I have been a huge fan of director Christopher Nolan ever since I saw Batman Begins. The man who breathed new life into The Caped Crusader has easily become one of my favorite filmmakers. He really understands that movie-going audiences are very smart these days, and he continues to challenge them and ask them to think outside the box.
Insomnia is about two Los Angeles detectives who are dispatched to the town of Nightmute, Alaska to investigate the homicide of a teenager. In my opinion, it is Christopher Nolan's most under-appreciated film. It is a very tense thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat as the plot progresses. It really is one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it films that challenges you to pay close attention to every little detail. However, there is a plot-hole in the movie that deserves attention. Shortly after the investigation begins, the detectives arrive at a cabin that they believe is owned by the suspect. However, there is no exposition that explains how they knew to be there. I do not want to discourage people from watching this movie by pointing this out, but it is a very important plot point that should have been explained.
Al Pacino plays Will Dormer, a detective who has reached near-legendary status in the law enforcement ranks. Pacino is very good at playing a cop who is not only possibly nearing the end of his career, but is also somewhat of a mentor to Hilary Swank's character. His performance is also very good for another reason: the town of Nightmute is light outside all day long. It is because of this that Dormer does not get any sleep during the entire investigation. While some people who watch this movie may think that Pacino is "phoning it in" as you might say, I always think that he brilliantly plays someone who has not gotten any sleep while desperately attempting to find the suspect.
Robin Williams brilliantly plays Walter Finch. He is so calm and cool on the outside, yet you can see behind those intelligent eyes that at any moment he is going to snap. I absolutely dig the fact that in a film that is just under two hours, we do not actually see Walter Finch until just over an hour into the film. When you have a film that continues to build tension about the antagonist without actually seeing them, it makes the moment you do see them very gratifying. Also, there is something particular to say about Robin Williams in this movie. The fact that he was in a movie with Al Pacino, and the fact that he upstages Pacino, speaks very highly of his talent as a dramatic actor.
Hilary Swank plays Ellie Burr, a detective who assists Dormer in the investigation. It is very clear from the beginning that she respects and admires Dormer very much. There are even hints that she is starstruck by the fact that he is working with her on the case. Swank masterfully portrays this character as someone who is an intelligent detective, but who also wants to learn as much as she can from Dormer, who is possibly a hero to her.
Christopher Nolan directs this film, and you can clearly see how talented he is, even though he was not as popular in 2002 as he is now. Tonally, this is a very dark film that, combined with stellar cinematography, beautifully captures the feeling of isolation and what it is like to live in Alaska. Dormer is a character who is outside his element in this part of the world, and Nolan knows that. This movie is extremely under-rated, and did not get the attention it deserved when it was in theaters. If you are looking for a real white-knuckle of a movie, I highly recommend you check Insomnia out!
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