7/2/2023 0 Comments Insomnia film 1997 streaming![]() ![]() The starkness of the visual palette contrasts sharply with the turmoil that’s going on inside Engström. Even Engström himself seems to walk around with a pale, ghostly pallor, making his face nearly unreadable. In nearly every scene, Skjoldbjærg uses the barest of sets with the barest of props and wall-hangings. If the film can be called a film noir or a neo-noir (and I think it should), it goes against type by being the brightest visual noir I can think of. Skjoldbjærg makes several important directorial decisions with Insomnia, the most obvious of which is to keep nearly every scene well-illuminated. Engström makes a quick and possibly career-ending decision that drives the rest of the film. Things happen so fast – and mostly from Engström’s point of view – that we’re not sure of the exact sequence of events, but we (and Engström) realize something truly awful has occurred. A disorienting chase scene follows, one that’s brilliantly shot and masterfully edited. ![]() The key scene in the film occurs when Engström attempts to force the killer into the open during an extremely foggy morning in a rock-strewn area. Engström’s reputation as a top-notch detective precedes him, so most of the local police unquestioningly heed his every word, but a policewoman named Ane (Maria Bonnevie) seems able to look right through him, sensing that something’s amiss. He’s got a troubled past he’s trying to deal with and hide from. Engström has a tough time dealing with the never-ending light, but that’s not the real reason he can’t get any sleep. Tromsø (Skjoldbjærg’s hometown) is located about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, so during its late spring and summer months, night doesn’t fall. A Swedish detective named Jonas Engström is brought in to lead the investigation, and the second half of the film’s focus is on him. On one side – roughly the first half of the film – we have a murder mystery: a teenage girl has been found murdered in Tromsø, a town in northern Norway. As far as I can tell, none of Skjoldbjærg’s subsequent films have had the influence or impact of Insomnia. It certainly doesn’t have the look or feel of a first-time director, although Skjoldbjærg had completed shorter films previous to Insomnia (two of which are included on the Criterion release). Honestly though, it would be hard to judge one as objectively better than the other because I think they're different enough stylistically that both stand by themselves as great films.Watching Insomnia, you have to keep reminding yourself that this was Erik Skjoldbjærg’s feature film debut. ![]() Personally, I prefer the original, although I still like Nolan's re-make quite a bit. The detective is a pretty bad guy who uses his cunning to subvert the rules, and things don't end as nicely and succinctly as they do in the re-make. Skarsgard's detective has much more in common with the killer despite their opposition to each other. That said, it is darker and more sinister. In the original, there's not nearly as much dramatic tension, which depending on your taste or mood may or may not be a good thing. You're rooting for him and hope for redemption in the end. Character-wise, Pacino's detective, despite his flaws, is likable and is ultimately a good guy that the audience can get behind. There's the feeling of a cat-and-mouse game, which makes for good suspense. Nolan's film is more "Hollywood," with higher stakes and a climax that is probably way more satisfying to wider audiences. The main story beats are the same, but they are executed completely differently. Latest Discussions The Super Mario Bros Movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves John Wick: Chapter 4 Renfield Keanu Reeves Tobey Maguire
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |