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Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, Maura Tierney, Martin Donovan ... see more see more... , Nicky Katt , Paul Dooley , Larry Holden , Katharine Isabelle , Jay Brazeau , Kate Robbins , Paula Shaw , Ian Tracey , Emily Perkins , Jonathan Jackson , Tasha Simms , Dean Wray , Ken Kirzinger , Kerry Sandomirsky , James Hutson , Malcom Boddington , Andrew Campbell , Lorne Cardinal , Chris Guthior , Crystal Lowe , Oliver "Ole" Zemen

Director Christopher Nolan follows up his breakthrough sophomore film Memento with this remake of a stylish Norwegian thriller. Al Pacino stars as Detective Will Dormer, a Los Angeles Police Departmen... read more read more...t legend who temporarily escapes an internal affairs investigation that may ruin his career by traveling to Nightmute, AK, the remote site of a murder that has the local authorities flummoxed. Along with his partner, Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan), and the small town's wide-eyed rookie investigator, Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank), the exhausted Dormer probes the brutal slaying of a teenage girl who was rumored to have a secret lover. A clever ruse quickly lures the killer into a police trap, but the suspect escapes and a tragic accident at the scene leaves Dormer at the mercy of the murderer, a pulp crime novelist named Walter Finch (Robin Williams). As Finch plays a dangerous game of extortion with Dormer, the detective's mental health deteriorates rapidly from guilt over his complicity in a crime and sleep deprivation compounded by the lack of darkness in the land of the midnight sun. Meanwhile, the bright and dogged Ellie continues putting the pieces of a complex puzzle together despite Dormer's skillful attempts to lead the investigation toward the right suspect, but away from his own malfeasance. Insomnia co-stars Paul Dooley, Nicky Katt, Maura Tierney, and Jonathan Jackson. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

67% liked it

90,632 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

174 critics

R, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Release Date: May 24, 2002

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DVD Release Date: October 15, 2002

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Stats: 3,897 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,897)

  • jamers2011
    November 30, 2011
    jamers2011
    Not Nolan's best, but still a really good crime thriller. Really good cast and great locations.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    November 25, 2011
    LoughnerWasLucid
    i've seen a billion movies about the haunted detective chasing the mysterious killer who you either think did it and later find out didn't or find out that the movie made you think he didn't by using the "its too obvious, so he didn't" clues and then we find out he fucking did do... read more it and the movie fucked us because if he really did it, why do you have to make us feel stupid for finding out it was him at the beginning because we totally could have used our time better, like thinking about why he did it instead of why we're supposed to think he didn't or did do it when we don't fucking care anyway, we're trying to escape our depressing lives.
  • CreedsDelight
    September 29, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    Expected more from you, Nolan. His least magnificent film lacks the memorable punch that he adds to his other films.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 14, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Insomnia is not Christopher Nolans best, but its still a near masterpiece nonetheless. The plot of the film knows what it is, not a movie hard to understand, but a intense crime thriller that gives a small twist on regular crime movies and is amazing. Al Pacino, Robin Williams,... read more and Hilary Swank in my opinion all play their roles in perfection. The feel of the film was also beautiful. If I had any problem it was it felt unconclusive at the end, I didn't understand what happened next. A movie that shows you that its amazing and that Christopher Nolans skills range far and wide, and I loved Insomnia.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    August 5, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Christopher Nolan's second effort is a solid Thriller starring an excellent cast. Insomnia is a terrific film that is very well made. Nolan keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the film and manages to keep the thrills coming. The talent involved here delivers some strong... read more performances. The actors that are most notable being Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank. There's enough going on screen to keep you on the edge of your seat to the very end. Insomnia is a solid, well crafted Thriller that shouldn't be overlooked. Maybe because of Nolan's recent works such as Inception and The Dark Knight has this film been slightly overshadowed. This is a solid second film from Christopher Nolan who's definitely made a big name for himself since. Insomnia boasts a good performance by Robin Williams, which equals the one in One Hour Photo. Insomnia is a solid, pulse pounding Thriller, and it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end. I think the cast make this film better than it actually is, and each one delivers something terrific to the screen. Insomnia is a phenomenal second feature from Christopher Nolan, and glimpses of his ever growing creativity are apparent on screen. The result is an accomplished Thriller that is superbly acted and directed.
  • blkbomb
    June 27, 2011
    blkbomb
    "A good cop can't sleep because he's missing a piece of the puzzle. And a bad cop can't sleep because his conscience won't let him."

    First off, I haven't seen the original. So I can't compare the two, but this Insomnia is one hell of a movie. Insomnia is directed by the best dir... read moreector going right now and my favorite director Christopher Nolan. He has made great movie after great movie. Insomnia was his follow up to what most believe to be his masterpiece, Memento. His direction here is as solid as it has been with every other great movie he has done. The cinematography is beautiful and the casting is brilliant. He can always choose a great cast. I mean the guy picked Heath Ledger to play The Joker. The choice of casting Robin Williams as Walter Finch was great. Most don't see Williams in that type of role, but Nolan did and Williams did not disappoint. It is my favorite role of Robin Williams career. Al Pachino gives a masterful performance as Will Dormer; a very thought of LA cop who comes to Alaska and ultimately ends up in a mess. By the end of this movie Pachino had me feeling tired. He played his character amazingly well. Hilary Swank is great in a pre- Million Dollar Baby performance. This movie definitely deserves a lot more praise. It is an exceptional film.
  • fb619846742
    June 6, 2011
    fb619846742
    A solid, atmospheric suspense-thriller featuring Al Pacino near the top of his game as a sleep-deprived detective living with the blood of his partner on his hands, all while trying to track down the main suspect (Robin Williams) of the case he is working on - who saw him acciden... read moretally pull the trigger on his wingman. While there are certain stretches where this movie slows down a bit to much, the overall product is still largely entertaining thanks to the way director Christopher Nolan pieces everything together with such skill. Pacino's tortured performance is the driving force behind this movie, and it is also nice to see Robin Williams present his dark side here. The acting really makes this movie watchable, not making it just an extended version of a "Law and Order" episode, but a film whose haunting conclusion especially makes it stand well in the genre of crime thrillers.
  • shawnewing92
    May 18, 2011
    shawnewing92
    A physiological drama between the detective and murderer. Great performances by Pacino, Williams, and Swank. Story is both intelligent and thrilling as it sinks into questions of morals and what actions someone can and cannot live with.
  • fb732260458
    April 9, 2011
    fb732260458
    A very involving crime film with an interesting psychological twist, Insomnia is propelled by great performances from the likes of Al Pacino and Robin Williams, as well as disorienting and creepy direction from Christopher Nolan - who once again manages to not only surprise us, b... read moreut allows us to delve deep into the minds of the characters and appreciate how screwed up they really are.
  • garyX
    February 3, 2011
    garyX
    A Los Angeles detective under investigation by internal affairs flies to Alaska to assist in the investigation of the murder of a 17 year old girl. I'd been avoiding this one despite the highly promising combination of Pacino and Nolan, mainly because of the highly unpromising pr... read moreesence of Robin Williams. This kind of gimmicky casting can occasionally pay dividends, but usually backfires disastrously. Here, thankfully, Williams acquits himself adequately and fails to wreck the film. It unsurprisingly belongs lock, stock and barrel to Pacino who is as strong as always, giving a very human portrayal of a good cop with frailties forced into an unwanted and unwilling alliance with the murder suspect he is pursuing. For me, more could've been made of the psychological and hallucinatory effects of sleep deprivation and it lacks any of the plot twists we've come to expect these days. It is, however, a solidly written and well crafted thriller with all the visual flourishes we've come to expect from Christopher Nolan that deserves a chance despite its origins as a dreaded "Hollywood remake".

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Critic Reviews

Mark Caro
July 20, 2002
Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune

It's a crafty story told with more style and gray areas than your average thriller. Full Review

Rex Reed
May 30, 2002
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Insomnia is not my kind of arsenic, but it's so well-made and enigmatic I liked it anyway. Full Review

Dennis Lim
May 28, 2002
Dennis Lim, Village Voice

The Hollywood version (which is half an hour longer) transports the action to Alaska, and works up a respectable level of bleary-eyed paranoia. Full Review

Peter Rainer
May 26, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

The best thing about Insomnia is that despite director Christopher Nolan's soft spot for moody-blues obfuscation, he has the good sense to keep his star in practically every shot. Full Review

Desson Thomson
May 24, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

A thriller whose style, structure and rhythms are so integrated with the story, you cannot separate them.

Stephen Hunter
May 24, 2002
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

You see Robin Williams and psycho killer, and you think, hmmmmm. You see the movie and you think, zzzzzzzzz. Full Review

Mike Clark
May 24, 2002
Mike Clark, USA Today

This remake gets all there is to get out of a peculiar premise with promise: Al Pacino loathing Robin Williams. Full Review

Peter Howell
May 24, 2002
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Continually challenges perceptions of guilt and innocence, of good guys and bad, and asks us whether a noble end can justify evil means. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
May 24, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A haunting psychological drama. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
May 24, 2002
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

Here's proof that it's still possible to make pop-oriented yet personal movies with an A-list cast and a zillion bucks. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Det. Will Dormer: Just let me sleep.
    • Det. Will Dormer: Don't lose your way.
    • Ellie Burr: A good cop can't sleep at night because he's missing a piece of the puzzle. And a bad cop can't sleep because his conscience won't let him.
    • Det. Will Dormer: So anything that happened in that beach is not your fault. That's the fault of one man, and one man only... and that's the man who beat Kay Connell to death.
    • Det. Will Dormer: Now, aren't u gonna write that down?
    • Ellie Burr: It's ten o'clock Detective Dormer.
    • Det. Will Dormer: You bet.
    • Ellie Burr: At night.
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Insomnia Trivia

  • What links this movies? It Insomnia Carrie Misery The Shining   Answer »
  • The Cure for Insomnia (1987) is the longest movie ever made at a total running time of 85 hours (5,220 min) . It premiered in its entirety at The School Of The Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois from January 31 to February 3, 1987, in one continuous showing.   Answer »
  • True or False: George Clooney is partly responsible (behind the camera) for the movies: Good Night and Good Luck, Insomnia, and Rock Star.  Answer »
  • In "The Machinist" what does Christian Bale's character suffer from?  Answer »
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