IMDb > Insomnia (2002)
Insomnia
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Insomnia (2002) More at IMDbPro »

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Insomnia -- Theatrical Preview

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   143,056 votes »
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Up 12% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Writers (WGA):
Hillary Seitz (screenplay)
Nikolaj Frobenius (1997 screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Insomnia on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 May 2002 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Mystery | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
Days never end. Nightmares are real. No one is innocent. See more »
Plot:
Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 win & 8 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(372 articles)
Is Nolan Set For Bond 24?
 (From The Hollywood News. 17 May 2013, 4:01 AM, PDT)
Al Pacino Confimed For David Gordon Green's 'Manglehorn,' Mandy Patinkin & Josh Gad Join Zach Braff Film
 (From The Playlist. 15 May 2013, 3:34 PM, PDT)
Euro Beat: Jo Nesbø Brings Occupied To TV, Plus Paris Gets A Drive-In Movie Theater
 (From Twitch. 30 April 2013, 6:00 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Excellent Performances, Especially Williams See more (605 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Al Pacino ... Will Dormer

Martin Donovan ... Hap Eckhart
Oliver 'Ole' Zemen ... Pilot

Hilary Swank ... Ellie Burr

Paul Dooley ... Chief Nyback

Nicky Katt ... Fred Duggar
Larry Holden ... Farrell

Jay Brazeau ... Francis

Lorne Cardinal ... Rich

James Hutson ... Officer #1
Andrew Campbell ... Officer #2
Paula Shaw ... Coroner

Crystal Lowe ... Kay Connell

Tasha Simms ... Mrs. Connell

Maura Tierney ... Rachel Clement

Jonathan Jackson ... Randy Stetz
Malcolm Boddington ... Principal

Katharine Isabelle ... Tanya Francke

Robin Williams ... Walter Finch
Kerry Sandomirsky ... Trish Eckhart

Chris Gauthier ... Uniformed Officer (as Chris Guthior)

Ian Tracey ... Warfield (voice)
Kate Robbins ... Woman on the Road

Emily Perkins ... Girl at Funeral (as Emily Jane Perkins)

Dean Wray ... Ticket Taker
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Directed by
Christopher Nolan 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Hillary Seitz (screenplay)

Nikolaj Frobenius (1997 screenplay) and
Erik Skjoldbjærg (1997 screenplay)

Produced by
George Clooney .... executive producer
Ben Cosgrove .... associate producer
Broderick Johnson .... producer
Paul Junger Witt .... producer
Andrew A. Kosove .... producer
Edward McDonnell .... producer (as Edward L. McDonnell)
Kim Roth .... executive producer
Charles J.D. Schlissel .... executive producer
Steven Soderbergh .... executive producer
Emma Thomas .... co-producer
Tony Thomas .... executive producer
Steven P. Wegner .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
David Julyan 
 
Cinematography by
Wally Pfister (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Dody Dorn 
 
Casting by
Marci Liroff 
 
Production Design by
Nathan Crowley 
 
Art Direction by
Michael Diner 
 
Set Decoration by
Peter Lando 
 
Costume Design by
Tish Monaghan 
 
Makeup Department
Gitte Axen .... first assistant makeup artist
John Caglione Jr. .... makeup artist: Mr. Pacino
Bonnie Clevering .... hair stylist: Mr. Pacino
Norma Hill-Patton .... makeup artist
Thom MacIntyre .... hair stylist (as Thom McIntyre)
Cheri Minns .... hair stylist: Robin Williams
Cheri Minns .... makeup artist: Robin Williams
Gina Sherritt .... assistant hair stylist
Bill Terezakis .... special makeup effects designer (uncredited)
Vince Yoshida .... fabricator (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Brad Arensman .... post-production supervisor
Crawford Hawkins .... post-production supervisor: Vancouver
Mandy Spencer-Phillips .... unit manager
Wendy Williams .... production manager (as Wendy S. Williams)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Arnold .... second assistant director (as David K. Arnold)
Mike Johanson .... trainee assistant director (as Michael Johannson)
Vincent Lascoumes .... first assistant director
Fiona Winning .... third assistant director
 
