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"180 Degrees": A Conversation with Christopher Nolan and Al Pacino
"In the Fog": Cinematography and production design
"Eyes Wide Open": The insomniac's world
Stills Gallery
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As a more conventional follow-up to his innovative thriller Memento, Christopher Nolan's Insomnia offers ample proof that his skills are genuine. A superbly crafted remake of the 1997 Norwegian thriller, this moody police procedural is transplanted to a remote Alaskan town, where a veteran Los Angeles detective (Al Pacino) arrives to investigate the murder of a teenaged girl. Professional tragedy collides with psychological turmoil as the detective suffers from sleeplessness under the region's perpetual daylight, and a local rookie cop (Hilary Swank) begins to suspect that truths are being hidden as the disturbing case unfolds. While the Alaskan setting intensifies the atmospheric mystery, Pacino's bleary-eyed disorientation adds a rich layer to his character's erratic behavior, and the casting of Robin Williams as the killer was a risk that pays off nicely. In many respects better than the original, Insomnia is a Hollywood remake that's refreshingly free of compromise. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Crime never sleeps. Neither does Will Dormer (AL PACINO), a veteran LAPD homicide detective sent north to Alaska to head a murder case. There his investigation is disrupted by an ever-shining Midnight Sun that wreaks sleep-depriving havoc on his body clock and brings Dormer's shady, guilt-plagued past into the light of day.DVD Features: Audio Commentary Biographies Documentaries Featurette Filmographies Interviews Photo gallery Theatrical Trailer
Insomnia, director Chris Nolan's second full length feature, doesn't have the same gut-wrenching and mind-bending plot twists that his feature length debut, Memento, had, but does an excellent job telling an original and gripping detective mystery.
The pleasure of Insomnia is to be found in its rich cinematography, beautiful landscapes, and excellent performances. The movie is one of the most visually compelling pieces of filmmaking I have seen in years, creating surreal juxtapositions with the vast, harsh Alaskan landscape and with close-up shots of crime scene evidence. The amazing visual landscapes (both large and small) are used effectively by director Nolan to emphasize the films themes of isolation and overpowerment, of losing oneself within ones environment and in ones choices.
Insomnia's plot will disappoint those looking for a new Memento, in that it does not have the sort of turns of action and motivation that Memento does. Insomnia works well without elaborate plot twists, however, it's mood benefits from a certain lack of ambiguity of action, although the ending is perhaps a little to predictable and cliched. Insomnia would have benefited, however, from more ambiguity of motivation - while the acting is top notch, especially on the part of Robin Williams, the connections between the characters actions and their motivations and decisions is too closely drawn by the script.
Overall Insomnia is an excellent movie, and a good entry into the detective/suspense movie cannon. It suffers slightly from a couple of bad edits (in a movie filled with amazing editing and shooting) and from its desire to clearly spell out the principle characters motivations, but these minor flaws are more than redeemed by the director's excellent camerawork and sense of pacing, a strong script, and very solid acting performances. Insomnia is a must see movie, and a welcome change from the "blockbuster" summer movie scene of 2002.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 starsA stylish, harrowing suspense thriller, June 9, 2002
In "Insomnia," directed by Christopher Nolan, Al Pacino plays Will Dormer, a Los Angeles police detective. While a controversy swirls around him and his partner, Dormer travels to a small town in Alaska to help with a murder investigation. This assignment leads him into a tension-filled cat-and-mouse game with creepy mystery writer Walter Finch (played by Robin Williams). As an added twist, the story takes place during the Alaskan summer, when there is endless daylight; amidst this inescapable light, Dormer suffers from the malady of the film's title.
"Insomnia" is a gripping, stylishly made film. The gritty action sequences have a low-tech realism that is a welcome change from the typically overdone Hollywood action thing. The performances are outstanding. Williams gets a lot of mileage out of his effectively low-key interpretation of Finch. Veteran character actor Paul Dooley brings warmth and subtle authority to his role as a small town cop, and Hilary Swank is a superb foil for Pacino in her role as an eager young cop. Pacino is excellent as the film's flawed protagonist. His performance is truly harrowing.
