Rating: 
Summary: A worthy follow up to Memento
Review: Insomnia, director Chris Nolan's second full length feature, doesn't have the same gut-wrenching and mind-bending plot twists that his feature length debut, Memento, had, but does an excellent job telling an original and gripping detective mystery.The pleasure of Insomnia is to be found in its rich cinematography, beautiful landscapes, and excellent performances. The movie is one of the most visually compelling pieces of filmmaking I have seen in years, creating surreal juxtapositions with the vast, harsh Alaskan landscape and with close-up shots of crime scene evidence. The amazing visual landscapes (both large and small) are used effectively by director Nolan to emphasize the films themes of isolation and overpowerment, of losing oneself within ones environment and in ones choices. Insomnia's plot will disappoint those looking for a new Memento, in that it does not have the sort of turns of action and motivation that Memento does. Insomnia works well without elaborate plot twists, however, it's mood benefits from a certain lack of ambiguity of action, although the ending is perhaps a little to predictable and cliched. Insomnia would have benefited, however, from more ambiguity of motivation - while the acting is top notch, especially on the part of Robin Williams, the connections between the characters actions and their motivations and decisions is too closely drawn by the script. Overall Insomnia is an excellent movie, and a good entry into the detective/suspense movie cannon. It suffers slightly from a couple of bad edits (in a movie filled with amazing editing and shooting) and from its desire to clearly spell out the principle characters motivations, but these minor flaws are more than redeemed by the director's excellent camerawork and sense of pacing, a strong script, and very solid acting performances. Insomnia is a must see movie, and a welcome change from the "blockbuster" summer movie scene of 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: A good movie, not a classic, but very good
Review: ... I'm glad I did, because unlike Memento "Insomnia" has a plot that unfolds smoothly and easily and follows a normal timeline. Yeah, there are some twists and turns, but it's a good movie..... Despite that, Insomnia kept me interested. Pacino does a great job slowly falling apart due to not being able to sleep because he's up in Alaska during the summer, when the sun never sets. The endless daylight begin to break him down, though I don't know why he didn't chug a few classes of wine or something to sleep. Robin Williams plays the villain in this movie and the same little spark that gave his comedy such a nice twist (save for some of his more recent flops), is twisted and used to mask evil. It works, because if you think of it, how much of comedy is based on evil, laughing at someone else's misfortune, or an accident, etc.? Comedy and evil and two sides of the same coin. There are a few gaps in logic in this film, such as why Pacino AND his partner are sent to Alaska to solve a murder. Yes, they're under investigation by Internal Affairs in L.A., but Pacino's partner was ready to cut a deal, so why send him? Yeah, it's a plot device because, well, watch the moview because his presence is needed. But it's not quite credible that L.A. would have sent him there. Pacino, yes; his partner, I dunno. But that's nitpicking. Overall, this was an enjoyable movie with a couple of quirkly plot twists that made it worth sticking with. Not a clasic, but certainly a good way to spend a couple of hours...
Rating:
Summary: "Insomnia"...The darker side of Robin Williams!!
Review: We have seen Academy Award winner Robin Williams (Best Supporting Actor, 1997: "Good Will Hunting") in lots of hilarious films such as "Mrs. Doubtfire", "Good Morning, Vietnam", "Bicentennial Man", and "Death to Smoochy". We have also seen him in a memorable few dramatic roles such as "Dead Poets Society", "Good Will Hunting", "What Dreams May Come", and "Jakob the Liar". But now, Williams really outdoes himself when he takes on the role of...ruthless killer! The movie is called "Insomnia", a film with so much intensity and suspense that you would have to see it again and again! The direction of Christopher Nolan ("Memento") is brilliant in every way possible! Williams is also paired up with fellow Academy Award winners Hilary Swank (Best Actress, 1999: "Boys Don't Cry") and the legendary Al Pacino (Best Actor, 1992: "Scent of a Woman") into bringing this thriller of Hitchcockian proportions to the big screen! "Insomnia" focuses on a seasoned veteran LAPD detective named Will Dormer (Pacino), who is invited to Nightmute, Alaska with his partner, Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan), to head a murder case. Dormer teams up with an inexperienced, young detective named Ellie Burr (Swank) in order to find out who caused the murder and why. But during the case, Dormer finds himself and his investigation disrupted by an ever-shining midnight sun that wreaks sleep-depriving havoc on him. In other words, Dormer has inside of him what we call a "body clock". It could go off at any moment, on any day, and at any time as well. The case has also disrupted Dormer by personal guilt over a second crime that may be real...or a figment of his increasingly unstable conciousness. During the movie, the prime suspect in the murder case is a best-selling author named Walter Finch (Williams). And to me, it seems as though Dormer may have met his match when Finch starts playing these sadistic mind games with Dormer which will eventually lead to a shocking finale between the two foes! I have the DVD version of "Insomnia", loaded with extras such as an additional scene, scene-specific commentaries with Hilary Swank and crew, featurettes, theatrical trailer, stills gallery, and DVD-ROM features. In conclusion, I just have to say that "Insomnia" is truly one of the sharpest thrillers that I've seen since Nolan's "Memento" or any other thriller. With three of the greatest acting talents today, a fine supporting cast (Maura Tierney, Nicky Katt, Paul Dooley), and an incredible storyline that will keep you guessing until the very end, "Insomnia" is a must-see for everyone and a DVD must-own if you are an avid Robin Williams fan or an avid Al Pacino fan!
