Insomnia (2002)

"...a haunting psychological drama.  Mick LaSalle, The San Francisco Chronicle
"...a solid, smart and tense thriller...  Jeffrey M. Anderson, The San Francisco Examiner
"A smart, intricately constructed thriller.  Leah Rozen, People

Editor's Note In a remote Alaskan town called Nightmute, the murder of a teenage girl has shocked the tight-knit community. The Los Angeles Police Department sends two of its cops--both under investigation by Internal Affairs--to try to solve the crime in Christopher Nolan's film based on Erik Skjoldbjærg's 1997 Norwegian film starring Stellan Skarsgård. The experienced, weathered Will Dormer (Al Pacino) has nothing in life except for the force. His younger partner, Hap (Martin Donovan), has a family to support and is willing to turn state's evidence to protect them. Local cop Ellie Burr is excited to work with her hero, Dormer--until she starts uncovering some questionable situations. It isn't long before Dormer finds the murderer--writer Walter Finch, played with subtle nuances by Robin Williams--but Finch knows a secret that could bring Dormer down. Director Nolan, who stunned audiences with 2001's inventive MEMENTO, here crafts an atmospheric psychological thriller that is bathed in whites and grays. The acting is uniformly excellent, especially Pacino's performance as a cop on the edge and Williams as a soft-spoken, low-rent crime novelist. Because it never gets dark in Alaska at this time of year, Dormer (a play off the Spanish word "dormir," which means "to sleep") is unable to fall asleep, light always streaming into his hotel room; watching him slowly unravel is a treat.

	Al Pacino
	Hilary Swank
	Larry Holden
	Martin Donovan
	Maura Tierney
	Nicky Katt
	Oliver 'Ole' Zemen
	Pacino, Al
	Paul Dooley
	Jay Brazeau
	Robin Williams
	Williams, Robin
	Wally Pfister - Cinematographer
	Christopher Nolan - Director
	Dody Dorn - Editor
	George Clooney, et al. - Executive Producer
	John Formichella - Producer
	Paul Junger Witt - Producer
	Edward McDonnell - Producer
	Andrew A. Kosove - Producer
	Broderick Johnson - Producer
	Nathan Crowley - Production Designer
	Hillary Seitz - Screenplay
	Hillary Seitz - Writer

New York Times
"...Intensely sharp-witted....The anomalous proliferation of scenic beauty gives Mr. Nolan irony to play with, and he uses it spectacularly..." 05/24/2002 p.E1

Movieline's Hollywood Life
"...[INSOMNIA] has a marvelous sense of place....Al Pacino bares the soul of this agonized tragic figure; it's one of his most memorable performances..." 06/01/2002 p.36-8

Rolling Stone
"...Thoughtful, gripping and steeped in action....It's taut, tense and terrific..." 06/06/2002 p.84

Los Angeles Times
"...Nolan once again displays an unmistakable visual confidence and a feeling for bravura moments..." 05/24/2002 p.C1

Variety
"...INSOMNIA is a gripping, highly dramatic thriller that more than confirms the distinctive talent of young Brit helmer Christopher Nolan..." 05/13/2002 p.23-6

Box Office
"...A superior version of an already very good film....[With] spectacular overhead cinematography..." 07/01/2002 p.86-7

Sight and Sound
"...Nolan her proves his assurance in handling a much bigger picture in every respect..." 09/01/2002 p.63-4

Total Film
"...Highly involving....[Nolan's] expanding talent is undeniable..." 10/01/2002 p.126

Premiere
"A completely engrossing thriller that proved MEMENTO wasn't a fluke for director Christopher Nolan....[The actors] are at the top of their game..." 07/12/2010

Chicago Sun-Times 8 of 10
Pacino and Williams are very good together. Their scenes work because Pacino's character, in regarding Williams, is forced to look at a mirror of his own self-deception. The two faces are a study in contrasts. Pacino is lined, weary, dark circles under his eyes, his jaw slack with fatigue. Williams has the smooth, open face of a true believer, a man convinced of his own case. In this film... Williams reminds us that he is a considerable dramatic talent--and that while, over the years, he has chosen to appear in some comedic turkeys... his serious films are almost always good ones. - Roger Ebert

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 8 of 10
For those who have not seen the earlier Insomnia, this motion picture delivers the goods. It's smart, well-acted, beautifully shot, and suspenseful. For those who are familiar with the source material, while there may be a sense that something is lacking, the movie still has the capacity to engage for two hours. Insomnia does not become one of those rare remakes to eclipse the original, but it doesn't disgrace it, either. Under the relentless glare of the Midnight Sun, the only darkness is in the hearts and actions of the characters. - James Berardinelli