The film Insomnia adds a few inventive notes to what could have been a typical and predictable drama picture.

Rating: Null/10 (22 March 2003)

The film "Insomnia" adds a few inventive notes to what could have been a typical and predictable drama picture. Constant daylight and chilling temperatures add an interesting backdrop to director Christopher Nolan's take on Nikolaj Frobenius' story of lies and deception in the suspense-filled, dark drama Insomnia.
Will Dormer (played by veteran actor Al Pacino) and Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan II) are Los Angeles detectives sent to the remote town of (aptly named) Nightmute, Alaska to help the local police department solve the recent murder of a young teenage girl. The film while having some interesting plot twists plays on the moral justification theme of `once you allow yourself to justify a lie or a wrong, no matter how right it seems at the time, you can easily lose your moral compass'.
Nolan's wisdom in the selection of cinematographer Wally Pfister is evident. Pfister exhibits a Hitchcock-type style of foreboding in his selection of shots from the very beginning of the film. The opening scene consists of an aerial shot in which a plane flies over what appears to be uncharted expansions of ice and water. The pilot's voyage into the uncertain physical terrain provides a vivid metaphor for the characters' rapidly changing moral compasses.
Robin Williams ventures from his normal comedic roles and gives a very believable portrayal of the creepy and morally deranged writer Walter Finch. So believable is his character interpretation that you may feel for his self-justification. Al Pacino, who has often played the edgy detective (in films like Sea of Love and Heat), gives an acceptable depiction of a veteran detective struggling with his conscience. Pacino exhibits his usual excellent style of acting and does not have to stretch much for this role.

Director Christopher Nolan creates the perfect tension between local detective Ellie Burr played by actress Hilary Swank and Al Pacino as she conducts a separate investigation of a shooting incident. This subplot further emphasizes the impact of dynamic moral compasses, as Swank wrestles with the effects of internal (as well as the more obvious external) conflicts upon her conscience.
I enjoyed the movie "Insomnia" and recommend seeing this movie. Director Christopher Nolan's use of dialog, plot and cinematography to emphasis moral justification at key points in the film shows that this director is bound for greatness.