Christopher Nolan Goes Chronological, and Almost Gets Another Neo-Classic

Rating: 7/10 (1 June 2002)

Christopher Nolan's previous two films, "Following" and the buzz-starter "Memento", have earned him quite the attention. It seems he's been dubbed one of those rare directors who can put out mainstream films with an artsy/"underground" feel and appeal, all after only two movies. His latest, a remake of the 1997 foreign thriller "Insomnia", features no lasting gimmick, which, interestingly, detracts from the film, but instead features excellent performances and setting/cinematography to solidify it.
The best thing about the film is the great acting performances from the big-name leads. Robin Williams shows he can be as convincing a disturbing villain as a beloved family hero. Al Pacino sells the sleepless induced descent to madness of his character brilliantly, but otherwise is just his normal self (which is still good, but it's difficult to see him as the "beloved good cop" the script makes his character out to be). Hilary Swank delivers another top performance with her portrayal of too perky cop Ellie, bored with the small-time crimes only to discover on an exciting case that her idol Al Pacino might not be the man she thought him to be. The three characters have great chemistry amongst each other, ironically much more chemistry than Pacino with his character's partner Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan).
On that rare occasion when eyes are off the main characters' dynamics, a good look reveals the beautiful cinematography. The film was shot in Alaska and British Columbia, and the landscapes have a certain lush yet desolate feel that can't be found anywhere else. It's also interesting because even in a setting with the sun out 24/7, Nolan finds a way to give pivotal scenes an apparent darkness reflecting the tone of the picture. The never-ending sunlight also adds an eerie quality to scenes with Pacino walking around the town late at night. With no other individuals around, but bright sunlight, it seems as though the world has ended (which, in a small town like that in the movie, when a high-profile murder occurs, it probably has).
With excellent performances and cinematography, the only thing that slightly drags down "Insomnia" is its lack of a gimmick. "Memento" was deemed revolutionary because it was cut backwards from end to beginning, which made the audience identify with its confused main character (once you knew what was going on, the movie was simply not as great as it was when you were as perplexed as its lead). "Following" earned similar interest for another non-chronological editing gimmick. Although parts of "Insomnia" do employ visual and audio distortion, these parts are few and far between. While there's nothing wrong with the film, the lack of an expected "cutting-edge" (no pun intended) gimmick throughout makes the film ever-so-slightly less interesting, especially as a remake. It's still a very solid film that's worth watching, but it only has one real nail-biting moment and no real unexpected twists. It's undoubtedly one of the best films of 2002, but it can't compare to other classic thrillers or even Nolan's own track record.