Insomnia

Plot

Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.

Release Year: 2002

Rating: 7.2/10 (101,498 voted)

Critic's Score: 78/100

Director:
Christopher Nolan

Stars: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank

Storyline
Sent from the city to investigate the murder of a teenage girl in a small Alaska town, a police detective (Pacino) accidentally shoots his own partner while trying to apprehend a suspect. Instead of admitting his guilt, the detective is given an unexpected alibi, but this "solution" only multiplies the emotional complexity and guilt over his partner's death. He's also still got a murder to solve, in addition to the blackmail and framing of an innocent bystander being orchestrated by the man they were chasing. There's also a local detective (Swank) who is conducting her own personal investigation… of his partner's death. Will it all come crashing down on him?

Writers: Hillary Seitz, Nikolaj Frobenius

Cast:

Al Pacino
–

Will Dormer

Robin Williams
–

Walter Finch

Hilary Swank
–

Ellie Burr

Oliver 'Ole' Zemen
–

Pilot

Martin Donovan
–

Hap Eckhart

Paul Dooley
–

Chief Nyback

Nicky Katt
–

Fred Duggar

Larry Holden
–

Farrell

Jay Brazeau
–

Francis

Lorne Cardinal
–

Rich

James Hutson
–

Officer #1

Andrew Campbell
–

Officer #2

Paula Shaw
–

Coroner

Crystal Lowe
–

Kay Connell

Tasha Simms
–

Mrs. Connell

Taglines:
Days never end. Nightmares are real. No one is innocent.

Details

Official Website:
Warner Bros. [United States] |
e-Pipoca [Brazil] (Portuguese) |

Release Date: 24 May 2002

Filming Locations: Alaska, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $46,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $26,068,419
(USA)
(27 May 2002)
(2610 Screens)

Gross: $113,714,830
(Worldwide)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Harrison Ford was considered for the role of Will Dormer (Al Pacino).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes:
Obvious stunt double with a wig as Dormer is chasing Finch immediately prior to the log-chase sequence.

Quotes:

Finch:
You and I share a secret. We know how easy it is to kill someone. That ultimate taboo. It doesn't exist outside our own minds.

User Review

Nolan can now be considered one of the best!

Rating: 8/10

INSOMNIA is not only the third film of acclaimed director Christopher Nolan
(his first two were FOLLOWINGS and MEMENTO), but also a film that is able to
intertwine the acting talents of three Academy Award winners. Al Pacino
plays a celebrated cop who is asked to work on the case of a murdered girl
in Alaska. Hilary Swank plays the local law enforcement who has her eyes on
making a big case. Robin Williams plays a troubled Alaskan writer. Without
giving anything away, INSOMNIA is definitely worth it. Some may see it, and
be disappointed. One way to steer away from this failure is think of
INSOMNIA as a psychological thriller rather than a "Shoot 'em up" thriller.
INSOMNIA is story about loyalty and human emotion. Don't get me wrong, the
movie is thrill-packed, but let's just say–You don't need blood and gore to
make the audience members be on the edge of their seats (which I was).
INSOMNIA hits all of its points including acting, directing, screenwriting,
and cinematography. It's a first class thriller with great characters. On
a side note…Pacino is worthy of an Oscar for his performance, Williams is
equally excellent, and Swank also deserves recognition for complete scope of
acting. A job well done by these three actors, and especially the man
behind the curtain, Christopher Nolan!