Insomnia (2002/I)

Director:

Christopher Nolan

Writers (WGA):

Nikolaj Frobenius (1997 screenplay) and
Erik Skjoldbjærg (1997 screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 May 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Days never end. Nightmares are real. No one is innocent.

Plot:

Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Snow | Psychopath | Dead Woman In Morgue | Remake

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Detective Will Dormer
Martin Donovan	...	Detective Hap Eckhart
Robin Williams	...	Walter Finch
Oliver 'Ole' Zemen	...	Pilot
Hilary Swank	...	Detective Ellie Burr
Paul Dooley	...	Chief Charlie Nyback
Nicky Katt	...	Fred Duggar
Larry Holden	...	Farrell
Jay Brazeau	...	Francis
Lorne Cardinal	...	Rich
James Hutson	...	Officer #1
Andrew Campbell	...	Officer #2
Paula Shaw	...	Coroner
Crystal Lowe	...	Kay Connell
Tasha Simms	...	Mrs. Connell
Maura Tierney	...	Rachel Clement
Jonathan Jackson	...	Randy Stetz
Malcolm Boddington	...	Principal
Katharine Isabelle	...	Tanya Francke
Kerry Sandomirsky	...	Trish Eckhart
Chris Gauthier	...	Uniformed Officer (as Chris Guthior)
Ian Tracey	...	Warfield (voice)
Kate Robbins	...	Woman on the Road
Emily Perkins	...	Girl at Funeral (as Emily Jane Perkins)
Dean Wray	...	Ticket Taker

Directed by
Christopher Nolan

Writing credits (WGA)
Nikolaj Frobenius		(1997 screenplay) and
Erik Skjoldbjærg		(1997 screenplay)
Hillary Seitz		(screenplay)

Produced by
George Clooney	....	executive producer
Ben Cosgrove	....	associate producer
Broderick Johnson	....	producer
Paul Junger Witt	....	producer
Andrew A. Kosove	....	producer
Edward McDonnell	....	producer (as Edward L. McDonnell)
Kim Roth	....	executive producer
Charles J.D. Schlissel	....	executive producer
Steven Soderbergh	....	executive producer
Emma Thomas	....	co-producer
Tony Thomas	....	executive producer
Steven P. Wegner	....	associate producer

Original Music by
David Julyan

Cinematography by
Wally Pfister		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dody Dorn

Casting by
Marci Liroff

Production Design by
Nathan Crowley

Art Direction by
Michael Diner

Set Decoration by
Peter Lando

Costume Design by
Tish Monaghan

Makeup Department
Gitte Axen	....	first assistant makeup artist
John Caglione Jr.	....	makeup artist: Mr. Pacino
Bonnie Clevering	....	hair stylist: Mr. Pacino
Norma Hill-Patton	....	makeup artist
Thom MacIntyre	....	hair stylist (as Thom McIntyre)
Cheri Minns	....	hair stylist: Robin Williams
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist: Robin Williams
Gina Sherritt	....	assistant hair stylist
Bill Terezakis	....	special makeup effects designer (uncredited)
Vince Yoshida	....	fabricator (uncredited)

