Insomnia - 05/25/02

I'll start this review off by saying this: I don't think Memento was such an incredible movie. I think Christopher Nolan did a good job directing the film, but I think most of it was successful on an editing and writing plane. The majority of it, I thought, was more gimick than movie... a kind of marketing ploy... searching for that thing, one of those things that has never been done in movies before... at least, not successfully.

So, I went into this film with higher hopes... hoping that the director would be telling a more linear story... and would have as much fun, visually, with this film, just as he had with Memento. But I was wrong.

First off, there is nothing in this movie that spoke to me, that gave me something that was special, because of the director. This movie could have directed itself. There was no real striking visuals, no real shining moment that defined Nolan as a director... or reminded me in any way that this was 'The Director of Memento'.

Originally from a Norwegian film of the same name, directed by Erik Skjoldbjaerg (also written by him and Nikolaj Frobenius) and adapted by first time writer Hillary Seitz... this film has absolutely no surprises what so ever.

One large issue I have with this undertaking... what could possibly be the reason for adapting a film, a foreign film, that came out in 1997? Four, four and a half scant years after it was made? There are hundreds upon hundreds of original scripts out there (I for one should know)... that are of better quality, and, specifically, are not remakes. The name of the game, it seems, has now become 'Hedge Your Bets', instead of 'Let's Find Real Talent'. It's a shame because I left this film wishing it had been an original story... because I would have enjoyed it more. I have not seen the original Insomnia, but I know for a fact that it, as the original, could not be as boring and predictable as this film. I wish I would have seen it first, so that I could have compared the two more justly.

Things are spelled out way to much, taking the suspense, the drama... even the thrill away from the audience member. Now, I will comment that the dialog in this picture is pretty well written, but I must say that dialog does not make a movie. There were too many elements missing from this film... and with all plot points, turns and character development spelled out so that you could see situations and circumstances coming from around the corner... it all fell very flat for me.

I won't even comment on the acting because Pacino and Williams are very good actors. What could I possibly say about their work in this film? We've seen dozens of their movies, know their capabilities... they delivered the lines and shot the scenes like the pros they are. But the material was not up to par, and even their acting could not save this picture.

Hilary Swank, Martin Donovan and Nicky Katt all proved to be worthy co-stars in this picture, and played their parts well.

One of the things that struck me as just odd but predictable were George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh being two of the Executive producers. The reason why I say predictable is because backing a winning horse is a smart thing to do, their time out after a successful movie. Clooney and Soderbergh started their own production company called Section Eight... and saw the new film 'By the Director of Memento' as a guaranteed money maker, and I'm sure they're right... which, to me, is a shame... because there is absolutely nothing special about this film... that Christopher Nolan brought to it, anyway.

Wally Pfister was the DP for this film and Nolan's previous... and I can dig why he wanted to bring him along... Memento was well shot. But, again, this film didn't need much of a DP or director... there were some beautiful scenic shots... but those do not make a movie, either.

He will be shooting Laurel Canyon this year, directed by Lisa Cholodenko and starring Frances McDormand, Christian Bale and Kate Beckinsale.

I was very disappointed with this film, and would strongly suggest anyone who has to pay more than $6 for a movie ticket... wait until it comes to video.