Insomnia

by Robert Westbrook

A famous Los Angeles detective and his partner head for Alaska to investigate a murder and come face-to-face with a local cop who soon discovers there is more to the case--and the out-of-town sleuths--than he had orginally thought.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Media Tie In

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 15, 2002

Reviews

[Διόνυσος Ελευθέριος · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie Insomnia, so when I came across the “book,” I decided to read it as a way to experience the film again. I don’t actually have the book in front of me at the moment, but I seem to recall that the cover said it was adapted directly from the screenplay. Anyways, the printed version followed my memory of the movie with very great precision. One of the things I like most about this work is the theme of guilt. That seems to me to be the primary theme. And, not to disappoint those of you who are by now accustomed to my transforming virtually everything I review through a Nietzschean lens, this very theme of guilt may be addressed in this film in a Nietzschean way. (Is that why, I wonder, I liked the film so much?) Guilt is the haunting force that drives the whole plot, and it does so in the most literally metaphoric way, too. Strangely, guilt in the film is represented by light. Or perhaps that is not so strange. In fact, Will Dormer (Al Pacino’s character) suffers from his very insomnia because of the ever-present light. Or is it caused by his guilt? Ah, now you see the connection. The major point (and the film is rich, so forgive me for, in the interests of brevity, my sacrificing all the other great points) seems to me to be: how do we confront our guilt? For Nietzsche, it seems that he promises humanity a way to move beyond our sense of guilt that we have incorporated after centuries of Christian sway. That means, it seems, acceptance and affirmation of what we are, and a termination of the mere belief of what we are not. We are not fallen creatures, doomed to our suffering for our inherently sinful natures. And the film? Will Dormer overcomes his guilt only at his death, so it seems the door can swing two ways: would he have continued to perpetuate his lie if he was going to live? Or does his transmitting the virtue of probity to Kay Connell represent a decisive shift? One wants to believe that he had accepted who he was and had at the same time freed himself from his guilt. Perhaps this interpretation is justified: Dormer’s final instructions to Kay are this: “Don't lose your way.” I.e., don’t be like me, who lost his way.

[Sarah-Grace (Azrael865) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A high-school girl is brutally murdered and two detectives, on loan from the LAPD Robbery/Homicide, arrive in Alaska to help the local police. The tensions are already high between the two LAPD partners. Back home they are under scrutiny from Internal Investigation.
Will Dormer, the senior partner, is a bit of a legend and the young Alaskan Detective, Ellie Burr, is looking forward to learning from him.
As the days pass Will finds himself unable to sleep on this land of midnight sun. He begins making mistakes and added to that, the killer decides to play cat and mouse with him.
This is a good story and I look forward to watching the movie. Robin Williams was such a great talent and I could imagine the intensity he would bring to his role on this story.

[Alexander Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Added by Lexi 9 years ago on 1 October 2008 11:50 http://www.listal.com/viewentry/151088

''You don't get it do you? You're my job. You're what I'm paid to do. You're about as mysterious to me as a blocked toilet is to a fucking plumber. Reasons for doing what you did? Who gives a fuck?''

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. Sleep is a distant memory, a game of wits...

Al Pacino: Detective Will Dormer

Robin Williams: Walter Finch

Insomnia(2002) is director Christopher Nolan's film after his masterful Memento. In this remake of a Norwegian film made in 1998 by Erik Skjoldbjaerg, Nolan has cast three Oscar winning knock outs - Al Pacino and Hillary Swank play police officers chasing down a dangerous psychopathic pedophilia killer played by Robin Williams.

Nolan sets the film in Alaska, and makes good use of the location, particularly in the opening credit sequence as the camera follows a two-engine prop plane across the unforgiving jagged ice ridges. A foot chase on moving logs provides excitement, but the best thrills here are of a psychological nature true to Nolan. This is a story for adults and deep thinkers.
Insomnia is a serious thriller that relies not merely upon action, but on issues addressing guilt, morality and consequence to mediate the storytelling to dizzying heights via an uncompromising truth. To do the right thing, or in this case, not to lose yourself but to find yourself again.
Al Pacino hands in his best performance not seen for what seems an age.
Robin Williams impresses, playing the homicidal Walter Finch with a chilling intensity that should forever mark his talents as not only a comedian but as a versatile acting talent. The Oscar win was well earned for Robin in Good Will Hunting for the Best Supporting Actor category.
Hilary Swank as the smart small-town cop delivers a multi-layered performance that is completely believable.

''You and I share a secret. We know how easy it is to kill someone. That ultimate taboo. It doesn't exist outside our own minds.''

The whole film is disorienting and confounding to the senses. If anyone knows what it's like to actually have insomnia, you will very much appreciate the hallucinations, the sudden flashes or the foreboding feel of time standing still. It really is clever how well it depicts what happens to an individual when they can't sleep; People's voices merge, sight alters as colours seem to become disorientated, light hurts the eyes, and fatigue so torturous that reality starts to become the dream. When in the film Al Pacino has to run around chasing a corrupted killer whom subtly is victorious upon controlling him and being looked at as the victim; you feel his pain. And as the movie goes on, you feel his need to succeed in sleeping.
We the audience begin to feel like Pacino's main protagonist, sleep deprived, sleep starved and desperately in need of it's touch. A drug always beyond reach, a savoury food or mouth watering drink always looming in the distance to the starved victim.
To watch a Nolan film, is to be swept away by the ambient sounds, and score; In this case David Julyan haunts us with droning indifference and then switches to emotionally charged energies. Insomnia is no exception from this equation. The misty town accompanied by the mysterious music offer a milestone of an achievement in helping show the isolation and the constant sunlight, which all aid the believability of insomnia.

The issues of guilt, remorse and vengeance are all studied and analysed in Insomnia, two years after Memento and Nolan literally carries on from where he left off; Utilizing an in-depth study of a range of characters played by an Award winning cast. The raw power of emotion, the shrouded mystery regarding confusion and deception breathing from their very pores.
In retrospective, Insomnia's pace is a mixture of acceleration and wallowing stillness complimenting the slows and fasts of the intricate thriller. Tragedy laced with a psychological struggle, where upon Cop and killer are pitted against each other. The killer having the advantage of a tormented, sleep deprived, guilt ridden nemesis to feed upon. Nolan's Insomnia is one to watch over and over and especially one to experience if you cannot find the urge to sleep. This is one psychological thriller you won't forget...Most importantly it shows you, compels you not to lose your way. Eternal peace can be found; Dormire.

''Let me sleep...Just let me sleep.''

[Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I stayed up to finish this book. True insomnia fashion. 6.5/10

[joaqui. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I guess it's about what you think is right at the time and wht you're willing to lie with."






adapted film:
insomnia (2002) dir. Christopher Nolan.

[Colleen Lahey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting!

[Lynette Pfahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw the movie first...it seemed the book was written after the movie came out. An ok book but hard to judge b/c it followed the movie line precisely so I knew exactly what would happen and when and the consequences.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was unable to see the movie however envisioned it as I read this paperback adaptation.

[Cody dondero · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was an awsome book!!!!!! verry suspensful

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, easy to read and understand. I haven't seen the movie, but now I have to.

[Booknblues · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining quick read. A novel written after the screenplay for the movie.
Set in Alaska. Main character cannot sleep because of midnight sun.
Mystery. Some unexpected developments.

[Carla Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book -- creepy, but good.