Production Management
Brad Arensman	....	post-production supervisor
Crawford Hawkins	....	post-production supervisor: Vancouver
Mandy Spencer-Phillips	....	unit manager
Wendy Williams	....	production manager (as Wendy S. Williams)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Arnold	....	second assistant director (as David K. Arnold)
Michael Johannsen	....	trainee assistant director
Vincent Lascoumes	....	first assistant director
Fiona Winning	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Karie Adkens	....	props buyer
Peter Bodnarus	....	art department assistant
Eddie Boulier	....	scenic helper
Jim Bridge	....	sculptor
Roger Busque	....	location foreman
Lee Campbell	....	buyer
Anil Chauhan	....	lead hand
Brent Chernencoff	....	painter (as Brent R.A. Chernencoff)
Janet Clark	....	assistant set decorator (as Janet E. Clark)
Claude Clement	....	scenic helper
David Dague	....	construction coordinator (as David R. Dague)
Darian Deering	....	set dresser
Adam Drake	....	scenic helper
Rain Draper	....	head greensman
Lee Drummond-Hay	....	lead painter
Frank Duignan	....	painter
David 'Pops' Fukakusa	....	construction foreman
Antonio Germinario	....	first assistant property master (as Antonio Rocco Germinario)
Chris Gilmour	....	lead dresser
Blair Gough	....	laborer
Reg Gray	....	lead greens (as Reg Gay)
Scott Gray	....	leadman
Rick Guetre	....	laborer
Ilja Hargas	....	scenic painter
Chris Hayward	....	stand-by painter
Brian Jansen	....	scenic carpenter
John R. Johnston	....	scenic carpenter
Franziska Keller	....	art department coordinator
Brad Knull	....	scenic painter
Ralf Kroning	....	scenic carpenter
Steve Lamare	....	on-set dresser
Raymond Landry	....	scenic carpenter (as Ray Landry)
Herb Leggett	....	lead hand
Andrew Li	....	draftsperson
Peter Lieshout	....	lead painter
Brad Longmuir	....	plasterer
Roderick MacDonald	....	plasterer
Lisa McMullen	....	set dresser
Harvey Moeller	....	scenic carpenter
Karen Mullen	....	props assistant (as Karen Keej Mullen)
Don Munich	....	stand-by carpenter
James Polkinghorne	....	scenic carpenter
Mathew Pooley	....	paint laborer
Stephen Pooley	....	signwriter
Hamish Purdy	....	buyer
Carl-Heinz Renker	....	auto sprayer
Hans Renker	....	auto sprayer
Jason Renker	....	painter
Dean Rossmo	....	construction buyer
Joe Sala	....	lead painter
Dennis Simard	....	set dresser
Clark Simcoe	....	lead hand
Dan Sissons	....	property master
Jayson Solyom	....	auto sprayer
Louis Solyom	....	paint coordinator
Derek Staniszewski	....	lead laborer
Peter Stepa	....	scenic helper
Gordon Stewart	....	set dresser
Peter Stratford	....	assistant art director
Gary Tehennepe	....	scenic carpenter
Dave Tennant	....	key greens (as David Tennant)
Bruce Timko	....	lead hand
Adel Linda Will	....	paint laborer
Randy M. Will	....	paint laborer
K.E. Zelmer	....	tool maintenance
Osheen Harruthoonyan	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Scott Aitken	....	sound assistant (as Scott Reid Aitken)
David Betancourt	....	foley mixer
Thom Brennan	....	foley editor
Eddie Bydalek	....	sound mix assistant
Mark Coffey	....	sound transfer
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
Anthony J. Giacinti	....	boom operator
Aaron Glascock	....	supervising sound editor
Alexandra Gonzales	....	dialogue editor
Jake Jackson	....	assistant mix engineer
Andrea Lakin	....	sound mix assistant
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Oscar Mitt	....	assistant sound editor
Myron Nettinga	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kira Roessler	....	dialogue editor (as Kira)
Curt Schulkey	....	supervising sound editor
George Simpson	....	sound effects editor
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist (as Alicia Irwin)
Larry Sutton	....	sound mixer
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound effects editor
Eric Maran	....	sound dailies (uncredited)
David Yonson	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Dillon Armitage	....	special effects assistant
Dan Clark	....	special effects assistant (as Dan Clarke)
James G. Fisher	....	special effects assistant
David K'shin Gendron	....	special effects first assistant (as David 'K'shin' Gendron)
Ian Korver	....	special effects assistant
Robert Rockhill	....	special effects fabricator
Randy Shymkiw	....	special effects coordinator
Kevin J. Andruschak	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Burgess	....	stunts
Yves Cameron	....	stunts
Lauro Chartrand	....	stunt double: Mr. Pacino
Dean Choe	....	stunts
Duane Dickinson	....	stunt double
Duane Dickinson	....	stunts
Yvette Jackson	....	stunt double: Ms. Swank
Ron James	....	stunts
Kristene Kenward	....	stunts
Ken Kirzinger	....	stunt coordinator
Kit Mallet	....	stunt double: Mr. Donovan
Mike Mitchell	....	stunt double: Mr. Williams
Shawn C. Orr	....	stunt double: Mr. Pacino
Jacob Rupp	....	stunts
Marshall Virtue	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Steven A. Adelson	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Steven A. Adelson	....	steadicam operator
Artino Ahmadi	....	camera trainee
David Barritt	....	rigger
Justin Bergler	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Hans Bjerno	....	camera operator: SpaceCam
Gregg Campbell	....	grip (as Greggor Campbell)
Rob Chamryk	....	rigging best boy
Dean Collins	....	rigging grip
Herb Crowder	....	camera trainee
Drew David	....	grip
Drew Davidson	....	gaffer
Ken Decker	....	generator operator
John Dines	....	lamp operator
Dan Gorval	....	best boy grip
David Goyer	....	generator operator
Andy Guichon	....	best boy rigger (as Andy D.J. Guichon)
Dave Hamm	....	lamp operator
Taylor Matheson	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kevin McCloy	....	rigger
Rob McEwan	....	still photographer
Lee Miller	....	lamp operator
Ryan Monro	....	dolly grip
Gary J. Morneau	....	camera car
Kim Olsen	....	key grip (as Kimberly T. Olsen)
Larry Portmann	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Pete Romano	....	underwater director of photography
Derek Saari	....	rigger
Ian Seabrook	....	first assistant camera: underwater camera
Aki Shigematsu	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Steve Vincent	....	best boy electric
Keith Woods	....	rigging gaffer (as Keith S. Woods)
Randy Peterson	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Stephanie Boeke	....	extras casting
Susan Taylor Brouse	....	casting: Canada (as Susan Brouse)
Lynne Carrow	....	casting: Canada
Angela Hamre	....	casting assistant: Canada
Julia Reid	....	extras casting assistant
Jamie Sparer Roberts	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (as Jamie Sparer)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Derek J. Baskerville	....	costumer: Mr. Williams
Tess Brummitt	....	truck costumer (as Teresa Brummitt)
Karin Nosella	....	assistant costume designer
Sandra Watson	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Jim Bruce	....	assistant editor
Cheryl Buckman	....	assistant film editor: Vancouver
Amy Ferraris	....	editing intern
Diane Fraser	....	post-production assistant: Vancouver
Sheila MacDowell	....	first assistant editor (as Sheila Macdowell)
Pablo Prietto	....	assistant editor
Fred Raskin	....	assistant editor
Shelly Theaker	....	assistant film editor: Vancouver
Lucyna Wojciechowski	....	first assistant editor (as Lucy Wojciechowski)
Laura Behary	....	first assistant editor (uncredited)
Thor Roos	....	color timer: dailies transfer (uncredited)

