Member review

Following on from the mind-bending "Memento" and preceding the phenomenal "Batman Begins", I had high hopes for “Insomnia.” Christopher Nolan's third film has all the hallmarks of his other endeavours, an introspective study of the human mind, stark cinematography and a protagonist tormented by the past. So how did this tale of guilt and madness set against the backdrop of the endless Alaskan sunlight fare?

"Insomnia" underlines the paradox of comparison in a filmography. It's a solid thriller with some interesting ideas and a few terrific performances, but it didn't knock my socks off. It did everything it set out to do, I was engaged in the character's journeys and compelled by the twisted narrative, but "Insomnia" lacked that x-factor that make Nolan's other films so noteworthy. If I had to rank it with the rest of his movies, I'd have to put "Insomnia" at the bottom of the list slightly below last year's "Tenet" (I haven't seen "Following" and "Interstellar" yet). Although this film had a comprehensible story and fleshed-out characters (neither of which can be said for "Tenet"), I ultimately preferred that film due to its bonkers action set-pieces and more memorable moments. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't things to appreciate here.

It goes without saying the performances in "Insomnia" are fantastic. Al Pacino is suitably frazzled and visibly exhausted, his descent into sleep-deprived mania was believable and especially draining to watch. The late great Robin Williams proves once again why he's one of the most talented actors of the last 50 years. Despite how inherently likeable he is in most of his other movies, here, Williams is incredibly creepy to watch. He plays every moment pitch-perfectly, his mask of innocence is almost convincing and the moments when his true self is on display are truly unnerving. Whilst this may not be one of Williams' most fondly remembered roles, it's certainly one of his most striking. Hilary Swank was also fantastic, she may play the most grounded and honest character, but she's never overshadowed by her heavy-weight co-stars.

As usual for a Christopher Nolan movie, all the production elements of "Insomnia" are brilliant. The cinematography is haunting and immersive; every scene is wrapped in the cool blues and bright whites that Nolan's long-time director of photography Wally Pfister brings to the table. The score isn't super memorable, but it's effective nevertheless. The costumes and sets help create the eerie, dank atmosphere of the isolated town in perpetual daylight.

The filmmakers did a superb job at conveying the drowsiness of the lead character. The fractured editing, intense close-ups and dream-like visuals all contribute to create a disorientating, draining experience.

And that's really all I have to say about "Insomnia"; it's a pretty good movie. There weren't any major plot twists (aside from one recurring visual that originated from an unexpected place), it didn't construct a complex chronological puzzle like "Memento", "The Prestige" or "Dunkirk" and the final scene was fairly predictable. But I'd still recommend it for its captivating cast and great premise. It's not an essential chapter in Christopher Nolan's career, but it's a watchable one.