Sleep=Dreams=Nightmares=Insomnia

I went to see Insomnia after reading a few epinion reviews. I was very much looking forward mostly to the All-Star cast. I've not seen Hillary Swank since Boys Don't Cry and I was missing the days of Robin Williams in dramatic roles. Of course, Al Pacino is always a magnificent actor with incredible talent. I was not at all disappointed with this fabulous trio in a film which was extremely well executed.

The Plot
Will Dormer, played by Al Pacino is exhausted as he begins a murder investigation way up in Nightmute Alaska, the town with the midnight sun burning 24 hours a day at that particular time of year. He and his partner have been sent to this remote location while investigations take place in their 'real' state of California. Dormer is stressed and looks absolutely haggard because his partner, Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan) is prepared to 'cut a deal' with internal affairs which will make serious problems for Dormer. His life-long spotless career could be maimed and he's upset.

Nevertheless, Dormer gives full attention to the task at hand. A highschool girl has been murdered and he helps local-green-and-overzealous Detective Ellie Burr (Hillary Swank) learn the ropes to Murder Investigation 101.

While following a lead, a shoot-out takes place in the thick fog near a river, and Dormer, while retaliating shots, accidently shoots his partner. Hap is killed, but no one saw Dormer do it. Except for one person, the murderer.

Robin Williams plays calm novelist, mentor and teen murderer, Walter Finch. Finch tries to almost befriend Dormer and lure him into an "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" trap. After all, according to Finch, he didn't mean to murder the highschool girl. And, of course, Detective Dormer didn't mean to murder his partner.

What's Detective Dormer to do? Does he plan to go along with a cold blooded murderer and keep silent so as not to ruin his stellar reputation? Of course, he cannot sleep for days and begins to wonder whether he even knows what is reality and what isn't. Does eager-beaver Ellie Burr delve into the investigation until she finds something she can't ignore, even if it tarnishes her hero-mentor Detective Dormer? What are any of them willing to live with for the rest of their lives??

The Bottom Line
Insomnia is the kind of psychological thriller which keeps you on the edge of your seat but MOST of all, gets you inside the head of the characters. You can feel their guilt. I found myself almost as delirious as Dormer, Pacino was after six nights of constant stress and sunshine. I love the type of movie that makes you REALLY empathize with a character. I felt his personal tug-of-war. I felt myself asking, "If it were me, what would I do??" I felt myself exhausted with Dormer, and remembered times when I felt that way. There is a scene where he can barely open his eyes to drive his car, and keeps closing them. I felt he was REALLY this tired, and actually knew exactly what he was feeling.

At the same token, Robin Williams is a cold-hearted killer but a kind killer. He didn't plan to kill the girl, it just happened because she laughed at him and hurt his feelings. He wants a second chance, doesn't everyone deserve a second chance? He seems like such a mellow, swell fella to spend time with. He plays the part to perfection. One thing I kept remembering through the film though, was Detective Dormer's first assessment of the killer (not knowing it was Finch at that time.) After examining the body and other evidence, Dormer knew that this was the killer's first murder, but he'd do it again.

The tandem of Swank, Robins and Pacino clicked together and tick-tocked right through this exciting master-mind of a movie. As the tension was building, the story set itself up for the perfect climax. If mind-boggling thriller movies are your thing, Insomnia is a must-see.

***Insomnia is a Warner Brothers film and was directed by Christopher Nolan. It runs 118 minutes and is rated R. Insomnia is a remake of a 1998 Norweigan film by the same name made by Erik Skjoldbjaerg.