Music Department
Becky Bentham	....	music coordinator: Air-Edel Associates Limited
Dominique Durand	....	composer: song "One More Last Kiss" (as Domnique Durand)
Alex Gibson	....	music editor
Danny Gill	....	composer: song "Thinking About You"
Danny Gill	....	music performers: "Thinking About You"
Tom Hannen	....	assistant music recording engineer
Martyn Harry	....	orchestrator
Nick Ingman	....	conductor
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances
Steve Orchard	....	music mix engineer
Maggie Rodford	....	music coordinator: Air-Edel Associates Limited
Mike Ross-Trevor	....	music recording engineer
Curtis Skelton	....	composer: song "Thinking About You"
Curtis Skelton	....	music performers: "Thinking About You"
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader

Transportation Department
Bob Black	....	driver
Larry Boyce	....	driver: Mr. Williams
Cliff Brown	....	transportation captain
Don Davey	....	driver: Mr. Nolan
Raymond Fairchild	....	driver (as Ray Fairchild)
Nigel Habgood	....	picture car wrangler
Glen Hunter	....	driver
Lavine Journault	....	driver
Jack Lopatinsky	....	driver: Mr. Pacino
Tom Mawyer	....	driver: Mr. Pacino's trailer
Ken Meier	....	driver
Gary J. Morneau	....	transportation co-captain
Sylvia Nablo	....	transportation coordinator
Terry Noble	....	driver
Bert Prevost	....	driver
Frank Stastny	....	driver
Glenn Steer	....	driver
Guy Steer	....	driver
Terry Storey	....	driver
Ken Telford	....	driver
Mark Voisin	....	driver
Brian Waltho	....	driver
Erin Wilson	....	driver: Ms. Swank
Gary Wilson	....	driver: Mr. Williams' trailer

