Insomnia (2002)

Will Dormer (Pacino) is an experienced LA cop sent to a remote part of Alaska to investigate the murder of a young girl. Sleep-deprived and haunted by events from his ... more >

Will Dormer (Pacino) is an experienced LA cop sent to a remote part of Alaska to investigate the murder of a young girl. Sleep-deprived and haunted by events from his recent past (specifically, Dormer's accidental shooting of his work partner), he struggles to maintain emotional stability, a situation exacerbated when the killer starts to play mind-games. The fact that local cop Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank), an unabashed admirer of Dormer, is carrying out an investigation of his partner's death doesn't help matters much either.

Pacino is excellent as ever as the haggard, world-weary Dormer, while Robin Williams turns in one of his better 'serious' performances as local oddball Walt Finch. Based on the '90s Norwegian film of the same name, this is a tense and largely captivating psychological thriller, though rather spoilt by a disappointingly tame and contrived finalé. < less

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DVD Extras

• 180 Degrees: A conversation with Christopher Nolan and Al Pacino
• Day for Night: Making of Insomnia
• 'In The Fog' with cinematographer Wally Pfister and production designer Nathan Crowley
• Audio Commentaries by director, cast and crew members
• 'Eye Wide Open' - featurette on insomniacs
• Additional scene
• 'From The Evidence Room' - stills gallery with music.

Film Details

Cast

Martin Donovan, Al Pacino, Robin Williams

Technical Details