Things are so hush-hush around Inception that even when the plot synopsis was released earlier this week, it was met with uniformly bold SPOILER warnings. And, well, why not? If there's one thing the likely impenetrable summer blockbuster from Christopher Nolan has as a marketing tool -- besides the all-star cast and the "from the director of The Dark Knight" tag -- it's mystery. As in: WTF? Well, with word today that Inception has "a huge reveal in the third act," Movieline attempts to crack this thing. Potentially real spoilers ahead, but also, maybe not. Click if you dare...
OK, still here? Good. Here's what's known about Inception already: Leonardo DiCaprio plays "dream thief," who uses some highly preposterous science to sneak into dreams to steal vital bits of information. Naturally, this "job" has made him a fugitive from the law and cost him everything. But he's given one last chance for redemption: Go inside someone's brain to implant a potentially world-changing idea. Hence, Inception. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe, Marion Cotillard and Cillian Murphy are present as well playing various team members and/or adversaries.
Now, what could the major third-act reveal be?
· The Shutter Island ending
This has been done before (and done to death), but would it surprise anyone to find out that DiCaprio's character (the awfully named Dom Cobb) was actually dreaming the entire "I'm stealing dreams!" plotline? No, probably not.
· The Double Cross ending
Duh. Like the "one last job" that's supposedly for good won't actually turn out bad. Maybe DiCaprio and his team are actually inserting some sinister plot into the brain of a 21st century Hitler. When it comes to the Dream Police, you never know.
· The 3 ending
Remember in Adaptation, how Donald Kaufman was writing a terrible screenplay where both the protagonist and antagonist were the same person? Yeah, think that.
Any other ideas? The floor is yours.
· 'Inception' Spoiler Alert! [Hollywood Elsewhere]
· Official Plot Synopsis for 'Inception' Sheds New Light on Its Story [First Showing]