Insomnia (Pacino)

 Insomnia (Pacino) 2002

• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Seen by this director: Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Batman Begins
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, Martin Donovan
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Al Pacino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Merchant of Venice, Angels in America, Donnie Brasco, Heat, Carlito’s Way, The Scent of a Woman, Glengarry Glen Ross, Frankie and Johnny, The Godfather x 3, Dick Tracy, Sea of Love, Author! Author!, And Justice for All, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, Panic in Needle Park
• Robin Williams - The Butler, House of D, Good Will Hunting, Hamlet, Hook, Dead Again, Awakening, Dead Poets Society, The World According to Garp, Good Morning Vietnam
• Hilary Swank – Freedom Writers, Million Dollar Baby, The Gift
• Martin Donovan – Tenet, Big Little Lies, The United States of Leland
• Why? Remember it as good
• Seen: Once before. Now 9 August 2022      

       Many people hate re-makes. I don’t. Some are very good, some even better than the original. However, most American re-makes of European films aren’t very good.  This one though, I saw before I knew there was a Norwegian version. Now I’ve seen the Norwegian version. Is this one as good? Better? Not as good?

       The story is moved to northern Alaska. Pacino is the cop. Swank is the clever cop guessing what really happened. The story is in some ways identical, in other major ways, rewritten. For example, the political in-office intrigue of Pacino’s work back in LA is emphasised and developed.  It’s Hollywooded up. There’s more action, less subtlety. A shame because otherwise it might have been even better. As it is, both films have their merits. Pacino is good. Skarsgård is good. They get the same rating from me. 

3½ * of 5