Art Department
Karie Adkens .... props buyer
Peter Bodnarus .... art department assistant
Eddie Boulier .... scenic helper
Jim Bridge .... sculptor
Roger Busque .... location foreman
Lee Campbell .... buyer
Anil Chauhan .... lead hand
Brent Chernencoff .... painter (as Brent R.A. Chernencoff)
Janet Clark .... assistant set decorator (as Janet E. Clark)
Claude Clement .... scenic helper
David Dague .... construction coordinator (as David R. Dague)
Darian Deering .... set dresser
Adam Drake .... scenic helper
Rain Draper .... head greensman
Lee Drummond-Hay .... lead painter
Frank Duignan .... painter
David 'Pops' Fukakusa .... foreman
Reg Gay .... lead greens
Antonio Germinario .... first assistant property master (as Antonio Rocco Germinario)
Chris Gilmour .... lead dresser
Blair Gough .... laborer
Rick Guetre .... laborer
Ilja Hargas .... scenic painter
Chris Hayward .... stand-by painter
Brian Jansen .... construction first aid
Brian Jansen .... scenic carpenter
John R. Johnston .... scenic carpenter
Franziska Keller .... art department coordinator
Brad Knull .... scenic painter
Ralf Kroning .... scenic carpenter
Steve Lamare .... on-set dresser
Raymond Landry .... scenic carpenter (as Ray Landry)
Herb Leggett .... lead hand
Andrew Li .... draftsperson
Peter Lieshout .... lead painter
Brad Longmuir .... plasterer
Roderick MacDonald .... plasterer
Lisa McMullen .... set dresser
Harvey Moeller .... scenic carpenter
Karen Mullen .... props assistant (as Karen Keej Mullen)
Don Munich .... stand-by carpenter
James Polkinghorne .... scenic carpenter
Mathew Pooley .... paint laborer
Stephen Pooley .... signwriter
Hamish Purdy .... buyer
Carl-Heinz Renker .... auto sprayer
Hans Renker .... auto sprayer
Jason Renker .... painter
Dean Rossmo .... construction buyer
Joe Sala .... lead painter
Dennis Simard .... set dresser
Clark Simcoe .... lead hand
Dan Sissons .... property master
Jayson Solyom .... auto sprayer
Louis Solyom .... paint coordinator
Derek Staniszewski .... lead laborer
Peter Stepa .... scenic helper
Gordon Stewart .... set dresser
Peter Stratford .... assistant art director
Gary Tehennepe .... scenic carpenter
Dave Tennant .... lead greens (as David Tennant)
Bruce Timko .... lead hand
Adel Linda Will .... paint laborer
Randy M. Will .... paint laborer
K.E. Zelmer .... tool maintenance
Cal Barnett .... lead greens (uncredited)
Osheen Harruthoonyan .... set dresser (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Scott Aitken .... sound assistant (as Scott Reid Aitken)
David Betancourt .... foley mixer
Thom Brennan .... foley editor
Eddie Bydalek .... sound mix assistant
Mark Coffey .... sound transfer
Dawn Fintor .... foley artist
Anthony J. Giacinti .... boom operator
Aaron Glascock .... supervising sound editor
Alexandra Gonzales .... dialogue editor
Andrea Lakin .... sound mix assistant
Michael Minkler .... sound re-recording mixer
Oscar Mitt .... assistant sound editor
Myron Nettinga .... sound re-recording mixer
Kira Roessler .... dialogue editor (as Kira)
Curt Schulkey .... supervising sound editor
George Simpson .... sound effects editor
Alicia Stevenson .... foley artist (as Alicia Irwin)
Larry Sutton .... sound mixer
Marvin Walowitz .... sound effects editor
David Abrahamsen .... sound (uncredited)
Eric Maran .... sound dailies (uncredited)
David Yonson .... adr recordist (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Dillon Armitage .... special effects assistant
Dan Clark .... special effects assistant (as Dan Clarke)
James G. Fisher .... special effects assistant
David K'shin Gendron .... special effects first assistant (as David [K'Shin] Gendron)
Ian Korver .... special effects assistant
Robert Rockhill .... special effects fabricator
Randy Shymkiw .... special effects coordinator
Kevin J. Andruschak .... special effects (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Jeff Bough .... safety diver
Rick Burgess .... additional stunt player
Yves Cameron .... additional stunt player
Lauro Chartrand .... stunt double: Mr. Pacino
Dean Choe .... additional stunt player
Yvette Jackson .... stunt double: Ms. Swank
Ron James .... additional stunt player
Kristene Kenward .... additional stunt player
Ken Kirzinger .... stunt coordinator
John MacCuspie .... safety diver (as John MacUspie)
Kit Mallet .... stunt double: Mr. Donovan
Pat McGillion .... safety diver (as Pat McGillian)
Mike Mitchell .... stunt double: Mr. Williams
Shawn C. Orr .... stunt double: Mr. Pacino
Jacob Rupp .... additional stunt player
Marshall Virtue .... additional stunt player
Duane Dickinson .... additional stunt player (uncredited)
Duane Dickinson .... stunt double (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Steven A. Adelson .... Steadicam operator
Steven A. Adelson .... camera operator: "b" camera
Artino Ahmadi .... camera trainee
David Barritt .... rigger
Justin Bergler .... second assistant camera: "a" camera
Hans Bjerno .... operator: SpaceCam
