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Insomnia

  • 20022002
  • RR
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
299K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,692
121
Al Pacino and Robin Williams in Insomnia (2002)
Trailer
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaMysteryThriller
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
299K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,692
121
    • Christopher Nolan
    • Hillary Seitz(screenplay)
    • Nikolaj Frobenius(1997 screenplay)
    • Erik Skjoldbjærg(1997 screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Al Pacino
    • Robin Williams
    • Hilary Swank
    • Christopher Nolan
    • Hillary Seitz(screenplay)
    • Nikolaj Frobenius(1997 screenplay)
    • Erik Skjoldbjærg(1997 screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Al Pacino
    • Robin Williams
    • Hilary Swank
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 753User reviews
    • 117Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Insomnia (2002)
    Trailer 2:30
    Watch Insomnia (2002)

    Photos140

    Al Pacino and Hilary Swank in Insomnia (2002)
    Al Pacino and Robin Williams in Insomnia (2002)
    Al Pacino and Robin Williams in Insomnia (2002)
    Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, and Martin Donovan in Insomnia (2002)
    Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, and Paul Dooley in Insomnia (2002)
    Al Pacino and Robin Williams in Insomnia (2002)
    Al Pacino and Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe in Insomnia (2002)
    Robin Williams in Insomnia (2002)
    Robin Williams in Insomnia (2002)
    Hilary Swank in Insomnia (2002)
    Hilary Swank and Lorne Cardinal in Insomnia (2002)
    Hilary Swank in Insomnia (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Al Pacino
    Al Pacino
    • Will Dormer
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Walter Finch
    Hilary Swank
    Hilary Swank
    • Ellie Burr
    Martin Donovan
    Martin Donovan
    • Hap Eckhart
    Oliver 'Ole' Zemen
    • Pilot
    Paul Dooley
    Paul Dooley
    • Chief Nyback
    Nicky Katt
    Nicky Katt
    • Fred Duggar
    Larry Holden
    Larry Holden
    • Farrell
    Jay Brazeau
    Jay Brazeau
    • Francis
    Lorne Cardinal
    Lorne Cardinal
    • Rich
    James Hutson
    James Hutson
    • Officer #1
    Andrew Campbell
    • Officer #2
    Paula Shaw
    Paula Shaw
    • Coroner
    Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
    Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
    • Kay Connell
    • (as Crystal Lowe)
    Tasha Simms
    Tasha Simms
    • Mrs. Connell
    Maura Tierney
    Maura Tierney
    • Rachel Clement
    Jonathan Jackson
    Jonathan Jackson
    • Randy Stetz
    Malcolm Boddington
    • Principal
      • Christopher Nolan
      • Hillary Seitz(screenplay)
      • Nikolaj Frobenius(1997 screenplay)
      • Erik Skjoldbjærg(1997 screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      As of 2020, 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.
    • Goofs
      Dormer, a seasoned police detective who demonstrates in the story that he understands the properties of blood, including DNA and proteins, chooses to use hot water to clean the blood off his clothes (you can see the hot water tap is wide open and the cold tap is closed in the sink in his hotel room). Hot water binds blood to clothes and makes a permanent stain. Cold water removes blood.
    • Quotes

      Will Dormer: You don't get it do you, Finch? You're my job. You're what I'm paid to do. You're about as mysterious to me as a blocked toilet is to a fucking plumber. Reasons for doing what you did? Who gives a fuck?

    • Connections
      Featured in Day for Night: The Making of 'Insomnia' (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Sparks
      Written by Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion, Chris Martin

      Performed by Coldplay

      Courtesy of EMI Records Ltd.

      Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

    User reviews753

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Excellent Performances, Especially Williams
    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.
    helpful•111
    21
    • gbheron
    • Sep 19, 2002

    FAQ2

    • At the end, he tells her "don't lose your way" when she tries to throw the shell casing away. What did he mean by that?
    • Why did Detective Dormer switch to his secondary gun during the fog shootings?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 24, 2002 (United States)
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Alaska, USA
    • Production companies
      • Alcon Entertainment
      • Witt/Thomas Productions
      • Section Eight
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 58 minutes
      • Color
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

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