Rating: 
Summary: Great Film
Review: It's Christopher Nolan's third movie, and it's fantastic, this guy has great talent, I loved his second picture:"Memento", in spite many people over here, we're sort of "too much" taken by surprise by its "special" storyline (forward and backwards)and thought it was sort of "tiresome".In my opinion it was a real treat and something totally new, excellent!!This film is as good as "Memento" but has a more "traditional" storyline, also, it hasn't the suspense and mystery that "Memento" had. Let's say it's a drama, but not less interesting. There are no clichés, or archetypical characters, no all-goodies, no all-baddies,...only people, with flaws, who commit mistakes, who lie, who let themselves go because of rage, fear, anger, etc. Al Pacino, one of the greatest actors of all time- period....the guy who has starred in "The Godfather", "Dog Day Afternoon", "Taxi Driver", et al. gives a knowing performance has the tough-as-nails, "superstar", L.A. cop who travels with his partner, on an assignment to Alaska, in order to help the local police to capture the murderer of a beautiful 17 year old girl. Hilary Swank plays a young local policewoman, sort of infatuated by this "legendary" professional's experience (Pacino) and technique, which she has already studied at the Police Academy. Last but not least, Robin Williams playing an unsympathetic "heavy", with a skill no one would have ever thought of. His voice inflection has changed completely from the usual clown we're used to, his way of looking, restraint,.... everything new for us audiences, he really did a very fine job. I'd read the critics' reviews before watching this film, and although they were good, anyway, I didn't expect it would be as good a movie, with such a surprising plot- when the movie begins, you think it will take a very different "path" from the one that it really takes, unpredictable, such as real life is. In all, a completely satisfying experience, maybe, except for the final scene- which some may consider sort-of-clichéd - but I did not. I thought it was coherent with the characters' natures and development through the film.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast Awake
Review: Director Christopher Nolan's remake of a 1997 Norwegian film of the same name, INSOMNIA, is a good thriller. LAPD detectives Will Dormer (Al Pacino) and his partner, Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan) are invited to the Alaska town of Nightmute, to help solve a brutal murder. The 2 detectives are assisted by local cop Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank), who thinks of Dormer as her mentor, because she has followed his career so closely. The investigation is hampered by Dormer's inability to get any sleep because the sun never sets in Nightmute, at the time of year, the film takes place. When a town writer (Robin Williams) becomes a suspect in the killing, Dormer must find a way to prove it before guilt over the outcome of another case overtakes him. The line between what is real and what is not drives the film to an unexpected climax. As Nolan's first linear film, INSOMNIA works because of Pacino's performance. He really sells the story. Swank is solid here too, while Williams is just ok, he never really pulls it off, opposite Pacino. At times he seems out of step, which furthers my contention that, all the fuss some folks make about how great he is as an actor, is unwarranted. Nolan is a great director though, so I can forgive the one casting flaw. The tension and atmosphere that is created in the film is almost palpable. As Pacino gets ever closer to the edge, from sleep deprevation, you really get lost in the story. Never far from the non-linear device that put him on the map, Nolan's audio commentary track follows the film's shooting schedule, instead of the finished product. By doing this, the track offers rare insight into how films are made, and why most of them are shot out of sequence. The 2nd commentary features Swank and various crew (recorded separately) talking about their take on the film. Both tracks are well done. The making of featurette is pretty standard stuff. Next up is a coversation between Nolan and Pacino about the film and acting/drecting in general. The extras also include a feature on cinematography and production design, and a look a real life insomniacs and what they have to deal with every day. A still gallery, the theatrical trailer, film highlights from the cast and crew, and some DVD-ROM material for the PC round out the extra features. The film comes on DVD in separate widescreen or full screen viewing formats. Personally, I recommend buyng or renting the widescreen version, but either way, the DVD is recommended
Rating: 
Summary: Tiring to say the least
Review: Not what I expected from a wonderful cast, and a good movie trailer. This movie was slow and painstakingly "get to the point"! Ok, there were two aspects I can say I liked. First is the setting--Alaska. Not your typical place for a movie, and that combined with the 24 hours of light that the movie portrayed is quite interesting. The other thing is Robin Williams. He's terrific. Whenever he leaves behind the comedy and is just your bare bones actor he never disappoints, and he won't here. I love seeing him in strong, non-comedic roles, it just shows his wonderful range and the broad spectrum of his abilities. But that's all the good I can say about this movie. Al Pacino is tired, and I'm not sure that was just his acting for the movie. Pacino is terrific in so much, I wonder what happened here, and Hilary Swank is just there. She plays a cop who is uncovering Al Pacino's character and is ho-hum in doing so. So I suggest this movie only for Williams' performance, if you can make it through the muck of the whole picture. I am rather disappointed that Insomnia wasn't better, I had such high hopes going in.
