Tense Thriller with Wonderful Performances

Rating: Null/10 (29 February 2008)

Insomnia (2002)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
A L.A. detective (Al Pacino) heads to Alaska to help a friend's police department investigate the strange murder of a teenage girl. The detective has drama going on back in L.A. but he finds himself in even more as insomnia sets in as he tries to crack this case. His job gets a bit more complicated when the killer (Robin Williams) comes to him for help.
Christopher Nolan's INSOMNIA is a remake of an earlier film but this one here takes on its own identity and throw in three excellent performances and you've got everything you could possibly want out of a thriller. The film isn't your typical cat-and-mouse thriller because this here actually has a brain that has its characters constantly thinking and reaction to what's going on.
The film works perfectly as a thriller because even though you know who the killer is it doesn't take away from the entertainment. The screenplay gives the detective and the killer so much development that you really get to know both of them, get to know their flaws and you really get inside their minds. This is a thriller without the mystery of finding out who the killer is and Nolan perfectly handles this and manages to build up suspense through the character's developments.
Of course, when you've got such great performances it really helps. Pacino turns in one of his greatest performances in years as the detective who finds himself under an incredibly suspenseful situation while at the same time not fully functioning due to his new insomnia. I really thought Pacino was fabulous and especially as the film wears on and his character becomes more delusional. Williams is so calm, cool and collection that you can't help but find yourself liking him yet you have to remind yourself that he's a killer. The coldness that Williams brings shows what a terrific dramatic actor he was. Hilary Swank plays a supporting part and she too is quite good.
INSOMNIA, on a technical level, is quite excellent with a wonderful score and some dazzling cinematography. Nolan perfectly handles the more dramatic actions scenes but also makes the dialogue scenes intense. The film is certainly one of the better thrillers of its time and remains highly entertaining.