MOVIE - INSOMNIA - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$$ (OUT OF 10)
The following list should give you a good idea how good this psychological thriller is:
Exe. Producer - George Clooney; Director - Chris Nolan; Academy Award Winners - Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank.
George Clooney, since leaving "ER" behind, has been the driving force behind some of the most interesting productions to come out of Hollywood in the last several years. Perfect Storm, Ocean's Eleven (getting all the stars together) and the "LIVE" T.V. remake of Fail Safe to name just a few. He takes acting and drama seriously and obviously believes audiences want more than formulaic blockbusters and their sequels. Insomnia is a deep, intelligent, well written and acted movie.
Chris Nolan, directed one of my favorite recent movies, Momento. He does an excellent job here building the intensity of the dilemna that drives the story. The only criticism I have is that movie could have been 10 to 15 minutes shorter. Alot of the wasted time is a result of scenes being extended by overemphasising the stark and beautiful Alaskan geography. Admittedly this is a temptation hard to resist considering the backdrop he has to work with.
What can I say about Al Pacino, one of the greatest actor's of his generation, except that its a shame that Hollywood doesn't produce more movies requiring his talents. Talent and the number of starring roles you have in a given year are not synonymous.
Hilary Swank gives us another excellent performance. This young actress is as believeable in her role as an eager rookie detective as Sandra Bullock was unbelievable in the forgettable Murder by Numbers.
Robin Williams is an excellent villian. His character is far from the wild and crazy guy we know. Or is it?
Without giving you the details, Insomnia is all about the thin line that separates the gifted comedian from the psycho, the good cop from the bad and the thin blue line that differentiates the thief from the thief catcher.
The process of the character's path up to and across the line is richly and intensely developed. As David Ansen pointed out, in his Star Wars review, the essential transition of Anakin into Darth Vader was bereft of meaningful emotion and depth. Not here, we clearly see the path to damnation. And unlike Unfaithful, crossing the line has a price.
Great acting, great writing, great direction. Opening on thousands of less screens than the mediorce summer blockbusters. If you see just one movie, this summer, see Insomnia.
Alternate review link:
http://www.rollingstone.com/mv_reviews/review.asp?mid=2043725
MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2002 LIST
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2003
David Schwartz.
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