Rating: 
Summary: Overlong, dull, over-rated
Review: While "Insomnia" certainly features a top-notch cast, it is quite a disappointment, especially for being a more low-brow, outside-Hollywood kind of project. The setting is cold lonely Alaska, where, at this time of year, the sun never sets, and big-shot LA detective Pacino is called in to investigate a particularly nasty murder. As important as the murder itself is the baggage Pacino brings with him, as Internal Affairs is investigating him and his partner. The movie wastes relatively little time in telling us who the killer is, but that's not the point- its supposed to be a psychological thing between Williams and Pacino, but this is hopelessly weak. Williams, who is over-rated as an actor in the first place, lacks the intensity and conviction for his role, and Pacino seems to be going through the motions. Much time is spent on the inner turmoil of Pacino, his insomnia, but the direction is so dull and flat that this is not at all compelling, and by the time the climax finally rolls out the film has become irreversibly uninteresting. Overall a much overrated movie.
Rating:
Summary: Avoid The Reviews That Reveal The Plot - Read This Instead
Review: What a great film.. Cinematography is excellent, script award winning, and Pacino....does he ever act anything less than incredible?......I don't recall seeing one of his films that wasn't spellbinding.....this time there is a good cast that acts to the high standard Pacino sets. Hillary Swank is especially good as a star-struck admirer of Pacino's Dormer character. Robin Williams does a good job too (too many people seem to expect him to be capable of drama at Pacino's level....he's not.....it's not his strength....but he capably carries his weight in a film where he would be quickly shown the door if he couldn't keep up). The psychology is set in the framework of sleep deprivation (due to the near 24 hr daylight in the Alaskan town where it is set), so Pacino has a great plot from which to explore....which he does to maximum effect. This film is well worth the time to see.
Rating:
Summary: Pacino in Top Form
Review: From the time that Al Pacino became an international superstar with his gripping performance in "Dog Day Afternoon" he has held film audiences in rapt attention with his inner intensity. He often will not even say a word; the tension looms as a coil ready to spring. Pacino generates interest, speaking or silent. In "Insomnia" Pacino plays a well known but highly troubled Los Angeles detective assigned with partner Marty Dawson to travel to a small Alaskan town to help solve a murder which has local police baffled. When he arrives Pacino is overwhelmed when energetic rookie officer Hilary Swank, determined to be the best in her profession, idolizes him to the point of knowing his cases and even notable quotes, in the manner of a baseball fan knowing the statistics and famous games of a favorite player. Alaska is known for its seemingly interminable alternating periods of sun and darkness. Pacino arrives during the sun period. As a result, he finds it impossible to sleep. As the story develops we learn that it is more than the sun, however, bothering Pacino. His own past and present career as an officer reside in indefinite turmoil. Pacino is in Alaska to solve the murder of an attractive 17-year-old girl. When suspicion shifts from her abrasive, physically abusive high school boyfriend to a local older pulp mystery writer, the story heats up. When Pacino and police cohorts are seeking to corner the murder suspect in a field shrouded in fog, Pacino unleashes a shot and kills his partner. He is happy to leave the impression that the retreating suspect killed his Los Angeles police sidekick, but his world is jolted when, during one of his many sleepless nights, he receives a call from the detective writer, who reveals that he saw Pacino fire the shot that killed his partner. Robin Williams, who made his mark in rollicking comedy, turns in a superb effort as the troubled writer who believes that, by making a compact with Pacino, they can both emerge free of suspicion. The wily but troubled Williams theorizes that all Pacino needs to do is direct suspicion back to the boyfriend, pretend to solve the case, and return to Los Angeles, leaving him unscathed with a patsy being convicted of the crime. He explains that he did not really mean to kill the young woman anymore than Pacino meant to kill his partner. Accordingly, they should both be free of any taint of guilt. The picture and the blackmail offer from Williams becomes more complicated when it is revealed that Pacino was being investigated by the internal affairs department in Los Angeles and believed his own partner would be a crucial element in bringing him down. So did he or did he not kill his partner deliberately? Does Pacino ultimately know? The imaginative script by Hilary Seitz keeps viewers guessing until its conclusion. Swink, a recent Best Actress Oscar winner, does a superb job as the gung ho small town Alaska police officer who begins figuring things out on her own pertaining to both Pacino and Williams.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Crime Thriller
