Insomnia (2002)

This Hollywood remake of the 1997 original preserves the substance, whilst relocating it to Alaska and making it more violent (verbally and visually) and glamorous(emblematically substituting a wide-eyed Hilary Swank for a plain Jane cop). It also invests more into the plot and to some extent cleans up the central character, making him less morally degenerate than resolutely pragmatic (ie. the end justifies the means).

Al Pacino is in his element as the strung-out loner cop trying to hang onto to his self-identity. Robin Williams in an against-type role. whilst not an embarrasment, is like a ventriloquist with his puppet, and is far less convincing than his grubby counterpart in the original film.

Overall this makes for quite an engaging thriller, in comparison with its forbear, there are gains and losses, and the tow films come out more or less equally satisfying. Something which, given the sorry history of Hollywood remakes, must be considered an achievement. 

 

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