Non ho sonno (2001)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Dario Argento (screenplay)
Dario Argento (story)

Release Date:

5 January 2001 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Creepier than Jack the Ripper

Plot:

An elderly and retired police detective and a young amateur sleuth team up to find a serial killer whom has resumed a killing spree in Turin, Italy after a 17-year hiatus.

Plot Keywords:

Italy | Blood | Police | Dwarf | Turin Italy

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Max von Sydow	...	Ulisse Moretti
Stefano Dionisi	...	Giacomo
Chiara Caselli	...	Gloria
Roberto Zibetti	...	Lorenzo
Gabriele Lavia	...	Dr. Betti
Paolo Maria Scalondro	...	Chief Inspector Manni
Rossella Falk	...	Laura de Fabritiis
Roberto Accornero	...	Fausto
Barbara Lerici	...	Angela
Guido Morbello	...	Young Detective
Massimo Sarchielli	...	Leone
Diego Casale	...	Beppe
Alessandra Comerio	...	Mrs. Betti
Elena Marchesini	...	Mel (the kitten)
Aldo Massasso	...	Detective Cascio

Also Known As:

Sleepless (Europe: English title) (USA)
I Can't Sleep (promotional title)
Nonhosonno (Italy) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:16 (heavily cut) | Germany:18 (cut) | Germany:Not Rated | Singapore:R21 | USA:R (cut) | France:-16 | Italy:VM14 | UK:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Finland:K-18

Filming Locations:

Turin, Piedmont, Italy

Company:

Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica

Trivia:

'Max von Sydow' insisted that the parrot in the film would be called Marcello. Named after Marcello Mastroianni whom he has got to know after making several films in Italy in the past.

Goofs:

Continuity: The strap on the pink top that Gloria wears towards the end of the film frequently slides down her shoulder only to have reappeared in its original place in the next shot.

Argento proves that he's best in making Giallo's

Dario Argento's Sleepless may not be his best giallo but it's easily the best Italian suspense flick in many years. As with some of his other films he plunges in right at the start and, like in Suspiria, the opening scene remains the most memorable and violent. The first 15 minutes are riddled with tension and suspense and it's hard to match up to that for the remainder of the film.

Some reviews here say that Argento is ripping himself off with this film. It's true that he's treading on familiar ground here, using similar themes as in his Animal trilogy and, in particular, Deep Red. But let's face it, this is what he does best. The mystery here is masterfully constructed, full of surprising twists and not easily figured out. And what's more, the expected Argento violence is even more extreme here than ever before. Argento doesn't soften up in his old age, he gets even more bloody and Sleepless has go to be considered as his most violent film (with only Tenebrae possibly matching it's viciousness). The film is chock full of (dare I say) brilliant murder setpieces and knockout visuals at every turn.

The music score by Goblin is their best since Suspiria and adds immensely to the film's tension and atmosphere. Acting is uneven, as usual, with Von Sydow delivering a top notch performance while others are not up to his level, although it's fun to see Gabriele Lavia making another return in an Argento movie.

Sleepless is a crackerjack thriller, has a rock solid murder mystery that amateur sleuths will have a field day with, bloody murder sequences to satisfy gore hounds and loads of suspense.

Nobody does Giallo better than Argento, end of discussion.