Gregg Campbell .... grip (as Greggor Campbell)
Rob Chamryk .... rigging best boy
Dean Collins .... rigging grip
Herb Crowder .... camera trainee
Drew David .... grip
Drew Davidson .... gaffer
Ken Decker .... generator operator
John Dines .... lamp operator
Jim Filippone .... pilot: SpaceCam
Gerry Ganger .... technician: SpaceCam (as Gerald Ganger)
Dan Gorval .... best boy grip
David Goyer .... generator operator
Rob Graham .... playback operator
Scott Gray .... leadman grip
Andy Guichon .... best boy rigging (as Andy D.J. Guichon)
Simon Hall .... playback operator (as Simon C. Hall)
Dave Hamm .... lamp operator
Taylor Matheson .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kevin McCloy .... rigger
Rob McEwan .... still photographer
Lee Miller .... lamp operator
Ryan Monro .... dolly grip
Kim Olsen .... key grip (as Kimberly T. Olsen)
Randy Peterson .... second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Randy Petersen)
Larry Portmann .... first assistant camera: "a" camera
Pete Romano .... underwater director of photography
Derek Saari .... rigger
John Sanderson .... video coordinator
Ian Seabrook .... underwater first assistant camera
Aki Shigematsu .... second assistant camera: "a" camera
Andrew Sych .... technician: SpaceCam
Steve Vincent .... best boy electric
Keith Woods .... rigging gaffer (as Keith S. Woods)
Steve Wright .... pilot: SpaceCam
Curt Griebel .... grip (uncredited)
Wally Pfister .... camera operator: "a" camera (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Stephanie Boeke .... extras casting
Susan Taylor Brouse .... casting: Canada (as Susan Brouse)
Lynne Carrow .... casting: Canada
Angela Hamre .... casting assistant: Canada
Julia Reid .... extras casting assistant
Jamie Sparer Roberts .... casting associate: Los Angeles (as Jamie Sparer)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Derek J. Baskerville .... costumer: Mr. Williams
Tess Brummitt .... truck costumer (as Teresa Brummitt)
Karin Nosella .... assistant costume designer
Sandra Watson .... costume supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Kenny Becker .... color timer
Jim Bruce .... assistant editor
Cheryl Buckman .... assistant film editor: Vancouver
Amy Ferraris .... editing intern
Diane Fraser .... post-production assistant: Vancouver
Sheila MacDowell .... first assistant editor (as Sheila Macdowell)
Pablo Prietto .... assistant editor
Fred Raskin .... assistant editor
Keith Shaw .... colorist: mastering
Shelly Theaker .... assistant film editor: Vancouver
Lucyna Wojciechowski .... first assistant editor (as Lucy Wojciechowski)
Laura Behary .... first assistant editor (uncredited)
Thor Roos .... color timer: dailies transfer (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Becky Bentham .... music coordinator: Air-Edel Associates Limited
Alex Gibson .... music editor
Tom Hannen .... assistant music recording engineer
Martyn Harry .... orchestrator
Nick Ingman .... conductor
Jake Jackson .... assistant music mix engineer
David Julyan .... electronic music programmer
Jill Meyers .... music clearances
Steve Orchard .... music mix engineer
Maggie Rodford .... music coordinator: Air-Edel Associates Limited
Mike Ross-Trevor .... music recording engineer
Gavyn Wright .... orchestra leader
Mikael Sandgren .... music editor (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Bob Black .... driver
Larry Boyce .... driver: Mr. Williams
Cliff Brown .... transportation captain
Don Davey .... driver: Mr. Nolan
Raymond Fairchild .... driver (as Ray Fairchild)
Nigel Habgood .... picture car wrangler
Glen Hunter .... driver
Lavine Journault .... driver
Jack Lopatinsky .... driver: Mr. Pacino
Tom Mawyer .... driver: Mr. Pacino's trailer
Ken Meier .... driver
Gary J. Morneau .... camera driver
Gary J. Morneau .... transportation co-captain
Sylvia Nablo .... transportation coordinator
Terry Noble .... driver
Bert Prevost .... driver
Frank Stastny .... driver
Glenn Steer .... driver
Guy Steer .... driver
Terry Storey .... driver
Ken Telford .... driver
Mark Voisin .... driver
Brian Waltho .... driver
Erin Wilson .... driver: Ms. Swank
Gary Wilson .... driver: Mr. Williams' trailer
Paul Irvine .... driver (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Christopher Adams .... assistant location manager (as C.B.D. Adams)
Martin Alcala .... production accountant
Alan Bartolic .... assistant location manager
Alan Bartolic .... location scout
Barbara Beeby .... craft service
Barbara Beeby .... first aid
Art Bennett .... security captain
Jacque Blackstone .... projectionist (as Jacques Blackstone)
Adam Bryant .... photo double: Mr. Williams
Adam Bryant .... stand-in: Mr. Williams
Phil Buhler .... utility stand-in: male
Charlene Callihoo .... production accountant
Billy Capucilli .... photo double: Mr. Pacino
Billy Capucilli .... stand-in: Mr. Pacino
Dwayne Christie .... set production assistant
Lou Crisa .... assistant: Mr. Pacino
Dan Crosby .... marine coordinator
