Sightlines · reception
How Insomnia was received
2002 · Christopher Nolan · Insomnia on Sightlines
The arc
Warmly reviewed and a solid hit in 2002, it gradually became 'the forgotten Nolan' — routinely ranked last in Nolan filmographies before a steady wave of 'actually, it's underrated' reappraisals.
What’s debated
The perennial fight: is it a worthy remake or does Erik Skjoldbjærg's 1997 Norwegian original render it unnecessary — and is 'least Nolan-y Nolan film' an insult or a compliment?
Its footprint
It survives in the culture as the centerpiece of Robin Williams' famous 2002 'dark turn' (alongside One Hour Photo), and as the go-to exhibit whenever film Twitter argues about which Nolan movie everyone forgets.
Where it stands
The designated deep cut of the Nolan canon — the one cinephiles name-drop to prove they've done the full filmography.
Did you know? It's the only feature in Christopher Nolan's filmography he didn't write or co-write — and he got the job partly because Steven Soderbergh, who co-produced through Section Eight, championed him to Warner Bros after Memento.