+ Expand All

Readers Talkback

• Jun 18, 2002 3:03:29 PM CDT

  ax-grinding

  by abcdefz2

  Wow. I don't know what this guy's problem is, but I thought Nolan's Insomnia was a fine movie. Not great, and it doesn't have the depth and complexity that Memento has, but it works just fine. And to charge that he doesn't have a command of space -- maybe he's thinking of the scene in the fog, which is intended to be murky and confusing; because the scene on the logs was very good, and the underwater moments were practically as choking as the mountain sequence in Kurosawa's Dreams. And talk about command of the audience -- how about the big laugh when he wants to go to the high school to confront the boy only to be reminded of the endless daylight; how about when the hotel manager is in Pacino's room and he complains of the brightness and she illustrates to him how dark the room indeed is? By that point in the film, the audience, too, sees every crack of light as a violation, and that moment is very revealing. Nolan is three for three in my book, and his thematic concerns seem to be adult morality (again, less complex in Insomnia than his other two films); that makes him one to root for, if you ask me.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content Wow. I don't know what this guy's problem is, but I thought Nolan's Insomnia was a fine movie. Not great, and it doesn't have the depth and complexity that Memento has, but it works just fine. And to charge that he doesn't have a command of space -- maybe he's thinking of the scene in the fog, which is intended to be murky and confusing; because the scene on the logs was very good, and the underwater moments were practically as choking as the mountain sequence in Kurosawa's Dreams. And talk about command of the audience -- how about the big laugh when he wants to go to the high school to confront the boy only to be reminded of the endless daylight; how about when the hotel manager is in Pacino's room and he complains of the brightness and she illustrates to him how dark the room indeed is? By that point in the film, the audience, too, sees every crack of light as a violation, and that moment is very revealing. Nolan is three for three in my book, and his thematic concerns seem to be adult morality (again, less complex in Insomnia than his other two films); that makes him one to root for, if you ask me.

• Jun 18, 2002 3:31:15 PM CDT

  STOP THE PRESSES!!!

  by halloween68

  I can't believe it. I actually agree with the half-wit for the first and probably last time. Insomnia does disappoint. That said, it still doesn't change the fact that Ethan is a left nut hair away from being a sphinkter puss.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content I can't believe it. I actually agree with the half-wit for the first and probably last time. Insomnia does disappoint. That said, it still doesn't change the fact that Ethan is a left nut hair away from being a sphinkter puss.

• Jun 18, 2002 4:50:51 PM CDT

  Why hate on Robin Williams?

  by ignorance

  Ethan doesn't give a reason for that comment. Granted all of the movies he has been in haven't been exactly wonderful, but there is no denying that he is a talented actor. Does anyone know why he wrote that?

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content Ethan doesn't give a reason for that comment. Granted all of the movies he has been in haven't been exactly wonderful, but there is no denying that he is a talented actor. Does anyone know why he wrote that?

• Jun 18, 2002 7:02:22 PM CDT

  huh

  by tyler42

  There was not a damn thing wrong with Insomnia. The story was engaging, the way it was presented added to a great story, and the acting was dead on. When you have crap like Scooby Doo coming out why do we have to listen to jackasses ripping to shreds the few good movies that are actually worth our time and money. Fuck you whoever you are and go slither back under the rock from which you came.......oh and take your 'review' with you.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content There was not a damn thing wrong with Insomnia. The story was engaging, the way it was presented added to a great story, and the acting was dead on. When you have crap like Scooby Doo coming out why do we have to listen to jackasses ripping to shreds the few good movies that are actually worth our time and money. Fuck you whoever you are and go slither back under the rock from which you came.......oh and take your 'review' with you.

• Jun 18, 2002 9:04:16 PM CDT

  Reactionary does not mean "A step too late"

  by rain_dog

  You pretentious jackass.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content You pretentious jackass.

• Jun 18, 2002 10:29:18 PM CDT

  Fuck this guy

  by frank_serpico

  This guy is full of the stuff which fertilizes grass . INSOMNIA is a magnificent movie and a great remake which doesnt depend on the orignal for its greatness . Pacino and Nolan once again prove that they are at the top of their respective games while this guy is so full of shit that he probably farts instead of breathing .

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content This guy is full of the stuff which fertilizes grass . INSOMNIA is a magnificent movie and a great remake which doesnt depend on the orignal for its greatness . Pacino and Nolan once again prove that they are at the top of their respective games while this guy is so full of shit that he probably farts instead of breathing .