Other crew
C.B.D. Adams	....	assistant location manager
Martin Alcala	....	production accountant
Alan Bartolic	....	assistant location manager
Alan Bartolic	....	location scout
Barbara Beeby	....	craft service
Barbara Beeby	....	first aid
Art Bennett	....	security captain
Jacque Blackstone	....	projectionist (as Jacques Blackstone)
Adam Bryant	....	photo double: Mr. Williams
Adam Bryant	....	stand-in: Mr. Williams
Phil Buhler	....	utility stand-in: male
Charlene Callihoo	....	production accountant
Billy Capucilli	....	photo double: Mr. Pacino
Billy Capucilli	....	stand-in: Mr. Pacino
Dwayne Christie	....	key set production assistant
Chris Cozens	....	click track
Lou Crisa	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino
Dan Crosby	....	marine coordinator
Jason Crosby	....	assistant marine coordinator
Peter Cummings	....	clearance coordinator
Andrzej Dec	....	key set production assistant
Paul Duke	....	chef: Mondo Motion Picture Caterers
Lisa Eastham	....	accounting clerk
Jeff Elliot	....	key set production assistant (as Jeff Elliott)
Christopher Fealy	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson & Mr. Kosove
Will Fearn	....	location manager
Michael Feuerhelm	....	assistant: Mr. Witt
Jim Filippone	....	spacecam pilot
John Formichella	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson & Mr. Kosove
Steven Forster	....	assistant chef: Mondo Motion Picture Caterers
Patricia Foster	....	first assistant production coordinator
Steve Foster	....	boat wrangler
Julia Frittaion	....	unit publicist
Gerry Ganger	....	spacecam technician (as Gerald Ganger)
Peter D. Gebhard	....	security officer
Michael Goldberg	....	production controller
Louisa Gradnitzer	....	location manager
Rob Graham	....	computer playback operator
Simon Hall	....	computer playback operator (as Simon C. Hall)
Robyn Harwood	....	assistant: Mr. Wegner
Danny Ho	....	computer playback supervisor
Rae-Anne Horsley	....	assistant: Ms. Swank
Jamie Humphrey	....	craft service
Jamie Humphrey	....	first aid
Brian Jansen	....	first aid
Paul Jasper	....	animal trainer
Tim Judge	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino
David Julyan	....	electronic programmer
Lorne Kostyshin	....	craft service
Lorne Kostyshin	....	first aid
Kyle Leydier	....	assistant: Mr. McDonnell
Karen Lo	....	key set production assistant
Glen Lougheed	....	location scout
Gwen MacQueen	....	accounting clerk
Caitlin Maloney	....	assistant: Mr. Soderbergh
Andrew Marles	....	production assistant
Bliss McDonald	....	first assistant production coordinator
Michelle McKay	....	assistant: Mr. Schlissel
Mike D. Meisner	....	security officer
Chris Miller	....	technical consultant
Sam Montiforte	....	post-production accountant
Kelly Moon	....	script supervisor
Eva Morgan	....	production coordinator
Amy Morrison	....	second assistant production coordinator
Ross Muirhead	....	assistant location manager: Stewart
Ryan Nazar	....	production assistant: Mr. Pacino
Pat Nelson	....	boat wrangler
Michael Pagliari	....	assistant: Mr. McDonnell
Dan Perri	....	title designer: main title sequence
Michael Price	....	click track
Andrew Mark Rochfort	....	key set production assistant
Cam Rolfe	....	boat wrangler (as Cam Rolffe)
Robyn Ross	....	photo double: Ms. Swank
Robyn Ross	....	stand-in: Ms. Swank
John Sanderson	....	video coordinator
Michele Lee Shellenberg	....	assistant payroll accountant (as Michele Lee)
Dale Sims	....	key set production assistant
Molly Smith	....	set assistant: Mr. Johnson and Mr. Kosove
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Williams
Tom Stenner	....	boat wrangler
Andrew Sych	....	spacecam technician
Jamie Reid Tait	....	production assistant: Mr. Pacino (as Jamie Tait)
Zack Tebb-Day	....	assistant chef: Mondo Motion Picture Caterers
Kelli Turner	....	office production assistant
Nancy Vibert	....	assistant accountant
Kyle Weldon	....	key set production assistant
Chris Wilson	....	key set production assistant
Steve Wright	....	spacecam pilot
Daniel Zueff	....	boat wrangler (as Dan Zueff)
Herb DeWaal	....	diver (uncredited)
Kevin Field	....	production executive (uncredited)
Derek Guiley	....	production executive (uncredited)
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative (uncredited)
Marie Hock	....	production assistant: locations (uncredited)
Amy Morrison	....	second assistant production coordinator (uncredited)
Carla Spizziri	....	first assistant accountant (uncredited)
Scott Steyns	....	playback coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Alcon Entertainment
• Insomnia Productions
• Section Eight (as A Section Eight Production)
• Summit Entertainment
• Witt/Thomas Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (an AOL Time Warner company)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Central Partnership (2002) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Channel Nine Entertainment Ltd. (2002) (India) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• Líder Films (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Net5 (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Odeon (2002) (Greece) (theatrical)
• PlayArte Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Air Studios  music mixed at (as Air Studios London)
• Air-Edel Associates  music coordination
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring
• Background, The  voice casting (as The Background)
• BiPack  main title composites (as Bipack. Inc.)
• Dakota Music Services  music preparation
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty provided by
• Isobel Griffiths Limited  musicians contractor
• Kleinberg Lopez Lange Brisbin and Cuddy  production legal services (as Kleinberg Lopez Lange Cuddy & Edel LLP)
• Los Angeles Times  reprinted by permission
• Mondo Motion Picture Catering  catering (as Mondo Motion Picture Caterers)
• Near North Insurance Brokerage  production insurance provided by (as Near North Insurance Brokerage)
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Sharpe Sound Studios  adr recording
• Sony Music Studios  music recorded at (as Sony Studios London)
• Spacecam Systems  spacecam aerial camera system provided by
• Tattersall Casablanca  adr recording
• The Reel Masters  negative cutting
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  sound re-recorded at (as Todd Studios West)
• Vancouver Island Air & Sea  float plane supplied by
• Weddington Productions  sound editorial services
• West Media Film  computer playback (as West Media Film and Post)
• William F. White International  grip and electric equipment

