By Chris Kavan - 07/16/10 at 01:34 PM CT
There's no denying that the top draw for this week (and for me, the rest of summer) is going to be Christopher Nolan's Inception. It's being compared to Nolan's earlier work Memento in that it requires some use of the mind to figure out. Multiple viewings are encouraged. It's a movie that blends reality with dreams - multiple dreams going on at the same time mind you - and keeping everything straight requires actually paying attention.
That's why I've been looking forward to this film since it was announced. It was all very secretive and mysterious - even knowing a bit more I still don't have a 100% grasp of what's going to happen, and that makes me happy. I'm all for explosions and animated fun - but sometimes I like being challenged. If Nolan's track record is any indication, I will be happy. The fact that big names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard and Cillian Murphy are involved also bodes well.
The other big release is Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel and Alfred Molina are out to have some fun in a loosely-based Fantasia homage. Full of flashy special effects and sequences, it should be a good family-based film and one that doesn't happen to be animated. It probably has enough appeal to open to decent numbers.
Your obligatory arthouse film for the week is The Concert. Starring Mélanie Laurent (of Inglourious Basterds) - this is about a former Bolshoi orchestra conductor, ousted for allowing Jewish musicians to play, and his secretive return to conduct again. Laurent plays a virtuoso violinist who agrees to play. This is one of those films many will talk about but few will see.
Inception should be on top, with Apprentice a probable 2-3 depending on how well Despicable Me holds up due to word of mouth. Should be another good weekend for films - I, however, will probably not see anything until next week.
