiler: fifth-highest-grossing that year), how it stacks up against the flood of sequels and remakes, and why originality like this has become such a rarity. And of course, we dive into that final scene: is Cobb still dreaming, or did he make it back to reality? You already know the top wobbles—but the debate lives on.

One highlight of the episode is our deep dive into Hans Zimmer’s legendary score. After seeing Zimmer live in concert, Damo and Matt share their awe for his sonic architecture, from the pulsating drums of “Mombasa” to the iconic crescendo of “Time,” which closed Zimmer’s set and remains one of the most haunting tracks in modern film. Zimmer's sound design is more than background; it's a heartbeat that keeps the film’s layered timelines synchronised and emotionally grounded.

As always, we bring our segment game. The “Overs and Unders” tracks how many times we’ve watched the film (spoiler: Matt’s pushing 15), and “Critical Thinking” explores both glowing praise and hilarious pan reviews from around the web. There’s love for Nolan’s direction, DiCaprio’s nuanced performance, and the film’s clever use of exposition that never feels forced. We even compare the film’s dream mechanics to other genre standouts like The Matrix and Dark City, while appreciating Nolan’s candidness about his influences.

We also take a moment to celebrate Inception’s cultural footprint—how it shifted the conversation around what a summer blockbuster could be. It inspired everything from memes to college essays, and even influenced trailers with that iconic “BRAAAM” sound. From the practical effects of the zero-gravity hallway fight to the haunting image of a city folding on itself, Inception remains a masterclass in merging high-concept storytelling with blockbuster appeal.

But don’t worry, it’s not all high-brow. Expect our usual Born to Watch banter, yes, even Damo’s hot takes and Gow’s one-liners. There’s spirited debate over the best performance in the film (Hardy? Murphy? Cotillard?), and we rank where Nolan sits among modern directors. Spoiler alert: it’s near the top. We even discuss which actors in the film could pull off a James Bond, and yes, Tom Hardy’s name comes up more than once.

In true Born to Watch style, we wrap with our regular segments: Hit, Sleeper, and Dud of the Year, with some deep cuts and guilty pleasures thrown in. And don’t miss our Good, Bad, and Ugly breakdown, where we salute the editing brilliance that keeps all five dream levels aligned, roast some of the over-the-top dream logic, and celebrate the film’s undeniable rewatchability.

So, whether you’re a first-time listener or a longtime member of the BTW family, this episode is our love letter to one of the most daring films of the 21st century, and a celebration of how far we’ve come since that first Top Gun: Maverick review.

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