June 5, 2002 -- "Insomnia" is a taught, smart, gripping police thriller filled with intrigue and psychological drama. It is one of the best films of the year so far.

Renowned actor Al Pacino anchors a solid cast in this film helmed by art crowd favorite Christopher Nolan ("Memento"). Pacino stars as beleaguered detective Will Dormer, who, with his partner Hap Eckhart (played by Martin Donovan of "The Opposite of Sex"), travel to Alaska to investigate a murder. The trip comes, not coincidentally, at the same time the two detectives are caught up in an investigation into police wrongdoing. Dormer and Eckhart seem to be trying to escape. Eckhart is considering a plea bargain in return for his testimony. Dormer is afraid a lifetime of work, all his convictions, will be overturned if Eckhart testifies. Eckhart is worried about his family. Dormer seems to have nothing going in his life except his work.

Dormer and Eckhart dive into the murder investigation as a temporary distraction from their legal problems. The body of a young girl has been found. Clues point to the girl's jealous boyfriend and also to a reclusive author, Walter Finch (chillingly played by Robin Williams of "Death to Smoochy"). Police set a trap for the killer by planting a story about supposedly missing evidence, hoping the killer will return to retrieve it. The killer falls into the trap, but escapes into the fog. During the confusion, Eckhart is shot. Now there is a second murder investigation into Eckhart's killing. Dormer finds himself chin deep in both investigations. The enormous pressure of the various investigations, and the fact that he cannot sleep since the sun never goes down at this time of year in Alaska, sends Dormer over the edge.

Also caught in the middle is a young Alaska police officer, Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank of "The Gift"). Burr is a big fan of Dormer's and has studied some of his cases. She is very troubled when she begins to suspect, during the course of her investigation into Eckhart's death, that Dormer may have murdered him. The confusion in Dormer's hazy mind about the details of Eckhart's killing increases as the film goes on. Dormer's confused memories about Eckhart's shooting raise some of the same issues raised about memory in "Memento." There is also an interesting blackmail relationship between Dormer and the killer. Dormer tries to outmaneuver both the killer and the investigators closing in on him. As he continues day after day without sleep the tension increases as the final climax looms.

This is a very well-written and well-directed film with an outstanding performance by Al Pacino. Williams, Swank and Martin Donovan provide powerful supporting performances. The screenplay is from a 1997 Norwegian film of the same name written by Nikolaj Frobenius and Erik Skjoldbjærg. Director Christopher Nolan handles the material and the actors skillfully. The innovative cinematography by Wally Pfister and editing by Dody Dorn (both teamed with Nolan on "Memento") are integral to the success of this project. This is a very powerful, thought-provoking film with lot of psychological depth. It rates a B+.

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