As Strong As The Norwegian Original

Rating: 9/10 (10 March 2013)

Insomnia is a slow, gloomy, glum, dark (inside) movie, but this is the way Nolan intended it to be. The slow pace and sudden outbursts of violence and anger make a fine balance for the well-known story of a small town murder. The stellar ensemble of Al Pacino, Hilary Swank and Robin Williams make this strong film a mere feast for eyes, and the breathtaking nature serves as a cold, but magnificent background for the wild human passions that are on display here. Alaskan views are almost a main character of the movie, adding with their cold detachment to the merciless out weaving of the events. It is incredible to see how people live and work in this ever-sunny polar day spell of time, which makes it terribly hard for Pacino's character to get by. He is suffering and we feel it. This is a cool example of Al's excellent acting and he makes it very naturally and very smoothly. All the main and secondary parts are performed well and the whole film deserves a big cheer, with only one possible minus - it was bit too long.