A winning combination (From Western Telegraph)

A winning combination

Insomnia Director: Christopher Nolan Starring: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, Maura Tierney, Matt Donavan. Dur 118 mins, Cert 15

I do believe that I can feel autumn in the air. You can count the months on one hand that will pass until the next Lord Of The Rings wends its weary way to meet us at Christmas and, having spent most of last winter in LA, Ill admit that Im quite looking forward to a spell of inclement weather. I certainly always feel far more in the mood to see a good film when the nights start drawing in, and the fires are lit, and the chestnuts start a-roastin. And Insomnia is just the kind of film to accompany that autumn feeling.

Insomnia, a remake of a Norwegian film, is the latest effort from Christopher Nolan, the young British director who won praise for Memento last year.

This film isnt nearly so artistic or stylised, but it isnt quite your run-of-the-mill thriller either.

Al Pacino plays detective, Will Dormer, sent from LA with his partner to a tiny Alaskan town to investigate the murder of a high school girl. The rugged but beautiful terrain belies the danger of the wilderness, and the simple small town folk are a smokescreen for the evil that walks somewhere among them. At first the case is routine though, as Pacino and his partner teach the local Bobbies a thing or two about police work. One young local cop, played by the square jawed but beautiful Hilary Swank, is particularly receptive to their wisdom, confessing to be a real fan of detective Dormers past success.

Nothing too original so far, except that Dormer finds that the 24-hour daylight in the Alaskan town is making it impossible for him to sleep, which explains the movie title, and gives a convincing and increasing edginess to Dormers character.

But very soon something unusual does happen. I was in two minds whether to divulge the nature of it and Ive decided I wont, but Ill just say that the second death in the town sets up a really good tangle for Dormer and the young local cop-gal to undo. I should also mention that the most notable co-star is played by Robin Williams. His attempts at serious roles are hit and miss, I find. But as the years progress, putting more time between now and the days of Mork and Mindy, its getting slightly easier to take Williams seriously, though I did find it hard to think of him in this Alaskan town.

All in all Insomnia is perfect popcorn fodder. Its an all-American thriller drama with a living legend of the screen, Pacino, indulging every opportunity to play a man on the edge. And yet the script, adapted from the original by the original Norwegian writers, and no doubt the British direction, give Insomnia the artistic quality of a European film.

This is such a winning combination that even the flaws in the film are interesting to watch. It may not be the biggest hit of the year, nor the best film, but Insomnia made me enjoy the whole cinema experience from beginning to end.