Another Nolan piece of mastery that the mediocre will pass off as mediocre.

Rating: 9/10 (12 June 2002)

For those of you unable to uncover the depth in a film you will think this film is nothing more than a typical twisted murder mystery. Nice try because it is everything but normal popcorn fare. This is not a normal good cop/bad cop scenerio like many of us without the trained or patient eye will believe. The film is full of quick flashback imagery that works to lead you up to one detail in the past that may clue you in to why Will( Al Pacino) is in the sticky situation he is in back in L.A. The remainder of the storyline up to the very end serves as a sort of ambiguity letting the audience decide if his intentions are good or bad. Walter(Robin Williams) is the trigger character as the sharp murderer. This is the most honest work I have ever seen Robin Williams pull off as he plays the psycho that seemingly leads Will farther down the wrong path. Hillary Swank plays Ellie, the young eager cop anxious on her first real murder case. If any character lacked the slightest bit of roundness it was this one, yet she ends up playing a pivotal piece of the puzzle.
The editing in this film is beyond amazing...perhaps the best I have seen in recent years. The flashbacks mixed with the effects of Will's insomnia give the audience Will's mood from the beginning to the end. As usual, Chris Nolan's attention to detail is unbelievable. The only flaws of this film occur in the characterization. Will( Al Pacino) seems to flow in and out of his accent. Otherwise, this film is one perfect work.