Christopher Nolan's first stint with a major Hollywood studio is a remake of the Norwegian thriller of the same name and is termed by many critics to be one of the rare instances of an American remake done right. I haven't seen the original so I can't compare the two but one can make out that it tries to create its own identity instead of following the same footsteps.

The story of Insomnia concerns Will Dormer; a Los Angeles homicide detective who, along with another detective, is dispatched to a small Alaskan town to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen. When an attempt to apprehend the suspect results in a tragic incident, things soon turn worse for Will…

Christopher Nolan's "Insomnia" is a vividly rendered, sharply directed, and skillfully performed crime thriller. Observing characters trapped in moral, mental, and physical fogs, the film is both patient and urgent. Exciting and textured, Nolan's remake of an earlier Norwegian film is a highly satisfying piece of work.

Revolving around the investigation of a murder that occurred in a remote town in Alaska, the film follows as Al Pacino's weary, big-city detective is brought aboard to assist with the case. Falling victim to an environment where the sun rarely sets, the detective finds himself mentally and physically slipping. As the case moves to its conclusion, fatal mistakes are made, secrets are set, and perpetrators are uncovered. A morality play, mystery, and…

Insomnia, somewhat of an outlier in Nolan's filmography, tells a smaller story; more contained and isolated. It's noir with the lights on, set in a small Alaskan town where the sun never goes down, and sleep is a luxury not all can afford. Nolan's usage of this small detail is great, as much of the film toys with Pacino's inability to rest; an obvious result/metaphor of his conflicted mindset. He's a man at a crossroads, a hero grappling with the eventual tarnishing of his reputation. Pacino plays his part wonderfully, because the character; his mannerisms and personality feel very Pacino in essence. He's very at home in this role. This extends as well to Robin Williams, who is wonderful as…

Just to be completely up front I'd like to say that I'm a huge sucker for movies like this.

Insomnia is a detective mystery with a protagonist (Pacino) that doesn't have a firm grasp on reality after acquiring insomnia from working in a place where the sun doesn't set. There are a few fabulous scenes where we witness Pacino's grip slipping, and Pfister's wonderful lighting and composition give everything a slightly eerie and ominous air. Beyond that it was a fairly by-the-numbers thriller and definitely a disappointment after the masterpiece that is Memento, but for me the rather average story was elevated by the movie's uncertain grasp on reality.

It's also a movie about fantasy, one of my all-time favorite…

Imagine living in a place where the sun doesn’t set for weeks at a time. If you lived there you might get used to it, but think if you were just visiting. In “Insomnia,” Al Pacino stars as an L.A. detective who travels to Alaska to investigate a murder of a teenage girl. While he searches for clues he also battles a bad case of insomnia brought on by the 24-hour daylight of the northern summer. Also starring Robin Williams and Hillary Swank (“Boys Don’t Cry”). Rated for R for bad language, violence and a little bit of nudity. Time spent wondering how weird it would be if it didn’t get dark for weeks: 118 minutes.

Nancy’s Take: This is…