Insomnia (2002)

Insomnia (2002)

7/10

Starring

Al Pacino

Robin Williams

Hilary Swank

Maura Tierney

Directed by Christopher Nolan

This was the first Christopher Nolan movie I saw back in the early 2000s. What drew me to it was Robin Williams playing a non-comedic role, which was rare at the time, and my growing admiration for Al Pacino. Insomnia is a remake of a 1997 Norwegian film of the same name, and this psychological detective thriller pulls you into a gripping battle for integrity.

One of the movie's greatest strengths is its cinematography. Shot in Alaska, it makes full use of the breathtaking scenery. Nolan masterfully conveys the challenges faced by the main character, a detective suffering from insomnia. His struggle with his conscience is made worse by Alaska's 24-hour daylight, which I learned about for the first time while watching this movie. Apparently, parts of Alaska experience continuous daylight for about two months each year! As expected, both Pacino and Williams deliver outstanding performances, making the film captivating and highly enjoyable.

The plot centers on the murder of a seventeen-year-old girl. Detective Will Dormer (played by Pacino) is sent from Los Angeles to assist with the investigation. While Will is renowned for solving high-profile cases, his reassignment to Alaska isn’t due to his expertise. Back in LA, he’s under investigation for allegedly planting evidence in his last case, so he’s been sent far away to avoid interference in the inquiry.

Despite this, Will takes on the case and quickly starts piecing things together. He’s accompanied by his longtime partner, Hap, who joins him in setting a trap for the murderer. However, tension between them builds after a conversation about the ongoing investigation back in LA. The trap they set works, but things take a tragic turn, leaving Will in an even more precarious position. This incident could provide Internal Affairs with more ammunition against him, further complicating his situation.

On top of that, Will is still grappling with his guilt over planting evidence, which exacerbates his insomnia. He must juggle solving the murder case while dealing with his personal demons, all under the relentless Alaskan daylight. You will love the way the predicament of Will gets more and more complicated as the movie grows and how the murderer is a nobody who allowed his passion get ahead of him.

Insomnia performed decently at the box office and received plenty of positive reviews from critics. It’s still an engaging film, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend giving it a watch and crossing it off your list.