Review of Insomnia (2002) by Barry N — 16 Apr 2011
What do people do when they can't sleep? Most people get out a book and start reading. Some people flip on the television and wait to fall asleep. Some people go raid the fridge. Some people go out for a walk. Whatever how they deal with it, at one point you will experience insomnia. This clever psychological thriller tries to delve into the human conscious, and does somewhat succeed.
The film does a great job telling the story. The pacing is right on, and the story is so original and well developed I was guessing throughout the film how it was going to end. The acting is very good here, especially Robin Williams who convinces us that he is a smart psychopathic killer, deceiving himself into believing his own lies.
Some scenes where Al Pacino is lying in bed is the best. We feel the guilt of his crime along with him, as we see flashbacks and we feel his inner pain as he tries to find out what is the right thing to do?
While I'm on that topic, now is probably the time to explain a few of the film's faults. The biggest one is that Al Pacino's character isn't particularly likable. Sure the murder was an accident, but he is willing to let someone else take the fall for the crime and doesn't even bat an eye about it. It probably would've been better to show some hesitation, because he becomes unlikable, and at that point, you find it hard to root for anybody except maybe Hilary Swank's character.
I also was a little disappointed that none of the characters, except Al Pacino, are very well developed. The characters are interesting to be sure, but they're not very memorable.
Still the film is cleverly made and well written and does a good job of exploring the inner turmoil of one man. With great cinematography, excellent acting, and a deep message that is handled in a realistic and emotionally satisfying way you really can't go wrong with this film. In fact, I think I could even go so far as to say, "If Hitchcock were still alive today, he could've easily made this film.".
This review of Insomnia (2002) was written by Barry N on 16 Apr 2011.
Insomnia has generally received very positive reviews.
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