Jason Crosby .... assistant marine coordinator
Peter Cummings .... clearance coordinator
Andrzej Dec-Williams .... key set production assistant (as Andrzej Dec)
Paul Duke .... chef: Mondo Motion Picture Caterers
Lisa Eastham .... accounting clerk
Jeff R.A. Elliott .... set production assistant (as Jeff Elliott)
Christopher Fealy .... assistant: Mr. Johnson & Mr. Kosove
Will Fearn .... location manager
Michael Feuerhelm .... assistant: Mr. Witt
John Formichella .... assistant: Mr. Johnson & Mr. Kosove
Steven Forster .... assistant chef: Mondo Motion Picture Caterers
Patricia Foster .... first assistant production coordinator
Steve Foster .... boat wrangler
Julia Frittaion .... unit publicist
Peter D. Gebhard .... security
Michael Goldberg .... production controller
Louisa Gradnitzer .... location manager
Derek Guiley .... production executive
Robyn Harwood .... assistant: Mr. Wegner
Danny Ho .... computer playback supervisor
Rae-Anne Horsley .... assistant: Ms. Swank
Jamie Humphrey .... craft service (as Jamie Y. Humphrey)
Jamie Humphrey .... first aid (as Jamie Y. Humphrey)
Paul Jasper .... animal trainer
Tim Judge .... assistant: Mr. Pacino
Lorne Kostyshin .... craft service
Lorne Kostyshin .... first aid
Kyle Leydier .... assistant: Mr. McDonnell
Karen Lo .... set production assistant
Glen Lougheed .... location scout
Gwen MacQueen .... accounting clerk
Caitlin Maloney .... assistant: Mr. Soderbergh
Andrew Marles .... production assistant
Bliss McDonald .... first assistant production coordinator
Michelle McKay .... assistant: Mr. Schlissel (as Michelle D.H. McKay)
Mike D. Meisner .... security
Chris Miller .... technical consultant
Sam Montiforte .... post-production accountant
Kelly Moon .... script supervisor
Eva Morgan .... production coordinator
Amy Morrison .... second assistant production coordinator
Ross Muirhead .... assistant location manager: Stewart
Ryan Nazar .... production assistant: Mr. Pacino
Pat Nelson .... boat wrangler
Michael Pagliari .... assistant: Mr. McDonnell
Dan Perri .... title designer: main title sequence
Andrew Mark Rochfort .... set production assistant
Cam Rolfe .... boat wrangler (as Cam Rolffe)
Robyn Ross .... photo double: Ms. Swank
Robyn Ross .... stand-in: Ms. Swank
Michele Lee Shellenberg .... assistant accountant: payroll (as Michele Lee)
Dale Sims .... set production assistant
Molly Smith .... set assistant: Mr. Johnson & Mr. Kosove
Rebecca Erwin Spencer .... assistant: Mr. Williams
Tom Stenner .... boat wrangler
Jamie Reid Tait .... production assistant: Mr. Pacino (as Jamie Tait)
Jane Talbot .... set production assistant
Zack Tebb-Day .... assistant chef: Mondo Motion Picture Caterers
Kelli Turner .... office production assistant
Nancy Vibert .... assistant accountant
Kyle Weldon .... set production assistant
Chris Wilson .... set production assistant
Daniel Zueff .... boat wrangler (as Dan Zueff)
Herb DeWaal .... diver (uncredited)
Kevin Field .... production executive (uncredited)
Michael J. Harker .... completion bond company representative (uncredited)
Marie Hock .... production assistant: locations (uncredited)
Carla Spizziri .... first assistant accountant (uncredited)
Scott Steyns .... playback coordinator (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Erik Skjoldbjærg .... acknowledgment: based on the film "Insomnia" directed by
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for language, some violence and brief nudity
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
118 min
Country:
USA | Canada
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38846) | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (edited version) | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:M
Filming Locations:
Alaska, USASee more »
Company:
Alcon EntertainmentSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
As of 2010, this is the only film directed by Christopher Nolan in which Nolan does not have an official writing credit - even though he wrote the final draft of the screenplay himself.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When Dormer first enters Finch's apartment, he picks the lock using a credit card. After the door is open, we see him getting his hand back to his pocket and in the next shot he has some snacks in his hand to bribe the dogs to let him in. Since his hand motion is very quick and brief, it either serves to get the snacks from the pocket, in which case the credit card simply disappears, or to get the card back to the pocket, in which case the snacks materialize out of nowhere.See more »
Quotes:
Det. Ellie Burr:Nobody needs to know. You didn't mean to do it, and I know that, even if you don't.
[She tries to throw the shell casing into the water, but he stops her]
Dormer:No, don't...
Det. Ellie Burr:Why?
Dormer:Don't lose your way.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Supernatural: Out with the Old (#7.16)" (2012)See more »
Soundtrack:
Thinking About YouSee more »