"Insomnia" succeeds as a suspense drama. The motif of endless daylight is well used throughout the film, and is weighted with potential symbolic meaning. More than just a good thriller, "Insomnia" also raises some relevant moral and ethical issues.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 starsDetective Story For Those Who Dislike Detective Stories, August 16, 2005
"Insomnia" is a breakthrough movie, defying the genre pigeonhole. I have never been a fan of cops/crime stories per se. I also have no interest in 'mob' movies; consequently, I've actually not seen much of Al Pacino before. Wow; what a great actor, and he is onscreen nearly every moment from start to finish. Will Dormer (Pacino) is a most compelling character, struggling increasingly with his demons as he tries to stay focused despite being severely sleep-deprived, having been sent to Alaska during the "white nights" season to solve a criminal case. The story is presented in such a way as to engage and involve the viewer in Dormer's dilemma(s), and the Alaskan landscape (though I think most of it was actually Vancouver) is breathtakingly beautiful, making me wish I'd seen this movie in a theater. However, had I seen the theatrical trailer first I never would have taken an interest in "Insomnia". The trailer makes it look like a typical formulaic action movie; ugh. Instead, I read between the lines of others' opinions and trusted my instincts that "Insomnia" is a movie well worth viewing. Now please permit me to pass along my own recommendation: don't lose any sleep over it, just see "Insomnia".
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2.0 out of 5 starsMore than enough to put me to sleep...,
Nolan's movies divide this reviewer! On the one hand there's the
brilliance of 'Memento,' the magnificence of 'Inception' and on the other the super-silliness of 'The...
Published 2 months ago by Bloodnock
4.0 out of 5 starsYou forgot the wild card, Will
Insomnia was Christopher Nolan's next film after Memento. He is moving up the ladder to the next level, with big name actors--Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hillary Swank.
Published 3 months ago by C. CRADDOCK
5.0 out of 5 starsInsomnia (Blu-ray)
Movie - 4.5
When I first saw the trailer for this some years ago, I thought it would turn into something along the lines of a cold and calculated murder mystery, a...
Published 3 months ago by Tony Khamvongsouk
5.0 out of 5 starsSuspense, Suspense and more suspense
I bought this movie on blu ray thinking it was new only to realize I had seen it many years ago. As you know, you think you remember the movie but you forgot all the important...
Published 4 months ago by Catherine Wienckowski
2.0 out of 5 starsGreat Sleep Aid
This movie was very slow moving, the plot was okay if you could stay awake. However this proved to be too much for me.
Published 5 months ago by Shadow Breaker
5.0 out of 5 starsOne of my favorites, top 20!, Just get the DVD, the blu ray is pointless here.
This movie is great, as one of Al Pacinos last great memorable films, other than the recruit which was enh, ok, this was a landmark film.
Published 5 months ago by W. freeman
3.0 out of 5 starsSolid Cop Drama, But Not Spectacular
I was originally drawn to this film because of director Christopher Nolan. After viewing his Batman re-boots (Batman Begins & The Dark Knight) and enjoying them immensely, I was...
Published 5 months ago by Zachary Koenig
4.0 out of 5 starsA very good police thriller
While this isn't the sort of thriller which will keep you on the edge or your seat, it will keep your interest throughout.
Published 11 months ago by Davewise
5.0 out of 5 starsPerfect Christopher Nolan
I hadn't seen this movie before I bought it, but being a big fan of Christopher Nolan, I was excited to see it.
Published 13 months ago by Jason Foulk
4.0 out of 5 starsMurder Where The Sun Never Sets
I should say that the fact that the sun doesn't set for months becomes a major theme in the film, coupled with the question of just what is the behavior that a good cop will...
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