Stars:
Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, Maura Tierney, Martin Donovan, Nicky
Katt, and Paul Dooley
Writer:
Hilary Seitz
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Feature
length: 118 minutes
Extras:
Director Commentary In Order Of Shooting Sequence, Scene Specific Commentaries
With Actress Hilary Swank, Production Designer Nathan Crowley, Editor Dody Dorn,
Cinematographer Wally Pfister, and Screenwriter Hillary Seitz, Day For Night:
Making Of Documentary, 180 Degree: A Conversation With Christopher Nolan and Al
Pacino, In The Fog: Cinematography And Production Design, Eyes Wide Open: The
Insomniac’s World, Still Gallery, Theatrical Trailer, Cast/Crew Film
Highlights
Languages:
English and French (Dubbed In Quebec) Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Snap Case
Chapter
Stops: 31
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 2002/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Based
on the Norwegian film of the same name, “Insomnia” is the third feature film
from Director Christopher Nolan (Memento). The locale is Nightmute, Alaska
during the season of the midnight sun. LAPD detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino)
arrives with his partner to assist in the investigation of the beating and
murder of a young teenage girl. He is also under investigation himself for
questionable practices that might have violated the civil rights of several
people he incarcerated prior to arriving in Alaska. His partner has copped a
deal that will implicate the detective. When they trace the location of the
killer to a foggy lakeside cabin, he accidentally shoots his partner and then
attempts to pin it on the killer, who in turn finds a way to use this Achilles
hill to exploit the detective into a cat and mouse game. As Dormer’s guilt
grows so does his insomniac suffering until he is at a crossroads to redemption
at a high price.
Al
Pacino manages to generously share the screen to bring out the talents of those
around him instead of overpowering every scene he appears in by screaming out
his lines. Pacino does a fine and more restrained performance that is a credit
to the actor’s rich lineage of great performances. Robin Williams manages to
give a convincing performance without falling over the top and in fact ends up
being one of the more shocking portrayals of madness and cunning behavior seen
in a film this year. Hilary Swank is purposely cast as the rookie detective who
idolizes Pacino’s character only to discover the dark side to his past
actions. As much as the film is about guilt and catharsis, “Insomnia” is
very much about the craft of writing with many of the character conversations
between Pacino and Williams falling into the realm of character and motivation
as well as plot. Overall, “Insomnia” is a terrific film definitely worth
seeing now that Warner Home Video has released it on DVD.
Available
in an anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) aspect ratio as well as a panned and
scanned (1.33:1) full screen aspect ratio, which are both sold separately, the
picture quality is excellent with rich detail and interesting use of the locale
to create a very film noir style even though the film’s setting alone negates
the overt use of chiaroscuro lighting. The English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Soundtrack is exceptional with the cool score by David Julyan permeating the
entire atmosphere and heightening the tension throughout. A French Language
(Dubbed In Quebec) Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack is also included along
with English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as
French and Spanish Language Subtitles encoded on to the dual layered DVD as
options. The sound and subtitle options as well as the rest of the extra value
features are identical for both the widescreen and full screen DVD releases.
Director
Christopher Nolan gives a very intelligent and articulate screen specific audio
commentary in the order of the way the film was shot so through multi-branching,
the viewer gets a sense of how a film is put together out of sequence complete
with subtitle information on exactly what day the numbered scenes the film was
shot in production. Actress Hilary Swank, Production Designer Nathan Crowley,
Editor Dody Dorn, Cinematographer Wally Pfister, and Screenwriter Hillary Seitz
also provide compelling scene specific commentaries that can be viewed and
listened to individually or collectively as one 41 minute and 21 second
companion audio commentary track for the film. Director Christopher Nolan also
provides optional commentary for a deleted scene between Al Pacino and Maura
Tierney (3:04), which is presented in a letterboxed (2.35:1) aspect ratio with
English Stereo Sound.
There
is a terrific videotaped conversational interview between Al Pacino and
Christopher Nolan (17:10) where Pacino interviews Nolan informally in as much of
a friendly, but professional manner as Nolan interviews Pacino while they both
enjoy a spot of tea. Other extra features include “Day For Night: The Making
Of Insomnia” (7:57), “In The Fog” Cinematography (6:11) and Production
Design (5:47), “Eyes Wide Open,” which features interviews with real
insomniacs as well as medical professionals in the field of research to
understand this affliction (7:33), a 28 photo still gallery, select cast and
crew filmographies, and the (1.85:1) anamorphic widescreen theatrical trailer
(2:27).
The
menus are fully animated with full motion scene selections and animated
transitions that compliment the nature of the film rather than just offer snazzy
bells and whistles. For a single disc release, “Insomnia” is one the best
DVD-Video releases from Warner Home Video this year. Go out and buy it now!
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.