Insomnia Movie Review, Cast And Crew, Actress And Actors

Insomnia is a psychological thriller directed by the critically acclaimed Christopher Nolan in 2002, in which powerhouse performances come together by Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank. The movie depicts Will Dormer, played by Al Pacino, as an LAPD veteran detective who travels with his partner, Hap played by Martin Donovan, to investigate the murder of a 17-year-old girl in a small town in Alaska. As they track their main suspect, misanthropic writer Walter Finch played by Robin Williams, Dormer finds himself caught up in a foggy shootout where Finch is able to elude them and Hap is accidentally shot by Dormer in the mayhem.

Feeling extremely guilty over the death of his partner, Dormer tries to remain unruffled while being tossed about by two brewing pressures: Finch's manipulations and his own increasingly deteriorating mental state exacerbated by the town's perpetual daylight. The title, Insomnia, refers not only to a situation in which he is unable to sleep, but metaphorically it points out that this lack of sleep obscures his moral judgment and the validity of the decisions he makes. Subtle blackmail from Finch regarding the accidental death of Hap places Dormer into a taut game of psychological cat and mouse. Ellie Burr, Hilary Swank, is the enthusiastic local detective who starts suspecting the increasingly bizarre behavior of Dormer.

What's great here is the way the midnight sun of Alaska is used to magnificent effect as Dormer falls apart, his mind pitilessly pulled and strained, tensing up with paranoia. Robin Williams turns in a rare tranquil, threatening performance as Finch, while Pacino plays Dormer wearied and unravelling.

Insomnia's 118 minutes is a tightly-wound neo-noir thriller-of-guilt and morality and psychological sleep deprivation-that is a remake of the 1997 Norwegian film with the same name, written by Hillary Seitz with exquisite cinematography from Wally Pfister. It can also be considered one of Nolan's early masterpieces, stirring viewers with a strong and engaging performance coupled with a palpable tension in the air.