Remake This: Insomnia (2002)

 Nolan has his Oscar(s) finally.  Let's see what he was up to before he really broke big with Batman.

In this case, it is the Remake of the Norwegian Film Insomnia from 2002.
Confusingly, I've read that he wrote the Script, but also that he didn't.  I guess he incepted it?!?

Can this compare to the original Film (seen here)?

It has two Oscar Winners- Al Pacino, Robin Wiliams- in the Lead Roles and a one-time Oscar Winner- Hillary Swank- in a Supporting Role.
She would, of course, win another Oscar just 2 years later.

Does this one hold up to his now-current scrutiny?  Let's find out...

An L.A. Cop (Pacino) is sent to Alaska to help them with a crime.
His Partner- D.B. Sweeney- comes too and they work with a young Cop- Swank- who sort of idolizes him.

The case is simple enough...or so it seems.

Pacino is distracted by issues at home with IA (Internal Affairs) who are questioning how he worked his past cases.

Sweeney says that he plans to testify against him.

They set up a sting operation to catch the killer, but things don't go smoothly.

To be fair, they brought 'Davis' from Corner Gas (no joke- it's the same Actor) along!

The killer gets away in the fog and a shooting occurs.

Pacino fires at what he thinks is the killer...but it is actually Sweeney.

Ouch!

He keeps this a secret from the other Cops- blaming it on the killer.

As such, he begins to suffer from insomnia.
This is not helped by the 24-hour sun there.

He gets very odd and aggressive with the case, even going so far as to harass Katherine Isabelle- the victim's friend- in the process.

By the way, her presence and 'Davis'' make it clear that this one was shot in Canada (if there were any doubts).

As it turns out, the killer- Williams- saw the shooting go down and basically blackmails Pacino for info on the case.

It's like Strangers on a Train...but it is a Ferry.

Williams leads the Police to think that the abusive Boyfriend is the killer by way of planting evidence.

Pacino is not happy to let him do that, finally realizing how corrupt he's been.

Mind you, this is after he shot a dead dog (FYI it was not dead in the Original) to fake a ballistics test on the bullet in his dead partner.

He tries to take Williams in, but he's in no condition to take down anyone.

Swank also ends up there- having proven that Pacino shot his partner- and seems to scare Williams off- for the moment.

She understandably doesn't trust either man.

Pacino manages to get the drop on Williams and kill him, but is shot in the process.

He makes sure that Swank doesn't get rid of the evidence against him (like in the Original).

Oddly, the Version where he dies is technically the 'Happy Ending.'

A good Film, no question about it.  Both Versions are good, to be fair.

This Version is thankfully not a 1-to-1 Remake, with different Shots, tweaking of the Plot and a different location. 
It isn't like Cold Pursuit, which was basically the same Film as In Order of Disappearance that was just moved to a new location and with very, VERY minor tweaks.

Fun Fact- Stellan Skarsgard was in BOTH Original Films!

There are many ways you can nitpick this Film- for instance, the Cop uses cold water on blood, but he should know that warm water is better- but does that get you anywhere?

Everyone is really good here.  Pacino is vulnerable here, Swank is sincere, Williams is menacing and Nolan's direction is strong here.  Hell, even other people here- like Maura Tierney, Isabelle and Sweeney- are good here.

I will say that the Film is very bleak, even with changes made for the U.S. Version.  

All in all, the Film is quite good and it is clear that Nolan had bigger things to do in the world of Cinema.

I'm Going To Tell My Kids That This is 'The Matrix.'

Next up, a big shift to an Animated Film.  

With all of the obsession on both sides about the Superman Film in production, let's look at a 2013 Version.  Stay tuned...