Review of Insomnia (2002) by Phil M — 24 Jan 2017

Christopher Nolan is usually a fair bet for me, because I feel like he's only had one true failure when directing. This one was another success for me. The story is set up quickly, and things get rolling in no time. I loved the turn that the plot takes that keeps the movie from being a straight murder mystery or police procedural. It kept me guessing how far Pacino's character would go, and how far William's would push him.

It took a bit for me to get over Pacino's attempt at an accent which kept sliding in and out, but I found his character fascinating. His interactions with Hilary Swank were particularly strong, and I loved that final scene between them. Insomnia asks some interesting moral questions, and has you questioning if the ends justify the means. It also has a unique protagonist who rides the line between being sympathetic and being despicable.

Insomnia isn't on par with Nolan's best work, but it is better than many movies in the same genre. I struggled a little with some of the conveniences of the plot. There were moments where I kept asking myself, "would that even happen?" Also there are moments where the local investigators seemed slow on the uptake despite how strange Pacino is behaving. This is the kind of movie I'll be anxious to watch again because I think there are some layers to the film (including some interesting flashes of moments that aren't revealed until the end that would have new meaning the second time through.).