So far, my favorite film this year is Christopher Nolanís Inception. Not only does it deliver all the action and thrills expected of a big budget summer blockbuster, but it has inspired endless debate among my friends and others who have seen it. It also officially moves Christopher Nolan near the head of an elite class of directors working today whose films I will definitely go see if their name is attached.

Case in point: my fiancÈ and I were in line at a sporting goods store. While the clerk was ringing up my t-shirts, my fiancÈ casually mentioned we had just seen the movie. Instantly, we started to enthusiastically recount memorable scenes: the floating figures in the hotel, the raid on the ice station and, of course, the ending.

For those who have not yet seen Inception (and what are you waiting for? It clearly deserves to be seen on the big screen), the plot is as follows:

Dominic Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is one rare type of thief- as he has the unique skill of being able to steal valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious of his victim during his or her dream state. Cobbís skill makes him valued among corporate giants trying to get one up on each other, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him his wife and child. Cobb is offered a last chance at redemption. He can be reunited with what remains of his family if he can pull off the never before tried feat of inception-meaning not to steal an idea from their target, but to plant one.

Spoiler alert!

(I would say donít read any further if you havenít seen it, but I know that is a moot point. Anyway, still see it if you get the chance.)

The final shot of the film focuses on a ìtotem,î a device that the movie explains as a unique item that each dream raider carries on his or her person that will let them know if they are in reality or trapped in a dream level. In Cobbís case, the item is a small metal top. If the top falls over, he is in reality. If it never stops, he is still dreaming.

In the final scene, Cobb returns to the house he shared with his family. His stepfather shows him his children playing in the back yard. Cobb spins the top on a table-but does not stay to see if the top falls. He leaves the top and runs outside to embrace his children. The camera then pans away from Cobb back to the top. It starts to wobble, but it does not fall over. Fade to black.

Some possible meanings:

The top did fall over and Cobb is actually in reality. A truly happy ending.
Cobb is trapped in a dream world. The top never fell.
The key to the scene is not whether the top fell or not-it is that Cobb DID NOT WAIT to see it fall. He has his children back, He is home. He is no longer the worldís most wanted criminal. He is free.

My personal opinion is 3: Cobb is dreaming and decides to accept it. The clues for me: not only was the ending a little too perfect for Cobb (Saito makes one quick phone call; Cobbís father is waiting for him at the airport; he is taken directly home), but, importantly, his children look exactly the same as they did in Cobbís memories. Not only have they not aged (even though Cobbís tragedy seemingly occurred a few years ago), but they are dressed and positioned just like in his dream. Also, while one can assume the top fell over due to the wobble, the fact remains that we never actually see it fall. Finally, it must again be noted that Cobb did not wait to see if it fell or not. He was going to stay in this world, be it real or a dream.

Well, thatís my theory. What do you think?