The waste casting for Christopher Nolan’s origin still frustrates me 14 years later

Inception is easily one of my favorites Christopher Nolan movies, and even though the writer/director often puts the right actors in the right roles, I still can’t get over one annoying personnel decision in the 2010 mind-bending blockbuster. Every Christopher Nolan movie comes across as meticulously planned, and Inception is perhaps one of the greatest examples of this trait in his body of work. Although InceptionThe ending being so subjective is a big part of the movie’s enduring popularity, other factors, such as the ambitious cinematography, also contribute to the film’s continued success so long after its release.

InceptionHis cast is filled with huge names. While that doesn’t necessarily guarantee that a project will do well, Nolan helps the movie along by doing an amazing job of directing the group of stars and bringing the whole thing together. While I largely do not have any problem with any of Inceptions castingsThere is one in particular that still bugs me for a very specific reason. My grief has nothing to do with their acting ability, but rather how the actor is used.

Michael Caine was criminally underutilized in the beginning

Professor Stephen Miles is barely in the movie

Michael Caine’s collaboration with Christopher Nolan predates InceptionSo it didn’t surprise me that the actor was brought back for the 2010 Dream movie. However, Kane’s role as Miles – Dom Cobb’s brother-in-law – meant he was barely on screen, and I strongly believe that an actor of Kane’s pedigree should not be used in such a minor way. . then again, There is an annoyingly rational explanation for his scant appearance in Inception. The movie, from a narrative perspective, is incredibly dense.

Between all the lore and the detailed world-building, it’s amazing Inception covered the ground it did. Except Inception‘s five dream levels, almost everything else felt like an afterthought. As such, it’s not really a surprise that Cobb’s late wife’s father isn’t a major part of the story. While None was as good as MilesAlmost any actor could have filled the role and had the same lack of impact. I am of the strong opinion that if an actor like Kane is on board, it better be a role big enough to suit his reputation.

Christopher Nolan did it to Kane 2 years later

Michael Caine returned for much larger roles in future Nolan movies

Inception was Caine’s fourth successive Nolan movie, and that streak grew to five when he returned as Alfred Pennyworth in the director’s second Batman sequel: 2012’s. The Dark Knight Rises. Alfred was a much more prominent character than Miles was in InceptionSo at least the 2010 movie wasn’t the beginning of Caine getting reduced roles. Although the actor did not appear in 2023 OppenheimerHe actually starred in another three Christopher Nolan Movies after The Dark Knight Riseswith Inception Marking the halfway point in his eight-film Nolan streak.