Long before Christopher Nolan was blowing audiences away with the Dark Knight Trilogy and captivating minds everywhere with films like Inception or Tenet, he was still making sleeper hits. Memento as most should know was the indie feature that got studios’ attention, but even before he nailed Batman Begins he was making films like Insomnia somewhat on the low. Certainly not a financial disappointment in relation to its budget, Insomnia is still lesser known amongst audiences in comparison to his more recent work.
More to the point with Insomnia being the low key sleeper hit that it is, it’s also the one and only opportunity to see Al Pacino and Robin Williams share the screen together.
More to the point with Insomnia being the low key sleeper hit that it is, it’s also the one and only opportunity to see Al Pacino and Robin Williams share the screen together. This being the case, it’s almost a crime not to see it at least once. Insomnia is a psychological thriller, Pacino playing Los Angeles detective Will Dormer who’s been called up to assist in a homicide investigation in Alaska. This Alaskan town sees sunlight for the vast majority of the year at all hours of the day or night, thus making it hard for Dormer to sleep. Though there are other reasons for this as well, as whilst investigating the case Dormer is also battling his own struggles internally.
This is easily one of Chris Nolan’s more compelling films, even if it is a remake. His version of the story is much more modern, and one thing to note of particular peculiarity is in how ‘dated’ this film ISN’T even though it was released two decades ago this year. There is a heavy emphasis on morality in Insomnia, setting forth the idea that Dormer himself has been under scrutiny as a police officer pretty much from the beginning of the movie. The vague but ever present messaging on ‘innocence’ and the concept of ‘right or wrong’ is also a centrepiece in the overall telling of the story. This type of symbolism has become common in Nolan’s work, and it’s enacted in a way like only he can deliver. Pacino’s performance as Dormer is some of his finest work in years. He plays a more subdued character than he’s used to portraying, showing a different side of his acting that audiences aren’t as accustomed to. Williams is also in infrequent form as the antagonist. The script attempts to rationalize his behavior, and Williams accommodates his character’s point of view in a shockingly naturalistic display of cogent persuasion.
Notwithstanding the fact that Robin Williams is gone and audiences will see no new work from him, fans were unlikely to EVER see another performance like this from him or even Pacino who is still working. Both gave superlative performances, inhabiting the atmospheric universe set up for them by Nolan with an unblemished finesse. It’s a shame that the passing on or just the hanging it up of actors like Pacino and Williams inevitably always happens, but it does give hope that newer generations will take influence from their work and will attempt do them one better someday.
