Inception: The Shooting Script [Paperback]

Christopher Nolan (Author), Jonah Nolan (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 2010

Inception, writer-director Christopher Nolan’s seventh feature film, joins the epic scope of The Dark Knight with the narrative sophistication of Memento. The story of a group of thieves who specialize in invading the mind through one’s dreams, Inception explores the Nolan’s signature psychological themes of memory, paranoia, and self-doubt as the protagonist, Dom Cobb, is pitted against a hostile subconscious spurred on by personal demons and regrets from the past. In a conversational preface, Nolan discusses with brother and frequent collaborator, Jonah, the genesis of the idea for the film and the decade-long process it took to write it. Detailing the results of Nolan’s efforts, Inception: The Shooting Script includes key storyboard sequences, full-color concept art, and an appendix on the workings of the mysterious Pasiv Device that Cobb and his fellow extractors use to initiate the dream-share. An exclusive exploration of a highly original concept, Inception: The Shooting Script is the record of a writer-director at the height of his craft.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Inception gets the art movie treatment, with a really nice paperback edition of the screenplay. There are eight pages of color concept art, and a ton of storyboards — plus a few of Nolan's own handwritten notes and diagrams. And there's an ultra-revealing introduction, in which Nolan gets interviewed by his brother Jonathan. For anybody interested in the creative process behind this film, this book is pretty much a must-have."

- Charlie Jane Anders, Gawker Media, i09.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Insight Editions (August 17, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1608870154
• ISBN-13: 978-1608870158
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a TON of thought went into this book., August 6, 2010

By 

Nanker Phelge (Cleveland) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Inception: The Shooting Script (Paperback)

this book goes above and beyond. it features the amazing, multi-layered and completely readable script by christopher nolan. however, it also has storyboards, full credits for the film, an excellent preface and a PASIV device instruction manual. The PASIV device (better known as the dream machine) "instruction manual" is amazing and fun to look at. it's also very intricate and detailed. this book is really an essential purchase for anyone who wants to look deeper into the masterpiece that INCEPTION is. i think its one of the best published scripts i've ever bought.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than I bargained for!, August 6, 2010

By 

Michael Aparicio (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Inception: The Shooting Script (Paperback)

I bought this hoping it would help me wrap my brain around the movie. I was expecting just a straight screenplay, but the book also includes an interview with Nolan, storyboards, concept art and schematics of the "PASIV" device they use to enter dreams. Very cool.

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Very Good, but not exactly what you see in the movie, August 6, 2010

By 

Jianjing Zhang "Buffalo" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Inception: The Shooting Script (Paperback)

Since I watched Inception for the third time two weeks ago, I've been waiting for this, because really there's some dialogue I did not capture in the theatre

This is the book I wanted, reading this just like reading a novel without getting bored. It is probably the best script I've read since Batman Begins, also by Nolan

Some original concept arts are included along with a interesting dream machine manual

Some of the scenes in the movie are not included in this script (one example is in the final kick back scenes where in the movie, there are lots of cuts from different levels, but in this script, it is much simpler), and some of the dialogues are slightly different, actually I think Nolan added some additional scenes in the movie just in order that the audience are more easily to catch up the plot.

Highly recommended
4.8/5