I didn't include it in my initial list of summer want-to-see list but the more I heard about it, the more my interest grew. It also helped that Memento was my favorite movie from last year, so I think Chritopher Nolan has earned a second look from me. Boy am I glad! This movie is actually better than Memento!
The movie isn't so much about solving the murder as it is about Al Pacino's LA Cop trying to escape what turns out to be a lifetime of dubious choices that lead him deeper and deeper into a mess that he just cannot pull himself free of.
Alot of people talk about the scene in Star Wars Episode II when Anikin's mom dies and he gets mad and wipes out all of the Tuskin Raiders. It's a pivotal scene but the aftermath isn't very well written or acted. Hayden Christensen just looks like a punk kid who pouting and fuming for getting grounded for a month. When an pivitoal tragedy occurs on a stakeout early in Insomnia it is truly a wildcard that still has me wondering if it was a mistake or was it intentional. Pacino looks like the weight of the world is on his shoulders and his lack of sleep(6 days by movie end; kinda like the week before the shipping deadline
) isn't helping. Pacino is great in the film but man he looks so bad you think it's make up, like the poor guy never slept a day in his life! Is it really like that in Alaska ( scratch that off of my future vacations list).
It also features the best performance from Robin Williams in a long time(probably since Good Will Hunting). He's creepy and sneaky(though I heard he has an indy film comming out called One Hour Photo where he's outright scary as a stalker photo delveloper) at least he's not trying to force you to LOVE ME! LOVE ME! LOVE ME! by force feeding you endless sugar sweet sappyness(I trying to figure which was a bigger career low point: WHAT DREAMS MAY COME or PATCH ADAMS! Agh! I'm having flashbacks...!)
Everybody does a great job in the movie from Hilary Swank as an eager but smart younger cop to Nicky Katt( Harry Senate on BOSTON PUBLIC) as a more moodier veteran cop.
I can't wait to see it again!
