Good, but not Great, lacking in suspense

Rating: Null/10 (26 May 2002)

It's generally difficult for me to evaluate a movie after one viewing. The first time you see a movie; you get wrapped up in it emotionally, which clouds your perception. Truly great movies can only earned that title after they have withstood the test of time and the scrutiny of additional viewings. In my humble opinion this is not a great movie but well put together movie that is built from good acting rather than hi tech special effects which is often used as a crutch in today's movies.
While Insomnia is a cut above the hundreds of formulaic Psycho/Cop movies that Hollywood cranks out, I found it lacking something that was hard to put my finger on. Part of the reason I felt let down is because my expectations were set too high based on the rave reviews and my comparison to the director's previous movie Memento (a truly unique masterpiece). This genre has been used so many times that it's kind of hard to come up with something original.
While the acting and the plot are solid the movie lacks suspense. You already know who the bad guy is if you seen the trailers. The murder investigation progresses like clockwork that even the most armature sleuth could solve the case with ease. I'm sure many would defend the movie from this criticism by arguing that the movie is more about the inner battle of the main character than building a suspenseful plot.
I don't think the movie is a waste of money. Anyone who has a passion for Shakespeare will appreciate the psychological battles, subtle foreshadowing, and acting depth that this movie contains. -pete