In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The original is a great, disturbing thriller. Nolan's remake is tepid in comparison. And as good as Pacino is, Skarsgard rocks it.

This is a well made film with vibrant cinematography, good direction and staging and a good central performance by Stellan Skarsgård which lends a bit of mystique to the character of the Jonas, the protagonist. But having said that I was underwhelmed by 'Insomnia'. As a matter of fact, having already seen Nolan's version, I'd have to say I prefer the remake over the original.Erik Skjoldbjærg's 'Insomnia' is a film ripe with nihilism just like a lot of crime-noirs. However unlike the dark and dreary visual texture that most noir films are known for, Skjoldbjærg plants his ideas of nihilism in the vibrant and inescapable sunlight of the Norwegian Arctic.After the accidental killing of his partner, we see Jonas leave no stone unturned to cover up the reality and consequently go through intense inner struggle with his conscience never leaving him alone just like the bright sun. However this particular struggle feels a bit hollow and less effective than the same struggle that Pacino's character undergoes in Nolan's remake because of a specific story element. In the remake, right from the beginning, the relationship between Pacino's character and his partner is established to be one of mutual animosity. Hence when he accidentally kills his partner, he goes through an inner crisis and self doubt about whether it really was an accident or whether he subconsciously carried out one of latent desires. The animosity between the two also gives Pacino's character a genuine reason to hide the reality in order to avoid any fledgling doubts in the minds of the others. In Skjoldbjærg's film the relationship between Jonas(Skarsgård) and his partner is normal and friendly. Hence due to the absence of any animosity in the relationship, Jonas' decision to hide the reality of what happened to his partner in the crime scene seems hollow and unreasonable. We are given subtle hints that maybe an inherent darkness and propensity for the immoral has always been inside Jonas and this particular incident triggers his deep descension. We see Jonas fall further and further into the depths of iniquity, similar to the protagonist's actions in 'Bad Lieutenant', but without its running theme of self-loathing which made 'Bad Lieutenant' poignant.In the end, 'Insomnia' is a well made, but hollow film which is willing to show unreasonable nihilism without a rich exploration of the characters. Unfortunately, it's a bit forgettable.

Although I wasn't totally disappointed with the American version, I didn't exactly biase towards it too. The moment I learned there is an original, I wanted to see it and I expected great things from it. Well, I guess my expectations were a little too high...The original is better, just not in the league I thought it would be. The plot is familiar, although many things seem to be very different in both versions, starting with the fact that this version is more "natural", as expected in an European film. The pacing is slow, there is little action although there is some tension and "agitation". The roles are generally well portrayed by the actors.

I watched the 2002 remake of "Insomnia" with Al Pacino when it came out. I found it to be an excellent thriller, not least because of the powerful performances from the actors (especially Robin Williams). But also because of the very unreal mood throughout the movie. Something correlating nicely with the story of Pacinos sleep-depraved cop on mission in Alaska, not coping with the around-the-clock sunlight very well.It was a lot more difficult getting to see the Norwegian original movie. But finally they showed it on TV so that i could record it. Comparing the two versions is unavoidable, deciding which one i prefer is a lot more difficult though. I can say however that watching the original has made my appreciation of the remake even higher. Christopher Nolan is an intelligent director and his remake is great proof of that. He has successfully captured the mood and essence of the story, keeping the most effective scenes from the original and adding other scenes that fit well into the story and help adapt it to the US instead of Norway.The acting in the original is generally good. I find Robin Williams performance as the killer hard to beat though. When it comes to the lead, Skarsgård is even more fit for the role of the haggard and worn-down policeman riddled with insomnia than Pacino. Skarsgård sometimes feels like the actor who gave the expression "haggard" a face.In the end i guess most people in the American audience, and also perhaps most other parts of the world, would prefer the remake of this movie. The pace is slightly higher in the remake, the style more modern and the actors of course more recognizable. This movie also feels a little less polished, but in my opinion it has just as much to offer. And if for no other reason, the original is worth watching because it highlights why the remake is such a feat. Recommended.7/10