Insomnia (2002/I)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Writers (WGA):

Hillary Seitz (screenplay)
Nikolaj Frobenius (1997 screenplay) ...

Release Date:

24 May 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Days never end. Nightmares are real. No one is innocent.

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.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Police | Alaska | Insomnia | Police Detective

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Will Dormer
Robin Williams	...	Walter Finch
Hilary Swank	...	Ellie Burr
Oliver 'Ole' Zemen	...	Pilot
Martin Donovan	...	Hap Eckhart
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

Also Known As:

Insomnie (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and brief nudity.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (edited version) | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:M | 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 (NO. 38846)

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company:

Alcon Entertainment

Trivia:

Harrison Ford was considered for the role of Will Dormer (Al Pacino).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Obvious stunt double with a wig as Dormer is chasing Finch immediately prior to the log-chase sequence.

Quotes:

Dormer: We better find out where this came from.
Det. Ellie Burr: I tried. Mrs. Connell doesn't know, her friends didn't know.
Dormer: Have you tried the jewelry stores? Small things, remember? The second you're about to dismiss something, think about it. Look at it again.
Det. Ellie Burr: Want me to write that down?
Dormer: No, I'll remember it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Batman: The Journey Begins (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Sparks

Christopher Nolan does it again!

First off, Christopher Nolan is one of my biggest influences when it comes to film and screen writing. With films such as Following and Memento, both of which reached cult following levels, he is well on his way to a successful Hollywood career. Then, today came, his 3rd film was released, Insomnia. Based on a 1997 Norwegian film written by Nikolaj Frobenius and Erik Skjoldbjærg, Insomnia is a true work of art in the world of film.

Christopher Nolan takes all that was the 1997 film, and brings it to the next level, using his own style of directing, a musical score with shades of Memento, and an all star cast. Al Pacino and Robin Williams pulls out the greatest performances of their careers in the past decade, if not in their ENTIRE careers in my eyes.

Pacino once again excels in the role of master dective, while Williams takes this chance to show his "dark side", and he does it so well. I can only hope that this is a rebirth of Robin Williams, and as it stands with his upcoming film One Hour Photo (which he once again plays a dark, psychotic role), it seems to be just that! Hilary Swank also pulls out what is the greatest role of her career.

Insomnia brings you in as an audience, with it's perfectly woven plot, with a film noir feel to it, just as Nolan's first two films. It is a rollercoster ride of drama and suspense as you watch Al Pacino from the very beginning unravel, and the rest of the story and his past catches up with him. I can not say much more about it, as I do not wish to spoil anything about if for you, but I do want to say this... ...go see it, right now, and enjoy. If you love crime/mystery/drama films with that wonderful Film Noir feel to it, you will love this film. If that isn't your thing, then the performances of the three main actors are worth the price of a ticket in itself.

Finally I just want to say, that Insomnia proves once and for all that Christopher Nolan will indeed be a force to reckoned with in Hollywood. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... ...Christopher Nolan is well on his way to becoming the Hollywood legend which he proves he is capable of becoming.