Review: Insomnia is like a lesson plan for directors and screen writers. Christopher Nolen, fresh off his Memento masterpiece, reminds movie viewers what intrigue, crime, and mystery are all about. Of course, we should remind everyone that Insomnia is a remake of a Norwegian film, but the American version definetly holds its own. The setting of the film is a fairly secluded town in Alaska. It's summer, so the sun never sets. Shocking the small towm folk is the violent murder of a young girl. The local police decide to bring in some LA detectives, a duo led by Al Pacino. On the surface, it seems like a logical mission. But Pacino, a legendary cop, is being investigated for misconduct. His partner recently made a deal with the DA, threatening to destroy Pacino's reputation and career. It's with this demon that Pacino tackles the case itself. The pace of Insomnia is spot on. Slow moments are poignant, active moments are hard hitting. The situations are well explained and intriguing. Probably more interesting than the murder case itself is the inner battle inside Pacino. This turmoil is made worse by the fact that Pacino has not slept for six days by the end of the movie. His cat and mouse game with Robin Williams is well done, always dangerous and engaging. Pacino is superb. His role deserves an Oscar nomination, if not an award. He really is the heart of the movie. He just sucks you into the story and into his own inner conflict. Some people have complained about Williams acting, but I think it is acceptable at worst. Besides, was he really expected to out act Pacino? Hillary Swank does a great job as the small town cop who admires Pacino fiercely. A highly enjoyable follow up to Memento.
Rating:
Summary: First Rate Thriller (and Remake!)
Review: A remake, as Hollywood has proven to us time and time again, is a bad idea, especially if the original was just fine the way it was. This is why the task of turning the critically acclaimed Scandinavian original into an American film starring three Oscar-winning actors is not as easy as it seems. However, the film's in good hands; Chris Nolan, the amazingly talented director who gave us the headache-inducing (but in a good way) "Memento," knows how to craft a good film without playing down to the audience. What made the original so good was its cinematography. The camera was a character; like a fallible narrator, angles could not be trusted; you had to second guess every frame. The cold Scandinavian landscape was the perfect setting for a film which delved into a crime, but also into the mind of the one investigating it. I was afraid the subtle nuances of the film would be lost in the American version: the telling gaze, the sun through the curtains, the metaphor of the fog. But, thankfully, Nolan kept most of the elements in his version, particularly the cinematic trope of the penetrating gaze (as a voyeuristic tool). For those who are more used to multiple action scenes, you might be disappointed. There's quite a bit of dialogue, the events aren't explicitly stated all the time, and the audience has to, in a way, participate in the film. However, the performances are top notch. Robin Williams, whom we all know as the silly funny man, has managed to master the art of subtlety. His tone, facial expressions, and eyes convey more than can be expressed with words. Al Pacino, a little older than Stellan Skarsgård, the actor who plays the protagonist in the original, pulls off a fine performance alongside Swank. One disappointing element is the ending. Keeping in mind this is an American film, Nolan opted for the conventional everything-will-be-tied-up-explictly ending, which seems forced, especially when you consider the subtlety that informs the rest of the film. But this is still a fine film that is miles ahead of many other thrillers that Hollywood is churning out. If you're curious, do check out the original "Insomnia," as it is, overall, more skillfully done.
