Cheap Insomnia - Criterion Collection (DVD) (Stellan Skarsgård, Sverre Anker Ousdal) (Erik Skjoldbjærg) Price
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| ACTORS: | Stellan Skarsgård, Sverre Anker Ousdal |
| CATEGORY: | DVD |
| DIRECTOR: | Erik Skjoldbjærg |
| THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE: | 29 May, 1998 |
| MANUFACTURER: | Criterion Collection |
| MPAA RATING: | Unrated |
| FEATURES: | Color, Dolby, Widescreen |
| TYPE: | Foreign Film - Other |
| MEDIA: | DVD |
| # OF MEDIA: | 1 |
| UPC: | 037429138229 |
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Customer Reviews of Insomnia - Criterion Collection
Insomnia...A great Sleeper! Another excellent example that Americans weaned on Hollywood trash are really missing out on some fine cinema. This psychological thriller by first time director Skjoldbjaerg will leave you in high anticipation for his next release (and it can't come too soon). The storyline of this film is merely a foundation for the more important character study on the psychological decomposition of a man caught in a lie and unable to escape the truth (the midnight sun?).
The cinematography has a minimalist, stark beauty to it, but with a contemporary edge. Some of the interior scenes are reminiscent of an Edward Hopper painting, which subtly reinforce the protagonists cool detachment from his environment. If you like well constructed, intelligent, artistic movies without the hollywood pyrotechnics, check this movie out. You won't be disappointed
Overall, the DVD quality is excellent for sound and picture, except for one scene where digital artifacts flash across the screen (this may be just on my copy).
EYES WIDE OPEN
Let's imagine the same movie located in the Arizona desert instead of the arctic frontier and with a mexican-american cop hero instead of the swedish inspector lost in the utmost northern part of Norway. You've got it ? Good ! Don't you think that the plot of INSOMNIA looks more familiar now ? One could even say that hundreds of movies have already treated the subject of the detective breaking the law because of drugs abuse, heavy drinking or hot sun. So, don't judge INSOMNIA by its plot only, you would be disappointed.
In director Erik Skjoldbjaerg's INSOMNIA, presented by Criterion, chief inspector Engstroem has to struggle against the midnight sun, the six months a year 24/24 daylight and a permanent insomnia. Reflexes become less fast, reason and ethics are lost in the foggy landscapes of this strange part of the world and a fatal error of judgment can lead to a succession of law-breakings that wouldn't have happened if only Engstroem could have slept.
Very good cinematography with a zest of agreeable arty effects makes of INSOMNIA a film to watch. At least, once. Superb menu from Criterion with, alas, poor extra-features. Sound and audio perfect for me.
A National Geographic DVD.
best version of the two
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
This is the original Norwegian version. The film was later remade starring Al Pacino. This origianl is a lot better and has more suspense. The problem is that many international films, when remade as American films are too 'hollywoodized' I like this version for numerous reasons.
In this version, filmed in the director's hometown of Tromsø, is a larger city and has more character interaction. The plot element the title is based on, being unable to sleep because of the midnight sun, seems more practical in a large city as far as crime is concerned. While in the US, Alaska is the only place where the sun is out at midnight (in the summer only).
Crime would be more likely in a large city.
This version also has some good scenes of the counrtyside outside Tromsø which are very beautiful.
The special features on the DVD are a theatrical trailer and TV commericals which aired in Norway.
If you have seen the 2002 version of the film, you might like this one also.