Rating:
Summary: An intriguing and atmospheric thriller.
Review: I am a big fan of Christopher Nolan. Even though I only saw Memento in 2001, I knew great things were meant for this director. Unfortunately, Insomnia isn't as great as Memento was but it definitely still a great movie that kept me intrigued the whole way through. One of the strongest things about the movie is the performances by the two leading actors, Al Pacino and Robin Williams. Pacino displays depths and many character stages in this film - he's excellent, as per usual. Williams doesn't get as much screentime unfortunately, but the time he does have is chilling and enthralling - I was very interested by his character. The two supporting actresses - Hilary Swank and Maura Tierney - were good as well, especially Swank, who needs to be in more movies! I loved the style of the film. It had some very clever editing techniques used and I just adored the cuts Chris used. The cinematography was great and the atmosphere was very "dangerous-small-mountain-town" which I appreciated. There were a couple of problems in the movie - Robin Williams' character should've been developed further because he is SO interesting and the chemistry between him and Pacino is SO good. Also, the final shootout scene - it just seemed rushed to me. Christopher Nolan has done another good film overall though, and I look forward to seeing how his directing talents develop even further.
Rating:
Summary: A superbly crafted thriller
Review: After scoring critical praise the world over with Memento, director Christopher Nolan was tapped to direct this remake of the 1997 Norwegian film of the same name. Nolan suceeds where most other directors would have failed thanks to the brilliant cinematography and production design, giving the Alaskan setting and the overall film an atmospheric feel that sets Insomnia apart from other modern day thrillers. Al Pacino is good as Detective Will Dormer who is after a killer (Robin Williams who is surprisingly effective in his role) and the two are great together in their game of cat & mouse. Hilary Swank however I felt was not effective at all until the climax of the film and for the most part was wasted in her role. While the original Insomnia (which can be found as a Criterion Collection DVD) I find superior to this remake, this film is fantastic on it's own. All in all, this was one of the best thrillers of 2002, and further cements Christopher Nolan as a visionary director.
Rating:
Summary: Insomnia (2002)
Review: Director: Christopher Nolan.
Cast: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hillary Swank, Maura Tierney, Martin Donovan, Nicky Katt.
Running Time: 118 minutes.
Rated R for violence, language, and brief nudity. As if Hitchcock woke from the dead and decided to make one last film so his soul could finally rest, he would have made a film very similar to "Insomnia". Although Christopher Nolan is certainly no Hitchcock, this intense suspense-thriller possesses the some of the qualities that make a true classic. The story winds through the nightless town of Nightmute, Alaska, where LAPD detective Will Dormer (played by Al Pacino is an only par performance) investigates a troubling serial killer case. When the investigation takes a sudden, twisting turn, Dormer not only is in pursuit of a killer, but is up against the sleepless psychological trauma that is disrupting his every move. As Dormer gets closer and closer to the truth, he comes across a startlingly eerie author (Robin Williams), who happens to have vital information about concerning one of the victim's death. As Dormer becomes more involved with the author, his paranoia grows increasingly unstable. Williams steals the show throughout the second half of the film, portraying the role with ease; a haunting character that must have crept mightily out of his soul. Hillary Swank is a some-what misused rookie officer who is one step behind Dormer in solving the case and her peformance is only fair. Director Nolan uses the excellent Hilary Seitz to his advantage, plotting Dormer's fears and ambitions, tooling Pacino and Williams's characters in a battle of good and evil, yet the good and the evil are presented in an enigmatic, vague fashion that will keep viewers guessing. Entertaining, thrilling, and moderately scary--Hitchcock would have been pretty proud.
Rating: 
Summary: See the Norwegian version instead!
Review: Insomnia was a rip off of a great foreign movie. The two versions of the story are nowhere near equal. The original release was edgy and really let the viewers get into the mind of the characters portrayed and all of their internal struggles. The Hollywood version never reached the same level of suspense and the characters never seemed as convincing as in the original. So, if you don't mind reading subtitles, do yourself a favor and pick up the original instead.
Rating:
Summary: Great Performances All Round - Will Defnitely Keep You Up
Review: I would never give Insomnia a definition - a thriller yet sunshine set, a cat-and-rat game yet also rat-jolts-cat, a cruelty murder line yet faded in the psycho confusion. Everything in Insomnia seemed to free out the stereotypes as it's supposed to be. Things of this kind can always be boring and pale if not for atmospheric direction and top-notch performances. Starring three Oscar winners, Insomnia follows its artistic pacing without losing any commercial attraction. Al Pacino, a top favourite of mine, is prominent again as a sleep-losing yet conscionable veteran cop, occasionally losing his mind but never losing his heart. Robin Williams, gives a convincing flick of a devil shielded with a writer's position. He's shrewd and almost controlling before you, yet fragile and vulnerable behind. The only regret is that the character was reduced at it's screenplay level, with only forty minutes screen time. Williams leads the role as a dominant yet also an undercurrent, with a dark impact, which was insinuated in the endless shining set and Al Pacino's progressive sleeplessness. Beyond these two men's insomnia circle, Swank, portrayed an idolizing yet astute enough young cop, timely refreshing you and rightfully-oriented when you are becoming fatigued and confused with the two men's psychological battle. Slightly pale yet still lovable at the same time. Maura Tierney also lends a helping hand as the Hotel manager who sympathises with Pacino's character. Director Chris Nolan covered all these twists with atmospheric directing, not showing off yet blatant which, normally seen in Hollywood thrillers, restrains story-telling and thought-evoking. He delivered a masterpiece which you can see many times without being bored.
Rating:
Summary: A great Alaskan murder mystery
Review: Detective Will Dormer has serious issues on his mind as he and a fellow L.A. detective track down the killer of a teenage girl in the Alaskan wilds. Al Pacino looks worn and haggard as the rumpled, Columbo look-alike sleuth who is a badly flawed detective for reasons that aren't revealed until several minutes into the film. Dormer and the killer, who saw what really happened during a shootout among the rocks near a creek in a thick fog while he was being pursued, play a game of cat-and-mouse, with the murder suspect holding the trump card. Hilary Swank is the adoring Alaskan policewoman Ellie Burr who fawns over Dormer but soon becomes disillusioned by his behavior and begins to give him much closer scrutiny. She suspects something is amiss in his behavior and follows her instincts. The sun seems to shine just once in this gloomy film, at a memorial service for the slain girl. The chase sequence of Dormer running after a fleeing suspect over a river of logs is nice, as is the finale at a wilderness lakeside cabin. The scenes between Pacino and Swank are the best in the film and result in plenty of fireworks at the finale.
Rating: 
Summary: Cure for Insomnia
Review: I must say I'm rather disappointed by what seems to be a typical Hollywood "give `em a bigger budget and dumb `em down" treatment of new talents like Nolan. This film, a remake of a 1997 Norwegian film, is quite clearly a mainstream studio product and a waste of a rather promising idea. ***May contain SPOILERS*** The plot begins with the arrival of a pair of Homicide detectives in an Alaskan town to solve the murder of a local girl. Pacino plays the older cop Dormer who rendered insomniac in the perpetual sunlight of the season. An early lead into the killer's whereabouts leads to a stakeout at a cabin hideaway - a treacherous fog befuddles sight and Dormer ends up shooting his partner, apparently by accident. He places the blame on the escaped killer and the investigations are continued. Dormer has the guilt of his partner's death to compound his insomnia and another person knows the truth of the incident - the killer, who has seen Dormer fire the fatal shot. A cat-and-mouse game ensues between the two, with Dormer alternating between hunting down the murderer and covering up his own tracks, while the killer (Robin Williams as Walter Finch, a pulp writer) aims to psyche Dormer into letting him escape - the two end up working out a deal where a third person is framed for the crime. But things go awry in this setup and the film abruptly makes towards a (silly) shootout climax in which Dormer and Finch gun each other down.
The main problem IMO with this film is that it gives off a thorough sense of `under-achievement' in every aspect of it. There were a thousand ways little and big in which the visual and emotional core of the film could have been imbued with substance but really all that seems to have fallen by the wayside if at all considered.
1. The look of most of the film is so utterly generic it's disheartening. The aspect of a sparsely populated settlement who live a season of perpetual sunlight is dealt with in a perfunctory manner that sucks away most of the uniqueness of the film. This should have been a focal point that defined the sensibility and emotional core of the film and it was just thrown off as a two-scene gimmick reference. The entire concept of `light-as-darkness' blinding and disorienting Dormer's character is never approached to an extent worth the mention. Without that really what was the point of shooting the film in Alaska - to show that Alaska's cranky teens and crazy killers were like those in any other part of the country?
2. Pacino seems to have been selected for the role of the haggard Dormer simply because his entire current career seems veered towards playing haggard old men. This is not to say that he does a bad job, he gets pretty effective in some of the scenes that come immediately after the partner's killing but really at very few points does one feel the turmoil and disorientation of Dormer and there are a few bits of sleepwalk acting even for an insomniac character.
3. Robin William's writer-killer character is again a stereotype that has been seen in umpteen movies made before. I really wish they had taken pains over giving his character a different edge - But we're still stuck with the generic loony-killer.
4. The clean-cut rookie cop who's a fan of Dormer (Hilary Swank) seems like a throwaway character although one does not fault Swank's performance. The film would have been tighter in the absence of such extraneous parts.
5. The film lacks any real sophistication relying on cheap `oooh blood' shots to appear edgy.
6. The climax is a total no-brainer. I'm informed that the Norwegian original ends on a morally ambiguous note with the cop getting away with his escapade. Hollywood of course shies away from such subtleties and we're subjected to a pointless gun-battle in the aftermath of which a dying Dormer advises Swank to not `lose her way (towards truth, justice and the American way, one supposes)'
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