So I’ve finally seen Christopher Nolan’s Inception (I know I’m lame), and now I know why it’s been trending on Twitter all summer long. Oh. My. Goodness. Mr. Nolan. I always knew you were a master of your craft (you had me at Memento), but this film is a true masterpiece. For me the film struck the right balance between blowing my mind with plot twists and then slowing down for an instant to catch me up to speed. Nolan is even generous and clever enough to let his audience correctly predict certain events, which almost gives folks the (false) sensation that they’re writing the story with him. It’s as if we’re in a dream, making things happen… Wait a minute–

Brilliant much? Nolan knows some jack, know what I’m sayin’?

In short, Nolan writes fantastic stories of the Everyman in not-so-everyday scenarios. There are some formulas to his writing (lost/dead loves for example), but even those seem more like trademarks for his fans than some annoying safety net.

Inception‘s lead, Leonardo DiCaprio, was smart enough to recognize a once-in-a-lifetime plot when he saw it; though working with Nolan may have been draw enough alone for DiCaprio to sign on to the project. Recent reports have rumored the actor to have pocketed upwards of $50 million (and counting…) for making the film. Apparently, the Titanic star opted out of a large advance salary and cut a deal for a larger chunk on the back end. He saw Inception for the box office phenom it’s become. That’s a stroke of genius there in and of itself.

As someone who hopes to be creative, I kept thinking, I wish I could’ve written this, while watching the film. But in reality, that’s not what I actually want. This film is Christopher Nolan’s through and through–it’s Christopher Nolan’s very own magical moment (he’s probably got a few more up his sleeve, too) in Christopher Nolan’s story. And I’m not just talking about fame and the almighty “kwan.” No, what I want is to know what my own “mad skills” are and utilize them to the best of my ability. I suppose I want to be a part of something bigger than myself. To speak to the human condition the way Nolan spoke to me today.

And then I was struck by the possibility of all of us finding our own “Christopher Nolan moments,” where we’re doing what we love and able to share it with other people. Sometimes I think major conflicts arise out of frustration from not being able to charter those gifts and navigate those moments. 

Reminds me of that scene in Chariots of Fire where the protagonist says he runs because he feels God’s pleasure when he does so; he knows that’s what he was put on this planet to do. 

What a ginormous gift to know what you were created to do. What a crazy realization of a dream.

I want my Christopher Nolan moment, but don’t we all?