Rating: 
Summary: Insomnia, Yep slept through that one.
Review: I was trilled when this movie came out to rent because I had wanted to see it. I mean, it had Al Pacino and Robin Williams in it, so it had to be great, right? Well, after watching it I was wrong. This movie was totally predictable from the start, and had the same basic plot that I have seen in 40 other movies. I guess that my one star rating might be extreme, but the plot did [was bad]! I guess it might be worth watching just to see Robin Williams in a role that is non-comedic, but as to buying this movie?? I suggest going and renting it for $$$ and buying something else.
Rating:
Summary: Taut detective thriller
Review: Director Christopher Nolan made a sensational splash with the indie hit "Memento", earning him this shot at the big time. For the most part, he proved himself up to the task. "Insomnia" provides a multilayered psychological thriller where two distinct storylines are interwoven in the character of Will Dormer (Al Pacino). The workup is a bit contrived, with Dormer coming to Alaska from LA to help out an old buddy with a murder investigation as he is himself being investigated by internal affairs. This serves as a foundation for the two storylines. The first is the animosity that develops between Dormer and his partner, who wants to cut a deal with internal affairs. The second, of course, is the murder investigation. After Dormer accidentally (?) shoots his partner while chasing the suspect in dense fog, the psychological games begin. Local detective Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank), who is fawning all over Dormer and has read all his books on detective work, begins to suspect that her hero may have feet of clay. The psychodrama becomes intense as Dormer is confronted with communications from his killer nemesis Walter Finch (Robin Williams), while suspicions swirl around the death of his partner. Add to this his inability to get any sleep in Alaska's perpetual daylight and you have a man driven to the absolute brink. Nolan does an excellent job of shooting this film and the editing intensifies the psychological tension. The cinematography is also superb, aided by the majesctic Alaskan and British Columbian locations. While the interaction between Dormer and Finch is unlikely, the symbiotic relationship that develops is fascinating and Nolan squeezes every psychological tingle that can be wrung from it. Pacino is masterful as the insomniac cop who has made certain ethical compromises in his career in the name of justice. He looks so terrible that he must have been purposely depriving himself of sleep to increase the realism of the character. Pacino gives Dormer (an interesting play on the latin dormire, "to sleep", a dormer is the window of a sleeping room) a hard edge that gradually erodes as he becomes more sleep deprived, blurring the distinction between good and evil. Robin Williams seems to be trying to shed his nice guy image with back to back wackos. He follows up his sociopathic performance in "1 Hour Photo" with this character who is a sort of sinister pragmatist. Williams is at his best when he is pushing sanity's limits, whether that be in zany comedy or maniacal mayhem, which is precisely why he was wrong for this part. This character is far too calculating and controlled for Williams talents and the part was also much too physical for him. He is just not convincing as a cold blooded killer and tough guy. That is not to say it was a bad performance, just the wrong actor. Hilary Swank unfortunately doesn't have much to do in a film that is dominated by Pacino and Williams. This is an excellent big budget debut for Nolan and another terrific performance by Pacino. The suspense and pace are first rate and despite the contrivances, it delivers. I rated it an 8/10. Definitely not a snoozer.
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