Nolan’s Most Forgettable Film? 'Insomnia' with Al Pacino Holds 7.2 but Fails to Impress
Even Tenet, for all its chaos, feels more alive.
Some films you can tell a director made with passion. Others feel like a job. For Christopher Nolan, Insomnia (2002) — a remake of a Nordic thriller — clearly leans toward the second category. It’s the only time he didn’t write the original script, and honestly, it shows.
Not a disaster, but definitely not a standout
I watched Insomnia out of curiosity — I’ve seen most of Nolan’s work and was surprised this one tends to fly under the radar. And I kind of see why. On the surface, everything works: Al Pacino plays a morally torn cop, Robin Williams surprises as a serial killer, and the atmosphere is chilly and grim.
But something’s missing. The pacing feels too safe, and the emotional impact never really lands.
Where’s Nolan’s signature style?
I couldn’t shake the feeling that anyone could’ve directed this. The clever structure, the big swings, the layered timelines — all the things I usually love in Nolan’s films — are absent. Even the insomnia element, which should’ve created paranoia and tension, feels oddly tame.
Robin Williams does bring something interesting to his role, but even he doesn’t quite light up the screen the way you’d expect. The film isn’t bad — it’s just… unmemorable.
Nolan himself called it underrated
Maybe. But to me, it’s just one of those movies you watch, feel nothing particularly strong about, and forget a few days later. There’s no aftershock, no scene you want to rewind. Compared to something like Tenet — flawed, yes, but bold — Insomnia is strangely forgettable.
