Movie Description
In a remote Alaskan town called Nightmute, the murder of a teenage girl has shocked the tight-knit community. The Los Angeles Police Department sends two of its cops--both under investigation by Internal Affairs--to try to solve the crime in Christopher Nolan's film based on Erik Skjoldbjærg's 1997 Norwegian film starring Stellan Skarsgård. The experienced, weathered Will Dormer (Al Pacino) has nothing in life except for the force. His younger partner, Hap (Martin Donovan), has a family to support and is willing to turn state's evidence to protect them. Local cop Ellie Burr is excited to work with her hero, Dormer--until she starts uncovering some questionable situations. It isn't long before Dormer finds the murderer--writer Walter Finch, played with subtle nuances by Robin Williams--but Finch knows a secret that could bring Dormer down. Director Nolan, who stunned audiences with 2001's inventive MEMENTO, here crafts an atmospheric psychological thriller that is bathed in whites and grays. The acting is uniformly excellent, especially Pacino's performance as a cop on the edge and Williams as a soft-spoken, low-rent crime novelist. Because it never gets dark in Alaska at this time of year, Dormer (a play off the Spanish word "dormir," which means "to sleep") is unable to fall asleep, light always streaming into his hotel room; watching him slowly unravel is a treat.
| Credits | | Producer: | Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Edward L. McDonnell, Paul Junger Witt | | Cast: | Maura Tierney, Paul Dooley |
| Details | | Edition: | Widescreen | | Sound: | HiFi Sound, Stereo Sound, Surround Sound |
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Snap Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
Single Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Addtional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Christopher Nolan - Director (in order of shooting sequence)
2. Hilary Swank - Star, Dody Dorn - Editor, Nathan Crowley - Production Designer, Wally Pfister - Cinematographer, Hillary Seitz - Screenwriter
Featurettes - 1. DAY FOR NIGHT
2. 180 DEGREES
3. IN THE FOG
4. EYES WIDE OPEN
Interviews
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
Deleted Scene (1)
Text/Galleries:
Photo Gallery
Biographies
Filmographies
Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
Text/Galleries:
Photo Gallery
Biographies
Filmographies
Editorial Reviews
"...Intensely sharp-witted....The anomalous proliferation of scenic beauty gives Mr. Nolan irony to play with, and he uses it spectacularly..."
New York Times - p.E1 - Elvis Mitchell (05/24/2002)
"...[INSOMNIA] has a marvelous sense of place....Al Pacino bares the soul of this agonized tragic figure; it's one of his most memorable performances..."
Movieline - p.36-8 - Stephen Farber (06/01/2002)
"...Thoughtful, gripping and steeped in action....It's taut, tense and terrific..."
Rolling Stone - p.84 - Peter Travers (06/06/2002)
"...Nolan once again displays an unmistakable visual confidence and a feeling for bravura moments..."
Los Angeles Times - p.C1 - Kenneth Turan (05/24/2002)
"...A superior version of an already very good film....[With] spectacular overhead cinematography..."
Box Office - p.86-7 - Annlee Ellingson (07/01/2002)
"...Nolan her proves his assurance in handling a much bigger picture in every respect..."
Sight and Sound - p.63-4 - John Wrathall (09/01/2002)
"...Highly involving....[Nolan's] expanding talent is undeniable..."
Total Film - p.126 - Dan Jolin (10/01/2002)
"...INSOMNIA is a gripping, highly dramatic thriller that more than confirms the distinctive talent of young Brit helmer Christopher Nolan..."
Variety - p.23-6 - Todd McCarthy (05/13/2002)
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