Rating: 
Summary: Breathtaking, real, I was sleepless afterwards...
Review: I could not get my eyes off the scenery of Nightmute, Alaska. I was hooked from the start. The film kept me there the whole time. Pacino was riveting, Williams was perfect for the part. Enjoyed it very much and will see it a hundred times again.
When a movie changes you forever, you know it's got your emotions and your heart. This one will stay with me always. As good as any James Patterson novel.
Rating:
Summary: Not for some people....
Review: I glanced at some other reviews here before inscribing my own (which can sometimes be an unhealthy procedure), and noticed a motif that seems to underline most independent reviewers criticism. They either find the film to far from "Memento," or to close to "Memento," which is beyond explanation on my part. The fact is, Christopher Nolan does an outstanding job with this film, and nothing more nor nothing less should have been done in the creation and editing of this film. The truth is, this movie isn't much like "Memento," but more like "Insomnia."A reviewer here posted that most of the shots are over-stylized, exaggerated, and uncomfortable to watch. Well, I would suppose that the psychological state of insomnia might exactly reflect those very three states.... but on to the movie. Robin Williams and Al Pacino definitely did a great job with this movie, with Al Pacino definitely taking the more impressive role. You really get the feeling that there was a "trinity" between Nolan, Pacino, and Williams going on, much like the "trinity" which took place in "Taxi Driver." I never saw the original "Insomnia," so I am not going to draw comparisons, all I know is that this movie stands by itself as a fantastically dark, thought-provoking film. I will watch the original, just because this movie was so good. A note on the camera angles and stylizied scenes, good job Nolan, you truly did an epic job portraying that vexing state of mind, the light playing, the speeding up and slowing down, the warping of depth, all very well done here, hope to see more of that coming from you. Cant wait for this one to come to DVD...
Rating:
Summary: Riveting Thriller from Christopher Nolan
Review: The breathtaking beauty of a remote area of Alaska provides the setting for this film, and the natural splendor of the surroundings offers a thought provoking contrast between the serenity of the landscape and the ugliness visited upon it by one of it's inhabitants. In the thriller "Insomnia," director Christopher Nolan examines the myriad faces of evil and the far-reaching effects of wrongdoing, whether perpetrated straightforwardly as a heinous crime, or in the ill conceived notion of subverting the law in a quest for justice. But he also looks beyond the objectivity of premeditation at how certain physical variables can subjectively affect the psychological aspects of the duplicity. Specifically, what happens to the body-- and especially to the mind-- when deprived of sleep for an extended period of time. And especially when it comes at a critical juncture; at a time when, above all else, the mind must be absolutely clear and sharp, when judgments must be passed and decisions made. Can a web of deceit, woven amid a struggle between the mind and the body, stand fast? And if so, for how long? How long can one prevail against the proclivities of human nature, in a place where the sun never sets, and the mind cannot find rest. L.A. detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino), and his partner, Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan), have been given a special assignment: The investigation of the murder of a seventeen-year-old girl in the small town of Nightmute, Alaska. Their detail comes on the heels of a certain internal affairs investigation currently being conducted within the L.A.P.D., which may involve the high-profile Dormer, a good cop who has been putting away the bad guys for more years than he can remember. And if the I.A. affair goes south, some criminals Dormer has been instrumental in convicting may see freedom. So the change of venue for the detectives comes at an auspicious time; sometimes distance can be a good thing. Dormer goes into the case with the confidence provided him by years on the job. He is lucid, and on top of things immediately. What he finds in Nightmute, however, is a killer who is not only meticulous, but who has a wild card up his sleeve and begins to play it not long after Dormer hits town. It's the time of year when the sun never sets, and the killer realizes that it is going to affect Dormer's sleep, and subsequently, his perceptions and actions. And he's determined to help the situation along with some untimely phone calls and some well chosen words. Dormer's onto the game immediately, but after a couple of days of sleeplessness, his mental faculties begin to deteriorate, and it leads to a situation involving Eckhart that puts an entirely new spin on the matters at hand. Things get sticky, and Dormer's judgment becomes questionable. He struggles to keep himself together, because he knows one thing for certain: The killer has crossed a line from which there is no return, and he's going to kill again. And it's up to Dormer to stop him before it happens. As with his previous effort, "Memento," Christopher Nolan has crafted and delivered a film that is emotionally stirring and initially, at least, devoid of any absolutes (or if there are any, they are soon lost