Won't Let You Sleep

Rating: 8/10 (2 November 2002)

This strong psychological thriller drama will not let you sleep. It is intelligent, well-acted and well directed. No wonder that this is a re-make of an European film - they do too little good scripts in Hollywood nowadays. The European public is much more connected to literature, and the lack of big apes and aliens encourages script-writers in Europe to focus more on humans.
Acting is superb. Al Pacino is playing a deprived of sleep Columbo, with the emotional depth of a master. Robin Williams decided to break his stereotypes casting of the last years, and the decision seems to be already paying back. I expect more wonderful roles from him soon.
The director Christopher Nolan takes a bet by picking a less revolutionary script than in his previous film 'Memento'. He succeeds and I actually liked 'Insomnia' more than 'Memento' - probably human feelings are easier to understand when run in the normal chronological order. It is hard to believe that he is only at his third film, he always has the self-confidence and sure hand of a master. As the titles of his films are all in the Hitchcock tradition, the comparison to the 'Birds' author is striking, and I really hope that the future will prove it as well-deserved.