Insomnia”” has created as much buzz in Hollywood in the past few months as Anheuser-Busch did at UCSD’s Sun God festival. Starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hillary Swank, the film is the directorial follow-up to Christopher Nolan’s sleeper hit, “”Memento.””
The film follows two LAPD detectives to Alaska to take on a bizarre murder case that removes them from the heat of Los Angeles, where internal affairs investigations are shaking things up at their department.
An argument between Will Dormer (Pacino) and his partner, as well as a police death in pursuit of the lead suspect, take Dormer and the audience on a suspenseful and sleepless journey that juxtaposes the corruption of big-city police with small-town cops.
It leaves Dormer searching for the difference between right and wrong. The viewers follow Dormer as he walks in the gray area that separates a defender of the peace from a dirty cop.
Pacino’s performance in the film is strong, but by no means is it a standout in his career. He is afforded a few instances to let his trademark squelch go, but otherwise the script doesn’t demand much of Pacino. The majority of his acting deals with a combination of insomnia and inner conflict.
This can be said of his work: He took the part as far as it could go, and it is hard to imagine someone who could have played the part better.
Swank’s part as a hometown Alaskan cop was also not very demanding of an actress who recently won an Oscar.
Williams plays the part of a mentally tormented writer and doesn’t appear until about halfway through the film. This part was great for Williams, who unfortunately had a hard time being unlikable on screen. Who else could follow up playing a mentally tormented child entertainer (“”Death To Smoochie””) in a dark comedy by playing a reclusive murderer in a crime film?
The film’s true star is the Alaskan setting. Nolan is able to incorporate the setting’s beauty into his thematic ideas delightfully. He is able to offer an interesting look at what insomnia is like by combining constant daylight with Pacino’s acting and some clever editing work.
It would be nearly impossible to live up to the hype surrounding the film. “”Insomnia”” may have done just that. It hits on all cylinders, creating suspense effectively amid great acting and beautiful direction while simultaneously exploring the crime genre’s favorite theme: deceit. “”Insomnia”” should please all but those who go into the film expecting that it will be able to capitalize on all of the talent that surrounded the project.
Insomnia
****
Starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hillary Swank
In theaters May 24
Rated R