in Dormer's sleeplessness induced mental haze), to which he adds a moral dilemma that makes it all entirely involving and which successfully draws the audience into the action as the story unfolds. it becomes an incisive character study that affords you Dormer's perspective while allowing you to experience his situation seemingly first hand. Nolan gradually takes you from the rational thought processes that to Dormer are the norm, to the murky regions of the ambiguous into which he descends as the sleeplessness overcomes and overwhelms him. And the fact that Dormer's impaired mental state is so significant-- inasmuch as the direction it takes the story-- makes this a rather unique film; it's an interesting angle, and quite different from the usual considerations offered by the typical crime/thriller/drama. Most importantly, Nolan knows how to present it effectively, and builds the tension in direct proportion to Dormer's descent, which maintains that necessary edge right up to the climax. By the end of the film, Pacino/Dormer really looks as though he hasn't slept in days; it's a critical aspect of the story, upon which the credibility of the film depends, and which it achieves, without question. Some credit has to go to the make-up provided by Gitte Axen, but ultimately, what makes this film so convincing-- and such an unqualified success-- is Al Pacino's performance. As he demonstrates here, he is arguably one of the top two leading actors in the business (the other being De Niro). He has the ability to create a completely new character with every new film, and he's always convincing, whether taking it over-the-top (Tony Montana, "Scarface"; Vincent Hanna, "Heat"), using a more introspective approach (Michael Corleone, "The Godfather") or finding the necessary reserve that fits a particular character and makes him believable (as he does here with Will Dormer). This is a studied portrayal, presented in subtle shadings and tone, and one that should easily earn him an Oscar nomination. Turning in a solid performance, also, is Robin Williams, who seems to be taking a page out of Pacino's book by finding the kind of restraint he needed to make his character work. Williams has played a variety of roles in his career, but never has he played so against type as his portrayal of Walter Finch in this film; and he does it well. He's entirely convincing-- his Finch is very real and disquietingly believable, in that his outward appearance is so normal, while in reality he is capable of deeds most vile. His true nature is undetectable, and as such, he's your worst nightmare. It makes Dormer's conundrum even more pronounced, and helps to make "Insomnia" a riveting and thoroughly engrossing film.
Rating: 
Summary: "Insomnia" Keeps You Awake!
Review: "Insomnia" is an at times confusing puzzle by the same person who created the cult hit\ and perhaps even classic(?) film "Memento", Christopher Nolan.
"Insomnia" is a remake of an 1998 Norwegian film directed by Erik Skjoldbjaerg, and it's one of the few times we can say a remake actually works! This new version of "Insomnia" is so grandly conceieved, so richly constructed that I'm afraid American audiences won't like it. "Insomnia" is not some by the numbers, fast-paced, loud summer movie, that perhaps some people might think it will turn out to be, no, this movie is a well thought out character study about what happens when we make the wrong choices to protect ourselves. Director, Nolan is more concerned here with the story and character development then loud car chasing scenes, or big explosions. Nolan and screenwriter Hillary Seitz have actually taken the time out to tell us a story. They pace the film wonderfully and allow us to get to know the characters. There is more to a film like "Insomnia" than meets the eye. But, even so, like I said, I'm afraid the American public won't go for it. The American public likes fast, cliche, pointless, mindless movies. They like to see people run away from dinosaurs or people under attack by a group of aliens. I know for a fact people will say that this movie is slow and boring. And that it doesn't go anywhere. People will say this film is not a good follow-up to "Memento". But, they are wrong. They just have no patience.
The plot for "Insomnia" goes something like this; Will Dormer (Al Pacino) and Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan) are two L.A. cops sent to Alaska to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. Once they arrive they are greeted by Ellie Burr (Hillary Swank) who is a by the books, young cop. She's the cliche character who became a cop because she loves it. She thinks that there's no corruption inside the system. As the film goes on, we find out that it's not merely because Dormer (Pacino) and Eckhart (Donovan) are good cops that they have been sent to investigate this case. They were both in trouble in L.A. for some questionable actions on their last case. This is there way of taking the "heat" off them. As the film goes on we find out that the killer was\is a "twisted" person. He actually took the time out to wash the girl's hair, to paint her nails, and even clip them! It was not just a random act of violence, but a premeditated one. I don't really want to give much more information then I already have, you just have to go see the film yourself to find out the rest. All I will say is the film has a lot of "tricks" up it's sleeve, so don't think you'll be able to see through the plot.