FAQ

Where can I find screen-shots from this film?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
63 out of 74 people found the following review useful.
Excellent Performances, Especially Williams, 19 September 2002
Author: gbheron from Washington, DC

One doesn't expect to feel claustrophobic in Alaska, but that's exactly the effect when watching "Insomnia". The primary story is about the police investigation of the murder of a high-school girl in a small Alaskan town. Through the pull of old acquaintances and political necessity, two LA homicide detectives (Pacino and Martin Donovan) are dispatched to the scene to help the locals. The political necessity concerns a graft investigation in which the two LA detectives are key suspects. One is thinking of copping a plea, so they are spirited out of LA to avoid the investigative light. Then they find themselves in the 24-hour day of the Alaskan summer where the two plot lines collide; the murder investigation and the graft. And what a collision it is.

The insomnia of the title is suffered by the Pacino character, who can't sleep during the movie's 7-day span. And each day his eyes are more sunken, he's groggier, less focused. This parallels his descent into guilt, remorse, and desperation. But to provide any more details would be to give away key plot elements. "Insomnia" is gripping and it's best to see the movie cold.

The acting, especially Robin Williams as the key suspect in the child slaying, is top notch. Williams is made for these roles, he should kiss the suck-up feel-good stuff goodbye for good. The photography is excellent, Alaska never looked so ominous, and the direction delivers the goods. Highly recommended.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Insomnia (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Insomnia is probably Nolan's weakest film malcolmtucker
Rank all the nolan movies amar756
Alaska? Ha! gordon54838
Fishing hut - unrealistic location? mdbrown-3
Is it odd that I was rooting for Williams' character? Desperado19
based off of the novel by stephen king? jacobthecheeseburger
See more »

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