• Jun 19, 2002 12:46:14 AM CDT

  Insomnia vs. Insomnia

  by osgood sigerson

  Is it pointless to compare the original with the American version? Probably, but here's my $0.02: I didn't like the new version. Now, I certainly didn't want or expect both films to be exactly the same, but they removed a lot of the film that worked for me. Part of the heart of the original film was it's moral ambiguity, particularly with the main character. Pacino has internal affairs on him because he broke the rules in the name of justice, Stellan Skarsgard has internal affairs on him because he committed a questionable error in judgement. Pacino simply drives the teenage girl to the dump, Skarsgard feels her up on the way there. Pacino never loses control around the hotel clerk like Skarsgard did. I could go on. Hypothetical conversation- Suits at Warners: "We can't have Al Pacino being that unhinged, the public will never buy it. He's the main character, he has to be the hero." "Yeah, and the animal rights people will have a fit if he shoots a dog, what are we going to do about that?" "Oh, I know, have the dog already be dead!" "Right, right, that works. But we still need to make Pacino more heroic." "Well, let's change the ending..." I didn't like that new ending. It smacked of sentimental American cinema. I've got my Criterion DVD of the original, and that's all I need. Now Donnie Darko, that's a movie that doesn't smack of sentimental American cinema. Frank rules.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content Is it pointless to compare the original with the American version? Probably, but here's my $0.02: I didn't like the new version. Now, I certainly didn't want or expect both films to be exactly the same, but they removed a lot of the film that worked for me. Part of the heart of the original film was it's moral ambiguity, particularly with the main character. Pacino has internal affairs on him because he broke the rules in the name of justice, Stellan Skarsgard has internal affairs on him because he committed a questionable error in judgement. Pacino simply drives the teenage girl to the dump, Skarsgard feels her up on the way there. Pacino never loses control around the hotel clerk like Skarsgard did. I could go on. Hypothetical conversation- Suits at Warners: "We can't have Al Pacino being that unhinged, the public will never buy it. He's the main character, he has to be the hero." "Yeah, and the animal rights people will have a fit if he shoots a dog, what are we going to do about that?" "Oh, I know, have the dog already be dead!" "Right, right, that works. But we still need to make Pacino more heroic." "Well, let's change the ending..." I didn't like that new ending. It smacked of sentimental American cinema. I've got my Criterion DVD of the original, and that's all I need. Now Donnie Darko, that's a movie that doesn't smack of sentimental American cinema. Frank rules.

• Jun 19, 2002 7:42:03 AM CDT

  Thumbs down on this review!

  by jabbathenutt

  WTF is this reviewer on anyway?? This guy says Insomnia is not up to Chris Nolan's standards. How the hell do you know? Nolan hasn't exactly helmed a plethora of films on which to base that comment on.
  
  The reviewer says "Nolan is the man known for great indie flicks whose clumsy major fillers nobody wants to see.". Well, there is nothing like jumping to conclusions on the basis of Insomnia. But to the converse - the film has pulled in what... $60 million domestically? So it is already in the black. Add in overseas, then DVD rentals/sales, and cable showings - and you have a nice profit.
  
  My review of this reviewer is that he is doing 1 of 2 things: (1) Making nonsensical statements to generate some form of controversy (2) Completing ill-prepared, poorly thought-out reviews. Neither of these possibilities is interesting to read. Don't worry about Nolan winding up disgustingly sad, i believe it may be you.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content WTF is this reviewer on anyway?? This guy says Insomnia is not up to Chris Nolan's standards. How the hell do you know? Nolan hasn't exactly helmed a plethora of films on which to base that comment on. The reviewer says "Nolan is the man known for great indie flicks whose clumsy major fillers nobody wants to see.". Well, there is nothing like jumping to conclusions on the basis of Insomnia. But to the converse - the film has pulled in what... $60 million domestically? So it is already in the black. Add in overseas, then DVD rentals/sales, and cable showings - and you have a nice profit. My review of this reviewer is that he is doing 1 of 2 things: (1) Making nonsensical statements to generate some form of controversy (2) Completing ill-prepared, poorly thought-out reviews. Neither of these possibilities is interesting to read. Don't worry about Nolan winding up disgustingly sad, i believe it may be you.

• Jun 19, 2002 9:34:42 AM CDT

  german cinema

  by drjones

  aargh! if someone of you would have seen it...i ensure ya it would have made you puke. well during the past year i kept faith that the german cinema maybe comes back. there really were a few good movies...and even "der schuh des manitou" was cool, creative and funny(especially for german circumstances). but that award show showed that film has a very low status in our society. c`mon! it wasn`t easy to realize what that show was about!!!

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content aargh! if someone of you would have seen it...i ensure ya it would have made you puke. well during the past year i kept faith that the german cinema maybe comes back. there really were a few good movies...and even "der schuh des manitou" was cool, creative and funny(especially for german circumstances). but that award show showed that film has a very low status in our society. c`mon! it wasn`t easy to realize what that show was about!!!

• Jun 19, 2002 12:59:59 PM CDT

  cool,creative and funny?

  by al_shut

  Are you kidding me??? "Der Schuh des Manitu" was a horrible shitty movie. The only thing worse will be the gay Star Trek movie the director will do next.

  Reply to Talkback

  Subject

  Content Are you kidding me??? "Der Schuh des Manitu" was a horrible shitty movie. The only thing worse will be the gay Star Trek movie the director will do next.

User Login

Quick Talkback Form