So, some of you are probably wondering, how is this different from the original, well, there are small differences. Like the whole background story with the lead character's being sent on the case. The relationship between the two cops is different. And, the female character in this one doesn't seem as strong. Also, there are some brief scenes of sexual content. Which does not appear in this new version.
"Insomnia" is one of the year's best films, it has a truly remarkable performance by Al Pacino. So far, it's the best performance of the year! Pacino proves himself to be one of the greatest actor we have around today. Robin Williams is oddly, very good in this film. I use the word oddly because I sometimes find it hard for me to see him in serious roles. I mean, this is the same man who use to play a space alien on "Mork & Mindy". But, Williams gives his best performance since "Good Will Hunting". Hilary Swank gives a good performance as well, but, for me, it wasn't anything really special, though, I don't think that was her fault, I think it was just the way the part was written.
Bottom-Line: "Insomnia" is an extremely well constructed character study\thriller. The pacing of the film is wonderful and the performances are even better. Truly one of the year's best films!
Rating: 
Summary: Should've seen the foreign film
Review: I had a friend once who was a purist. If a film was released as a remake of a foreign version, he steered clear of it convinced that it would make for a waste of time and money. It's too bad he's not around to see this. I should've listened to him when he was alive, and I wouldn't have wasted my time or money on this film. From the previews I was expecting a lot more than I got, and I am definitely getting the VHS of the foreign film. I gave it three stars--one for Pacino who I have always admired; one for Williams who has gone beyond his range (comic actor to dramatic actor; much like Jim Carrey); and one for the beautiful shots of Alaska. Aside from Pacino and Williams, I didn't think the acting was all that great, and the storyline was too diluted. Joe, I hear ya now! If you're totally adverse to seeing a foreign film, and go see this one, you will probably like it....because you won't know better.
Rating:
Summary: * * KEPT ME COMPLETELY ALERT * *
Review: I have absolutely no complaints about this movie. I admit I was somewhat apprehensive of watching it (no detective movie has ever gotten under my skin ever since SEVEN)and I so hated being disappointed. But I really wanted to see Al Pacino and Hilary Swank's performances (and definitely Robin Williams as the killer) and so I went. Definitely worth the money! Director Christopher Nolan is very much like David Fincher (SEVEN & PANIC ROOM) in that he purposely tries to engage the audience mentally - in order to fully appreciate the movie, it is essential to think and listen. Think back to Fincher's SEVEN where the clues to the murders are painstakingly obscure and vague. We come to the same realizations as they do but Fincher rarely explains the thought process. We have to mentally participate and figure things out. Same with INSOMNIA (but definitely not to the extent of MEMENTO's head-wracking puzzles!). INSOMNIA begins with beautiful shots of Alaska's natural landscapes and the plane carrying the 2 detectives to the crime. Al Pacino plays a hardened detective who believes that the "end justifies the mean." We are never told what kind of person he is but we learn enough (through the words of his partner and his own subsequent actions) to temporarily categorize him under "good" cop. Unfortunately for him, he is ordered by his superior to go to Alaska to help out with the murder of a 17 year old girl not because of his talents but to avoid an investigation into his department - Robbery/homicide. Again, we are never told anything directly, but through his own words, we deduce that he is a honest cop and that he has nothing to worry about in this scandal. But his partner does; he reveals to Pacino's character (sorry but I cannot remember the names) that he needs to cut a deal with I.A. But this would mean that Pacino's reputation will be tainted by association and all his older cases will be reopened. Pacino is very much against the deal because he has reasons to fear investigation into his closed homicide cases. (We learn why later.) Meanwhile, the local cops and the two L.A. detectives continue the search for the murderer. In the process, Pacino kills his partner (supposedly by accident but I believe that Nolan makes this very vague deliberately - each time the shot is replayed, Pacino's actions look more and more confused. Question: did Pacino kill his partner because of the potential threat to his closed cases or was it really an accident? To the end, my question is never confirmed directly; I can only make assumptions based on what Nolan chooses to reveal.) In his turmoil, Pacino points the blame at the killer. Coupled with that tragedy, the killer (played by Willaims) has witnessed the shooting and is now going to blackmail Pacino to vindicate himself. And both of their lives unravel from there. In the process of trying to "legally" arrest