Part of the problem is that it does lack a bit of Nolan's personal touch because he's working within the constraints of the film being a remake. It's crazy to think that Insomnia seems to be the forgotten Nolan film today. Related: Oppenheimer Review: Christopher Nolan's Uncompromising Vision of an Exceptional Man As a detective, Dormer is our hero but his complexities and willingness to hide facts make the audience question if he's just as bad as the criminal he's pursuing. The relationship creates an intriguing union in which the hero and villain work together, trying to hide their crimes. In fact, he thinks Dormer and himself have this in common because of the accidental shooting that he witnessed involving Dormer. Perhaps the most disturbing thing about Finch is that you almost believe him when he explains to Dormer that the murder in question may have been an accident. Williams isn't playing a traditionally sadistic serial killer. Pacino's almost combustible personality is wonderfully juxtaposed to Williams' quiet, but chilling, portrayal of Finch. Pacino and Williams clearly have two very different acting styles, but Nolan wisely let these two masters just work and figure out what would benefit them both in a scene. The real tension comes from how the characters maneuver complicated situations, and this is especially true of Dormer and Finch. There is no need for big car chases or massive set pieces. Some would probably call this a slow burn now, but it works for the story. The director makes full use of his locations in Alaska and British Columbia, that is equal parts beautiful but also serve as the backdrop for Dormer's mental downfall as his insomnia progresses.Ĭonsidering how big Nolan's films would get after this, it's refreshing to enjoy Insomnia's restraint. There are some very gorgeous set pieces in the film, including the visually astonishing glacier-to-forest opening plane flight that starts the movie. A lot of his stylistic tricks are on display here, and you can tell that he would be able to expand on his scope if given a little more money to play with, as was the case for the films that he did post- Insomnia. When you watch the film, you really are witnessing Nolan come into himself as a director. Swank had won her first Oscar for 1999's Boys Don't Cry, and it was fun to watch her get to play with the big leagues alongside Pacino and Williams. Rounding out the Oscar-winning trio is Hilary Swank as the idealistic Ellie Burr, a young local detective who is a fan of Dormer's investigative work. Williams was into some dark things in 2002 because he was also featured in One Hour Photo later that year, another role that showcased Williams had a range that knew no bounds. Pacino is doing his signature best as Dormer, while Robin Williams represented a bit of upside-down casting as Walter Finch, a darker role for an actor known mostly for making us laugh. The director had the benefit of a great cast led by three Academy Award winners. It's a very important film for Nolan because it acts as a bridge between the attention-grabbing independent work that made him a director to watch and the blockbuster work that would ultimately begin to define his career. It's a mid-budget R-rated thriller that features slow-boil tension over action. Insomnia is the kind of movie that Hollywood doesn't really make anymore. Related: Oppenheimer's Rotten Tomatoes Score Blows Away The Dark Knight as Christopher Nolan's Best Rated Movie Complicating things for Dormer, he's plagued by insomnia over his guilt over killing Eckhart, which is exacerbated by the perpetual daylight of Alaska. In the midst of trying to lure out the murderer of the teenage girl at the center of their investigation, the killer witnesses the accidental shooting of Eckhart committed by Dormer, and soon it's a game of cat and mouse as they both create a plan for both parties to avoid prosecution.
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