On Inception
After watching Inception, and planning to watch it again with my friend, I've come up with my reaction to film's ending.
The first reaction, the visceral or surface reaction that is raised in the film's ending is whether or not the Cobb's totem stops spinning. As the film cuts to black the audience isn't left with that answer and the suspense that its omission creates. If Cobb's totem stops spinning then he is awake whereas if Cobb's totem continues to spin then he is still dreaming. As with any narrative, there is an expectation of a conclusion that is never fulfilled within the movie.
However, one concept that was raised throughout the film is whether or not people accept the ideas or dreams that are presented to them.This concept is addressed,albeit tersely, in the final scene. Shortly after Cobb arrives home, he places his stuff down, pulls out his totem and spins it on the table, and walks away to see his children. (Which leads to the aforementioned reaction) In walking away from his totem, Cobb accepts the reality that is presented to him, regardless of if it is a dream or not. Perhaps the main premise of the film is not whether or not the totem stops but if people accept what the totem's outcome represents.
The first reaction, the visceral or surface reaction that is raised in the film's ending is whether or not the Cobb's totem stops spinning. As the film cuts to black the audience isn't left with that answer and the suspense that its omission creates. If Cobb's totem stops spinning then he is awake whereas if Cobb's totem continues to spin then he is still dreaming. As with any narrative, there is an expectation of a conclusion that is never fulfilled within the movie.
However, one concept that was raised throughout the film is whether or not people accept the ideas or dreams that are presented to them.This concept is addressed,albeit tersely, in the final scene. Shortly after Cobb arrives home, he places his stuff down, pulls out his totem and spins it on the table, and walks away to see his children. (Which leads to the aforementioned reaction) In walking away from his totem, Cobb accepts the reality that is presented to him, regardless of if it is a dream or not. Perhaps the main premise of the film is not whether or not the totem stops but if people accept what the totem's outcome represents.