Chris Nolan is definitely the great `new' director whose career must be followed.

Rating: Null/10 (28 May 2002)

Pacino has been missing for a while, having last been seen in what was a forgettable but entertaining film, `Any Given Sunday'. I am glad to announce that he returns to multiplexes in the somewhat familiar role of detective, having famously played one in `Heat', `Sea of Love' and `Serprico'. Like those films he is fantastic and manages to create yet another original performance that sets it apart. I expected a great deal going into this movie, fueled further by the thought of seeing what Chris Nolan would manage to do with this follow-up to the brilliant `Memento', and the equally impressive film `Following'. This one doesn't play by the same rules his last film did, but it still succeeds in delivering a sharp new story told in a solid cinematic fashion.
Will Dormer (Pacino), along with his partner, is sent to a small town in Alaska to investigate the brutal murder of a local teenage girl. Almost as quickly as he shows progress in the case things begin to go sour for Dormer when he accidentally shoots his partner while chasing a suspect through a foggy environment. He pins the death on the suspect they were chasing only to find him self tangled in a complicated web of blackmail. This is only just scratching the surface of the plot so hopefully you have a good indication of just how intense this story becomes. in the character driven sense as opposed to the sudden loud soundtrack music most films use to trick you.
Chris Nolan is definitely the great `new' director whose career must be followed. I look forward to how he progresses as a filmmaker and what his future choices will be. His story-telling has been successful up to now with his clever use of shifting narratives, but proves with this film that he can tell a `straight' story and still maintain our attention throughout the whole movie. Having said that, if you were to ask me which of his films I truly love the most I would have to say his first feature `Following'. What does it for me with that movie is how inspiring it is to watch something so well made in every sense with such a small budget, proving that a talented person can create something amazing out of just about anything with anything.
As I mentioned earlier, Pacino delivers! He's always been a great actor and for all I can remember has never faltered in a role. It's truly impressive that he can bring something new and fresh to playing yet another detective, and at the same time I like to think that he brings a part of himself into the role, almost as though we are watching his past detectives age on screen. Well it's a complicated feeling, so it's better I just say I'm impressed and move on. Robin Williams character is one that I prefer not to say too much about because so many surprises are linked to him, so go ahead and think what you will. What I will say about Williams is that he is stretching, playing the opposite of all his roles, quiet and calm and overall low-key. As for that other Oscar-Winning actor, Hilary Swank, she plays her role just right, using her eyes and unexaggerated expressions to convey her thoughts. She plays the pushover cop who spends her time doing little useless things, but dreams of catching the big fish.
The Alaskan setting gives this pot-boiler a clean cut difference from most thrillers that depend on the mood and disguise that the dark night brings to the story. Here instead everything is in full light all the time, which surely enough aids the story, at most times causing me to second guess myself thinking that from they are telling me or showing me I must still be missing something. Because of that feeling I identify with the main characters and this plot, with my uncertainty only making this viewing better.
My one disappointment with this film had to be it's ending, which I will not spoil for you, but will say that it made me sigh when I realized what was going to happen in the last 10 minutes. I accept it for being part of the film, but I still wish it would have offered something different instead. Don't get me wrong the ending does suit the story and it does offer some nice surprise, but overall could have been better. I just loved so much else in this movie that it would be ridiculous not to give it my highest recommendation. I love detective movies, and I love them even more when they're done right. So though I don't love this film more than `Seven', it is still well worth my while to see it again, knowing that even that won't be my last viewing.
This was a great night at the movies for me. A detective story, great actors, great directors, great script, and an interesting new setting, all the elements I needed to really dig `Insomnia' are right where they should be. Go see what I'm blabbing about for your self.