The storyline is perhaps not startlingly fresh but it puts together familiar elements well. It is not every movie that can examine, or in this case question, the very existence of, the line between good and evil. Insomnia manages it while interspacing enough intrigue and action to keep the pace up.
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 Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, Maura Tierney, Martin Donovan, Nicky Katt
Running time: 118min
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Al Pacino comes to an Alaskan town to track down the murderer of a teenage girl. He and his partner are in a precarious position back home and their problems follow them to the northern reaches. But Pacino faces an even bigger problem when the man he hunts involves him in his crime, and in much more, and he grows ever closer to insanity as lack of sleep and psychological pressure combines.
Although a crime thriller, this is no whodunit. It is closer to a thoughtful, “What would you do?”
Of course it is the grand old men of the business who make it all happen. Pacino has been the worldwise policeman many times and he brings the cynicism you would expect and the dedication you would hope for combined with surprising frailty.
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Hilary Swank in Insomnia |
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Robin Williams (of whom I've never been a great fan) is perfectly cast. He is manipulative and cunning and brilliant and terribly human all at the same time. Few of his peers would be able to do the same. Both their two characters are shown off all the better when compared with the wide-eyed innocent thing that is done nicely by Hilary Swank.
A final nice touch is the way in which the midnight sun becomes a central character
Insomnia is a good piece of work. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but anyone should be able to appreciate it. You'll certainly not take sleep for granted again soon.
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