"Insomnia" (2002) - 02/02/03 - 02/08/03

[Morticia]

This is a thread to discuss the technical and/or thematic merits of "Insomnia" (2002).

The purpose being to foster intelligent discussion of films without resorting to "It's a piece of crap." or "It's the greatest film ever." (And so that we all can gain a bit of a film education from everyone.)

We'll discuss a new film each week. Either slade or I will post the film in this forum in advance, and lock the topic until the first day of discussion.

Thanks everyone. We are open to any ideas about running this forum.

****SPOILER WARNING**** of course this entire thread is going to be full of spoilers.

SPECIAL NOTE:
This film is a remake. There is NOTHING wrong with bringing up this fact, or even comparing it to the original. Please DO NOT, however, simply post, "This film is Crap/Superior to the original" without backing up your claim. Your cooperation is appreciated!!

[SilentBob]

Ok i bought the movie as a blind buy (like most of my movies in my collection) I thought the movie was good but i think i was expecting more. After Nolan made Memento i guess i was expecting something along that line of direction. But it turned out to be a basic (but overall a nicely done) crime movie. Robin Williams does a great job once again of shedding his comedic self and really getting into the mind of this killer. Al Pacino's character without all his sleep still looked like well . . . Al Pacino. Same ol bags under the eyes. The scenery was extremely nice and so was the setting of the story taking place in the midnight sun. I did like how Williams character alway seem to be writing his next book with Pacino. Always knowing what he is doing and always setting him up for his next chapter of his final story. But in the end i knew both would die. But just like this book Williams was writing both Pacino and Swank try to keep all these horrible secrets (partner's murder being one) to themselves in order to never be published to the public.


I know it was a remake and probably will never see it knowing my local stores around here so i wish i could of done a comparison to the remake.

[airjosh]

There is a fundamental problem with the plot adaption from the original film. The entire plot hinges on the fact that the detective can't sleep because of the "midnight sun". Once again Canada was used in place of Alaska (totally different rant) and the only place in Alaska where the daylight literally lasts all night is in the arctic.

The fictional town in the film relies on halibut fishing as the main thing happening around there, this combined with the type of surrounding forests puts the town in Southeast Alaska. Southeast Alaska has between 8-10 hours of night in the summer. It doesn't always reach pitch black, but the idea of it keeping someone up to that point is pretty laughable.

To top it off, when they were in the "city" I remember noticing Canadian emblem, markings on the bus that passes by.

I thought the performances in the film were good, but it was impossible to suspend disbelief with such a huge plot error.

I don't think this film holds a candle to the original and was a huge disappointment coming from Nolan. The environment is a character in the film, it works in the original but borderlines insulting our intelligence in the cheap hollywood remake.