Williams, Pacino runs through many problems as Williams toys with Pacino. He claims that the murder was accidental but Pacino is not having any of that. And he realizes that in order to get him, he needs to break the law himself. There's a really good scene where Pacino is in danger of being discovered by the local cops - apparently, Williams found the .38 gun and planted it in the girl's boyfriend's house. The other thread to this is Swank's role as the new and very naive local detective. Given the task of writing up Pacino's partner's death, she finds holes in Pacino's own testimony and comes to the realization that he was the shooter. Swank does an excellent job in portraying an eager, righteous and idealistic cop who is hardened and disappointed by her final discovery of Pacino, her idol. She is the perfect counterpoint to Pacino's character. She is a younger version of Pacino - hopefully, the point is that she will not turn out like her idol. I really don't want to give the ending away but the interplay between Williams and Pacino is really good. Really really good. Nolan doesn't fall into the trap of recreating cliched characters. The killer isn't evil; he is human but in taking a life, he is driven to deny it by blackmail and "cleaning" up his trail. As for Pacino, he is both hero and killer - two contradictions dwell within him and it is driving him closer to losing his control. Oh...did I mention that Alaska (for this movie at least) is completely filled with daylight - that is, the sun never sets and Pacino spends 6 days without sleeping. This definitely adds to his own conflict. The main reason why I am so supportive of this movie lies in the superior acting and interaction between Pacino, Williams, and Swank as well as the secondary characters. Everything is there - plot, cinematography, and acting. I have never seen the original version (I believe it was Norwegian?) but this is good enough for me. I know that the ending has been criticized by people but I really thought that it was the most emotional and heartbreaking part of the movie. If you are into fast-paced movies with a lot of action and concepts that are easily fed, then I suggest that you avoid this movie. Otherwise, give INSOMNIA a chance - there are a few more things that I didn't mention that are worth discovering.
Rating:
Summary: Finally in 2002 - a GOOD movie!
Review: I saw the previews to Insomnia earlier this year, and I howled. Al Pacino looked absolutely terrible, and his behavior appeared to be worse than that. Robin Williams as a killer? Give me a break! If Mrs. Doubtfire was a stretch, this was just bizarre! The only way I was going to see Insomnia was to laugh even harder than I had at the trailer. And then the reviews started coming in, and those who watch movies for a living really liked this film. Now I had to go see it just to see who was right. The reviewers were right, I was wrong, and someone should burn the trailer footage. I didn't see Momento, and I didn't see the original Insomnia; I have nothing with which to compare this version of Insomnia. I am an Al Pacino fan, and I have to say that I think his performance in this movie is everything I've come to expect from him. I also thought Robin Williams pulled off the killer persona much better than I ever would have believed he could. Hillary Swank was also very good as the newbie cop in awe of Pacino's celebrity as a cop. I also like mysteries, and I enjoy police procedurals. I enjoy reading or watching explanations about how evidence is gathered and conclusions based on that information are made. I thought the scene in the morgue with Pacino's examination of the victim's body was interesting and well done. Maybe none of it was exactly brilliant police work, but it formed the basis for understanding Pacino's thought processes and established him as a well seasoned cop who'd seen plenty of such cases to know where to start looking for clues. It also began the process by which Swank's newbie cop character would begin to learn that thought process and ultimately one-up Pacino with it. There were so many little things about this movie I enjoyed, not the least of which was the whole insomnia angle and how it affects a person's perceptions and reason. The scene of Pacino and Williams running across the logs was well done and scary. The explanation from the innkeeper about who lives in Alaska and why they choose to be there. The victim's best-friend and her boyfriend told volumes about her without her even acting in scenes with those people. The places in which the main characters lived, and the objects with which they surrounded themselves. But what captured me more than that was the breath taking scenery of Alaska. That alone was worth the price of the ticket. If you want to see desolation at its most beautiful, majestic finest, see Insomnia. It may be that this movie doesn't stand up well against a previous film of Nolan's or that it doesn't deliver as well as the original version. All I know is that for many reasons, I was satisfied with it and entertained by it. Now, I'm going to send a complaint to whoever is in charge of the trailer for Insomnia and suggest he/she be fired.
