Review of Insomnia (2002) by Danny R — 01 Aug 2015

Christopher Nolan's gripping, moody thriller about an investigation in a small town in Alaska, a renown LAPD detective named Wil Dormer, brilliantly played by Al Pacino, travels to the land of the midnight sun with his partner well played by Martin Donovan, to help solve a grisly murder and find the killer of the 17-year-old female victim.

Partnered with a rookie Alaskan police officer, played wonderfully by Hilary Swank, he is drawn too and suspects a local writer, played impressively by the late great Robin Williams, whose work was found near the body.

Meanwhile, Dormer cannot sleep, thanks to perpetual daylight and guilt over his partner's death. Pacino really gets under the skin of his obsessed, psychologically tormented character, who is battling his own inner demons.

But its Robin Williams, who is a revelation here, as the cool, calculated psychotic writer, especially when he brings to play his deadly game of cat and mouse with Pacino's character. Masterful direction by Christopher Nolan, with gorgeous cinematography by Wally Pfister.

This is a brilliant and maddening remake of the superb 1997 Norwegian film, which is a intense and intelligent contribution to the cinematic thriller genre. Highly Recommended.