Insomnia (2002)

Starring: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank
Director: Christopher Nolan

Rating: R

Studio: Warner Bros.

Review Posted: 6.3.02

Spoilers: Minor

By Angelo.

Up in the vast and frozen terrain of the Arctic North, where the sun lingers above all day long (and all night long as well), man's dark treachery persists despite the seemingly unrelenting light. Christopher Nolan, the famed director of last year’s indie hit "Memento," uses this appropriately unique setting in "Insomnia"; a perturbing yet satisfying suspense drama that turns the typical cop and robber chase into something more knotted and involving.

A gruesome murder has taken place in a small Alaskan town, but the local authorities have not been able to crack the case. Like a blazing warm breeze from the south, a big shot Los Angeles cop, Will Dormer (played by Al Pacino) and his partner are brought in to help out. With the help of a novice investigator Ellie (Hilary Swank), clues are gathered, possible connections made, and soon enough, a suspect is identified. A writer (Robin Williams), who has had an amorous relationship with the victim, is the main suspect, and Dormer is on the hunt. However, the writer proves to be a formidable foe as the two embark on a psychological cat and mouse chase.

"Insomnia" works on several levels. At the most basic of levels, it works well as a cop flick with a murder investigation. Great suspense is built up as the story unfolds, which can be attributed to the adept screenplay. Then there is the veteran-rookie scenario between Pacino and Swank that proves to be amusing and fitting. The final scene between them is nothing short of terrific as we see where the two end up as the result of the paths they’ve chosen. Then there is the psychological thriller that offers twists and turns. Often times, films are so one-sided that you know exactly who’s going for what and why. Here, the screenplay questions the morality of both sides and one begins to wonder who’s really on the right.

Most of the time, the setting doesn’t matter. The story dominates and the location becomes irrelevant. Sometimes, however, as in this case, the locale adds that something extra to the story. In "Insomnia," the Alaskan backdrop accentuates the desolation that Dormer has to undergo. With his troubled past coming back to haunt him, the frontier landscape serves as a place for his self-reflection. Then there is the perpetual light that symbolically exposes the truth despite the efforts to cover them up.

With a cast headlined by Oscar winners, "Insomnia" is graced with the presence of Pacino, Swank and Williams. Pacino lends tremendous realism to the hard-line aggression shown by Dormer, Swank goes beyond cliché and adds depth and smarts to Ellie, and Williams (who I first thought to be a total miscast) proves that he is just as versatile an actor as the impressions in his comedic acts.

"Insomnia" may have been released mid-year, but it will no doubtingly be remembered come end of the year. It may not be a big box-office behemoth, but it more than makes up for it in other ways.

Rating: 4 out of 4

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