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and brief nudity.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

New Zealand:M | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Brazil:12 | Malaysia:U (edited version) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #38845)

Filming Locations:

Alaska, USA

Company:

Alcon Entertainment

Trivia:

Emily Perkins is credited as Emily Jane Perkins. Her name is, in fact, Emily Jean Perkins.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the character is dying on the beach, the blood smear on his cheek changes noticeably between shots.

Quotes:

Fred Duggar: What has two thumbs and likes blowjobs?
[Points to himself with both thumbs]
Fred Duggar: This guy!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Batman: The Journey Begins (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Sparks

Great, compelling piece of work!

I was really looking forward to this film, and I'm glad to say that I wasn't the least bit disappointed. First of all, I was glad to see Al Pacino on screen again. It seems like it's been a while since I've seen him on screen. I think the last film he was in was "Any Given Sunday." Pacino yet again delivers a brilliant performance, strapping the audience in for a wild ride through the emotionally scarred mind of Detective Will Dormer. It seemed like I could feel his every emotion throughout the course of the movie. Because this is a character-driven story that revolves around Dormer, his pain, anguish and guilt on account of accidentally taking his partner's life, constant insomnia and subsequent threats by his nemesis, played by Robin Williams as a writer of trashy detective novels who's fascinated by Dormer and blackmails him by threatening to spill out the secret of Dormer shooting his partner. As for Robin Williams, he is fully convincing as the reclusive novelist/murderer of a 17-year-old girl. I suspected, from the trailers, that he'd play a serial killer. I wouldn't exactly classify his character as a serial killer, but he is the antagonist and a murderer and Williams plays the role perfectly, never underplaying it and never overplaying it. He could've went over-the-top, playing a totally ruthless killer who cackles at the thought of murdering someone in cold blood. Though he's not our sympathetic character, you do feel sympathy for him at times. And I like how the story creates this little cat-and-mouse game between the two characters, each one plagued by skeletons in the closet. Oscar-winner Hilary Swank delivers another fine performance, and I was stunned to see how amazingly attractive she looks, after having seen her gender-bending role as Brandon Teena in "Boys Don't Cry."

Christopher Nolan is the acclaimed director of "Memento" and he scores yet again, with this beautifully constructed thriller. I was intrigued from start to finish. Nolan's use of lighting is dark and murky, wonderfully setting the noirish tone. Nolan shows great promise as an up-and-coming director, and with a good outlet he can possibly become the next Kubrick. I greatly look forward to seeing his next project, whenever that may be.

I recommend "Insomnia" to anyone who loved Nolan's previous "Memento" or anyone who simply enjoys a great, multi-faceted mystery/thriller that will keep you guessing at every turn. I think it's too early to vote this movie as one of the best films of 2002, but it's a possible candidate. We don't see too many "great" films anymore, and whenever they're out there it's good to take advantage.

My score: 9 (out of 10)