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Great Sleep Aid

Customer Rating:
This movie was very slow moving, the plot was okay if you could stay awake. However this proved to be too much for me. I managed to fall asleep two times while trying to watch it on two different occasions. The third time was the charm, I did manage to stay awake. For me it wasn't worth it, love Robin Williams and Al Pacino but even that didn't really save the movie in my eyes. All that being said it did have an interesting twist at the end.

One of my favorites, top 20!, Just get the DVD, the blu ray is pointless here.

Customer Rating:
This movie is great, as one of Al Pacinos last great memorable films, other than the recruit which was enh, ok, this was a landmark film. As detective dormer he and his partner as many know go to Alaska where for the most part its very dark(during the six months of spring/summer) to go on a dark journey through lies and deception, and basically what is good and what is evil? Robin Williams does a stellar job as usual being the nasty perhaps psycho on the island, named Brody, a local book writer. When he is accused of killing a young admirer of his book, a young teen age girl, this start to spin out of control. Also as Al Pacino's partner gets gunned down there is also a very dark secret behind it as well. So most people have probably seen this film i can't really spoil it, but i will desist anyway. Its not really worth getting on Blu-Ray, i've had the original for many years and it suits me fine. There are no explosions, no car chases, no CGI, just a good psychological thriller from beginning to end that will keep you on the edge of your seat. So just get the DVD, or rent it, the blu ray doesnt nothing for it.

Solid Cop Drama, But Not Spectacular

Customer Rating:
I was originally drawn to this film because of director Christopher Nolan. After viewing his Batman re-boots (Batman Begins & The Dark Knight) and enjoying them immensely, I was hopefully that Nolan's other works would provide some of the same. In the case of Insomnia, he makes a much more "traditional" film, shrouded in a bit of false advertising to make it seem a bit more mysterious than it really is.

For a basic plot summary, the film centers on policeman Will Dormer (Al Pacino), who travels to an Alaskan town to try and solve a murder case. With an Internal Affairs investigation breathing down his neck back home, Dormer is under intense pressure to succeed in this new arena. While teaming with local cop Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank), Dormer not only struggles to solve the case, but also gets mixed up with mysterious writer Walter Finch (Robin Williams).

On the whole, this movie functions pretty well as a traditional cop drama. It has the murder mystery, the gun shootouts, and the intrigue plotline which questions the integrity of pretty much everyone involved. Without looking for anything more, this would be a very solid film.

However, the film is advertised/promoted as so much more than just a cop drama. The title itself indicates that the condition of insomnia will play a big role in the film, but it does not (Dormer not sleeping doesn't seem to add anything to the plot). Robin Williams's role is billed as a taut, psychological thrill-ride, but he doesn't make an appearance until an hour into the movie and even after that point is severely underutilized. Also, Swank's character is introduced as a potential key part in the film, but she (like Williams) just isn't given anything interesting to do.

Thus, I can only give this film an "average" rating due to its inability to rise above a simple cop drama.

A very good police thriller

Customer Rating:
While this isn't the sort of thriller which will keep you on the edge or your seat, it will keep your interest throughout. Nolan does a great job directing, as usual, and it has a very talented cast, lead by Al Pacino, Hilary Swank, and Robin Williams. Williams does a very good job in a rare dramatic and creepy part. There's no element of his more well-known comedic side here at all. With a few well-placed twists, the movie will keep you guessing.

LA detective Dormer (Pacino) is sent with his partner Eckhart to a small town in Alaska, in part to get away from an evolving investigation into their department and, more officially, to help with a homicide investigation. The little town of Nightmute isn't used to homicides, so when Dormer arrives to help, young officer Burr (Swank), who looks up to Dormer, is thankful for his help. None of the local officers are aware of the LA internal affairs investigation, but it's the main thing on the minds of Eckhart, who has decided he will testify, and Dormer, who is afraid of being ruined because of his action in a previous homicide case. Dormer is unable to sleep - partly because of the constant Alaskan sunlight and partly due to feelings of guilt - and this visibly wears on him. Before long Dormer identifies and lcoates the girl's killer, Finch, a police mystery writer, but things are far from over. Finch recognizes Dormer's weakened condition and has something on him. When Finch hatches a plan that would help them both get off free, Dormer has to choose either to play along or to try to outsmart him. Can he get justice for the murdered girl without implicating himself in other matters?

The Alaskan scenery throughout the movie is both picturesque and somehow oppressive. Its stark nature adds to the sense of disorientation from Dormer's insomnia. The combination of beauty and eeriness reminded me of "Twin Peaks", though it has none of that TV show's quirkiness. Alaska looks like it would be a nice place to visit... but I can easily imagine how the perpetual daylight some months and perpetual darkness other months would take its toll.

With good acting, evocative scenery, and a simple but well-devised plot, I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a quality thriller. So far Christopher Nolan hasn't disappointed.

Perfect Christopher Nolan

Customer Rating:
I hadn't seen this movie before I bought it, but being a big fan of Christopher Nolan, I was excited to see it. It definitely lived up to my expectations and if you like Nolan, I definitely recommend buying it.