Coty Geek
We all know Christopher Nolan’s name by now. He’s the man who brought us the hit films Batman Begins, The Prestige, and the Dark Knight. He has become a major player in the filmmaking game, as he has not yet made a bad film. So for today’s DVD Spotlight (where I will be highlighting films that have been out for awhile) I give you his first mainstream film, Insomnia. Nolan showed he was able to carry a compelling psychological thriller with his first feature length film Momento, so Warner Bros. gave him the job of bringing the Norwegian film, also called Insomnia, to American audiences.
Insomnia tells the story of detective Will Dormer, as he investigates the murder of a teenage girl in Alaska during the period of the midnight sun, where it is nonstop sunshine. When he accidentally shoots his partner in a fog while pursuing the killer, he finds himself dealing with Insomnia brought on by both the constant sunshine and the guilt of shooting his partner. To make things worse, the killer (played brilliantly by Robin Williams) is now blackmailing Dormer to get out of being arrested.
this film features some great performances. It’s interesting to watch Pacino’s character completely meltdown as the film progresses, while Williams’ character is someone who melted down a long time ago. You feel a certain amount of sympathy for both characters, though the sinister nature of Williams’ character is revealed as the film progresses. Hilary Swank also holds her own co-starring with the two juggernaut actors, as she gives a very lively performance. This is a thriller in the same vein as Alfred Hitchcock, and is a great example of neo-noir. I recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers, mysteries, cop dramas, or Al Pacino films.
You can pick it up on DVD here!
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