Working titles for this film: Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, Untitled Paul Weitz Project, Another Night, Welcome to Suck City, and That Thing I Worked on With Robert De Niro and Paul Dano (yeah, it’s Dan-o (not Day-no))

A tired petty cash envelope at the end of the job.

Directs her, shoots her, listens to her (5/10)

Breather (4/10)

“Shall we steal a Cadillac?” (3/10)

Fake Party (2/10)

Belly Dancing in a Hookah Bar (1/10)

Hey!  Entrepreneurs!

Film critics, theorists, and fans are suggesting that Inception’s greatness is in its metaphorical illustration of the creative process, specifically making a film.  It’s a fine point to make, though perhaps this is too universally agreed upon as the “meaning” of the film.  In counter (or rather, parallel) attack, I posit Inception is a representation of the entrepreneurial process.

1. Identify an opportunity, which you will pursue because of a personal, meaningful desire (Inception: Leo will plant an idea in Cillian’s mind because it will allow him to go home, not because it will make him rich).
2. Assemble your team (Inception: Leo assembles a team: some friends, some unknowns, a mentor)
3. Plan, Design, Build (Inception: They plan the implantation, the Architect designs the dreams, they coordinate their dream states)
4. Ship Fix Ship Fix Ship Fix (Inception: When it comes time to execute, and when things do go wrong, they do not bail on the mission.  They adjust their strategy, they address the problems that emerge, and they always move towards their goal)
5. Believe you can make a difference (Inception: (spoiler-ish alert) Leo believes his life is better, and doesn’t second guess it.  To be caught up in what is real and what is not misses the point.  He, and we, move forward.