Rating:
Summary: We need more films like this
Review: In Christopher Nolan's first film Memento, we have a main character that can't remember. In this film we have a character that can't sleep.
While I personally think Memento was a superior film, Insomnia will probably be a more popular movie since it has better known actors and a plot that is much easier to follow. This is not to say the characters are shallow in any way. In fact, the characters were very complex. It was quite interesting that we have in Insomnia a good guy who lies all the time and a bad guy who always tells the truth.
As with Memento, a major theme here is the idea of motivation and the obscurity of what we want to be true and the actual truth. And, as in Memento, the main characters reach a point of no return where they spin off into an uncontrollable nightmare. Robin William's did an excellent job and surprisingly Al Pacino is actually a pretty good actor when he's not yelling.
To Christopher Nolan's credit, he does not sacrifice the quality of his films in order to be popular and yet nor is he unnecessarily pretentious in any way. Insomnia is a very good movie and will be enjoyable to everyone who isn't allergic to thinking. As an added bonus, the movie is visually fantastic.
I truly look forward to seeing more from this director.
Rating:
Summary: Talent Is Not Always Enough
Review: If proven performers exclusively determined the quality of a movie, "Insomnia", would be a five star film. Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hillary Swank all have collected Oscars for previous work. The problem is the players can be the finest in the business, but the story must be exceptional as well. Al Pacino portraying a veteran detective is not ground breaking. He is a wonderful actor to watch and he is very good in this film, but he has played this role before. Hillary Swank has not been around long enough to know if she will be a top actress, and movies like this will not get her there. Her character for the better part of the movie is reduced to her borderline gushing/hero worship of Pacino's character whose career she can quote and who was the topic of her thesis. The most interesting character is portrayed by Robin Williams acting against type as a seriously damaged killer. Unfortunately we don't get to see Williams until an hour has passed and the film is half way to completion. Even his character is not terribly unique, the fact that he plays the role is what makes it interesting, Patch Adams becomes seriously unhinged. The plot does attempt to offer a neat piece of twisted logic. But the reality is it just does not work. Alaska is beautifully filmed and appears to be as close to a perfect place to be until the plane sets down, or the helicopter shots of a car winding through fantastic landscapes lands. Then we see the Alaska that is described by one player as a place you were either born in, or a place you went to run away from something else. The film is one of the better, "serious", commercial offerings to date this year, but then there have not been that many to choose from. This film also suffers from a trailer that depicted one film to get your interest and not the slow paced movie you eventually paid to see. Trailers seem to have less and less to do with the movies they represent. The trailer either contains all that is of interest in the film, or it misleads with scenes that are not in the film, or suggests an excitement that is lacking.
Rating: 
Summary: I haven't slept so well since... oh wait, in the theater.
Review: This film is a remake of a 1997 foreign film. I never watched the original, so I had nothing to compare it to. However, Christopher Nolan (of Memento-fame) directed this, and so I decided to check it out. I honestly don't know what this film got good reviews for. (It was surprising to me that George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh even produced it.) I found it depressing and slow. I've given up on Al Pacino a long time ago. He looks old and tired. His gruff voice and deepset eyes might've worked in the GodFather, but that was 20 years ago. Hillary Swank plays the role of a rookie detective who's a great fan of Pacino's characater. Along the way, she discovers he's not exactly what she thought he was. In NightMute, Alaska where the sun never sets, Pacino is out looking for the killer of a teenage girl. An accident, however, complicates his life and leads to his insomnia as well as a double-dealing with a certain writer (Robin Williams). I was highly disappointed and bored. For those of you suffering from insomnia, this might just be the cure you've been looking for. LEAP rating (each out of 5):
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L (Language) - 3.5 (zzzz....)
E (Erotica) - 0 (n/a)
A (Action) - 2 (if you consider two gunshots in a foggy area, running across some logs, and a pointless shootout at the end action)
P (Plot) - 3 (since the main point of the story is not who the killer is, plot degenerates pretty quickly)
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