52) InsomniaDirector: Erik SkjoldbjaergYear: 1997Plot Summary: A police detective is sent from Sweden to investigate the murder of a teenage girl in Norway. However, he accidentally shoot his own partner when trying to apprehend a suspect. Instead of admitting his guilt, he covers up the truth.This is the original foreign language version of Christopher Nolan's remake which I reviewed here:
There are many similarities so please read that prior to this review.
Insomnia may be one of the very first times I've seen a remake which has improved on the original version.
While, of course, Erik Skjoldbjaerg must be given a lot of credit for creating the original idea, I believe Nolan's version worked a lot better in capturing the protagonist's sleep-deprived state with the jump cuts, the quick flashes and the disorientating camerawork.
Moreover, the remake had a lot more depth and was far more engrossing as it had the extra sub-plot about the Internal Affairs investigation which is occurring while the main character is on his assignment. This sub-plot also helps to make the Alaskan location in the remake resemble a purgatory-like state where Pacino's character is stuck while he revisits the guilt of this actions. It also helps to add to the reason why he shot his own partner: Was it malicious or was it because of a lack of sleep?
That's not to say the original version isn't worth watching though. There are a number of things that are far more admirable in this Norwegian and Swedish co-production.
First of all, unlike the American version, it allows the audience to think for themselves as to why certain events take place. They aren't explained unrealistically for the viewer's expense. Furthermore, there is a constant over-exposure in the cinematography that helps provide an interesting twist on the usual noir genre conventions: instead of the use of shadow and darkness to represent the sordid narratives, here it is something that is prayed for instead of the searing light.
Most of all, it was much darker in its tone than the American version. An interested contrast between the two is when the main character shoots a dog and cuts it open to get the bullet back and, therefore, plant evidence. In the remake, the dog is already dead while it's still alive in the original, Even more so is the scene in which the detective drives the deceased's friend to where the body was dumped. In this version, he actually gives in to the girl's seduction instead of ignoring it in the American version. Maybe it's because of these darker themes that Stellen Skarsgard's performance is much more fascinating that Al Pacino.
However, if I had to choose between watching one or the other, controversially, I would actually choose the American version. I know, I feel disgusted with myself too, but I think Nolan does a superb job of taking a fantastic concept and a decent movie and elevating it to the standards of a classic Hitchcock thriller.
3/5
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