Insomnia – Blu-ray Review

The Film:

Pre-Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan was quietly proving he could handle the larger scaled detective with his keen eye into characters, but post-Inception, it’s interesting to see something like Insomnia that only in hindsight showcased what most have failed to understand about Nolan. Outside of the immense praise he’s received from his last two films – The Dark Knight and Inception – out from under the billion dollars has come a backlash against him, and that is only a product of this Internet culture, who is quick to praise and turn against that praise. Nolan never gets caught up into the politics of the business, only focuses his energy on each film, one at a time, making each as good as the last. In this day-and-age of film, what’s wrong with that?

So revisiting Insomnia, the film of his that’s sort of been forgotten under the cape and cowl of Batman, has only came to reaffirm his calculate control of story and character. It’s a puzzle that takes time to piece together, a collection of mysteries and gray areas of a detective who is a good, but flawed man, that will be explored better in The Dark Knight. Al Pacino plays a that detective, a L.A. hot shot who has famously made headlines – good and bad. He’s called upon, in this always in day time town in Alaska, for his expertise to solve a mysterious murder of a young girl.

Simple set-up, that in Nolan fashion, gets sketchy and more involved from that plot point, into a tightly constructed thriller. It’s moody, with some brilliant cinematography in the fog, that adds to Pacino’s character, in my opinion, as he his actions and his past become blurred. Redemption is quality Nolan has continued to explore, and with his third Batman film on the way, is surely going to continue. In his catalog, it’s easy to see why Insomnia gets overlooked. It’s far from flashy or exhilarating, like his recent action pictures, and has a somber mood throughout. Dark, moody, involving, Insomnia is just a good film from a director who has continuously put out good films.

So what’s wrong with that again?

The Blu-ray:

Audio/Video: WB offers a striking HD video presentation. Even though the film is set in a rainy and foggy atmosphere, the clarity and detail in the transfer is very high. No grain is apparent, but that’ not because of DNR. The blues and gray are strong and when we get flashes of color, like blood red or green foliage, it just pops. Look for the chase sequence across the river for a prime example why this transfer is superb. The DTS track enables us to get involved with the mystery as it’s never overpowering but fits the film’s mood nicely. Loud at times, but able to handle the atmospherics of the foggy city perfectly.

First of all, kudos to WB for a stellar cover art. The DVD featured a black background and huge heads.

Commentary: Here’s a unique approach to this feature. Normally, the director talks over the finished product. But Nolan and WB rearrange the film into the film’s shooting order, which allows for an engaging chat about the process of filming. Through this chronicle of the shooting order of the production, Nolan chats about the actor’s process in finding their characters in this non-linear format, shooting on location, and other tidbits. This creates a more intimate feel to the commentary.

Scene Specific Commentaries: Hilary Swank, screenwriter Hillary Seitz, director of photography Wally Pfister, production designer Nathan Crowley, and editor Dody Dorn all participate in the selective commentary. The best way to get them all is the play all feature. Not as good as Nolan’s solo track, but this compliments his nicely.

All extras are in SD, sadly.

Day for Night: This is a short EPK making-of that isn’t bad. Offers up some nice interviews, running 8 minutes.

180 Degrees: This is a great piece, even if the audio is low. Nolan and Pacino in 2002 chat candidly with each other about the characters, the film, and movies in general.

Rounding out the extras is In the Fog, a short piece of Cinematographer Wally Pfister and Production Designer Nathan Crowley talking about their work; Eyes Wide Open is an EPK piece on insomnia that’s decent; one deleted scene with optional commentary; Stills Gallery; and a Trailer.

Conclusion: A solid thriller that focuses more on moral dilemmas that a twist ending, thankfully. Solid Blu-ray from Warners.

The Film: Rating:

The Blu-ray: Rating: