I know I'm on the minority by going below 8. To me all Nolan films written by both him and his brother (which excludes Insomnia)...I have given 8.5/9. I will say this film is the best interactive cast from all his films, it keeps one engaged and I don't find it to be filled with complexities because unlike other films there is no theoretical physics, or even psychology. Unless one has "telepathy" there's no way to know exactly what's going on inside another persons mind in imagery. Even ourselves when we dream it has to be intense, and written immediately most of us know we had a dream and the feeling but not the details of the dream. The component of the brain that is active during REM sleep (when we dream) is also totally unrelated to memories. So geographically accessing memory, vocabulary, anything we know off hand is accessible pending a neurological disorder. So the entire basic concept of the film has more wholes than "The Matrix". So to enjoy this film you must suspend your thinking process...the other Nolan films compel the mind to try to figure out chronology why it was ordered that way and the human condition. To me the Cob memory of Mal and his inability to let go of her is the main problem that Cob has. Assuming she ever existed or his children, because the writers dreamt up the script. There's nothing in physics or psychology that would make one try to make sense.. The only reconciliation is his conscious memories of Mal which should be harmless, and his subconscious guilt over Mal ergo her chronic attempts to sabotage him. Because his guilt stems from was she correct in the fact that they were in a dream or was he correct that they weren't. Like any untimely death or separation all humans are plagued with a level of guilt and at times turn to escapism to deal with the loss..in death visiting the grave frequently, in divorce or break ups clinging to pictures or memories of the good times, and in the more extreme Alcohol, Drugs or psychotropics. People when depressed or traumatized from loss typically have difficulty sleeping, not self loathing that creates apathy and excessive sleep. I found the Cinematography, the Sound mixing, and the Cast as a unit phenomenal. I found it very entertaining by focusing on the attempted corporate espionage and ignoring the sleeping aspect and dream levels and viewing the process like a basketball or football game accomplishing a mission contingent on time. I found the chemist though small in role interesting as it reminded me of an opium den...if you have time to research opium dens and the difference bt the type of pipe utilized and the composite it has the same withdrawal as opiates but it creates very vivid dream states of the past and present and people who have experienced claiming visions of a possible future based on the present and historical events. But having a subconscious army, to see vivid geography, etc...you just have to sit back and enjoy like a Die Hard Film, or Bond. Outside the internal conflict about Mal, I took this in as an espionage film without being bombarded by the "Dreaming Component". There's actually a phenomenal parody of this film and VR devices like the Oculus in 06/07 South Park. Just by doing a search the amount of discourse and dialogue wasted trying to breakdown this film deserved a parody...As they did with GOT, and LOTR. Summation Phenomenal action Film and fun without trying to intellectualize it.