Insomnia (2002) Review

 

Insomnia (2002)

Insomnia follows a police detective from LA who is thrust into a murder investigation in Alaska that takes a turn and leaves him in a tough spot between the police and the killer.

Christopher Nolan simply does not miss! Going into this, I had no clue he directed it, but it had his distinct style written all over it. It’s expertly done, having a complex story, that unfolds hints we get throughout the film which don’t foreshadow the end, but give backstory for the motivations of Detective Will Dormer. Having his partner going to take a deal with internal affairs, right before Will accidentally kills him, in front of the murderer they are trying to catch is a premature climax of the film that sets the tension and the stage for the unlikely pair of Will and Finch, the killer, to work together in keeping each others secrets. It’s astounding how well thought out the story is. Also, being set in Homer, Alaska (A place I’ve been) and me having lived in Alaska, they nailed all of it and made the setting come to life with the story.

As I’ve said in the past, normally not big on Pacino, but he is wonderfully tormented in this, really being believable as an excellent cop with shady morals. And Robin Williams as his foil in this cat and mouse game is just phenomenal, being a terrifying figure of harmless stature, but devious with the intent of a sociopath, really breaking his typecast.

Insomnia, while not as complex as other works by Nolan, is still a thrilling ride with many twists and turns, essentially showing how your past will always catch up with you, however indirectly. It’s how you can keep your morals in times of immortality that will define you and your actions in the end; something Will impresses on Ellie throughout, played by a steadfast Hillary Swank.

An excellent remake of the 1997 Norwegian film of the same name, that ups the stakes and sets the stage for an intricate game where good and bad aren’t so clear cut when their mistakes are so similar in nature.

9.3/10