“Insomnia”

7.6

Almost all the way through the Christopher Nolan cinematic universe. Pretty fitting this is coming out late at night, given the title.

No one does manic like Al Pacino. Walking that fine line between genius and insanity. And an absolute masterclass performance by Robin Williams… as a villain! He plays it straight, and it works. No goofball in this character, only sinister intent. Nolan really has a knack for casting to subvert expectations of us moviegoers. Keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. My money is still on us finding out that all Christopher Nolan movies are connected in the end. We’ll have a “saw”-type flashback montage showing how they all connect. Book it.

This film, similar to “Memento,” is an integral stepping stone in a legendary director’s journey honing his craft. The storytelling, casting, and cinematography being further refined as the resume grows over time.