Last year, Christopher Nolan made a splash with the dazzling crime thriller Memento. With it's innovative creativity and tricky storytelling style, the film went on to grace many top-ten lists and even garnered an Oscar nomination for it's screenplay. The question was, could Nolan possibly top himself. With Insomnia, the director hasn't necessarily topped himself, but rather tried something new.

In Insomnia, Al Pacino plays Will Dormer, a veteran detective who's been sent to Alaska to investigate a murder that leads him to mystery novelist Walter Finch (Robin Williams), a reclusive eccentric who may be involved in the crime. Dormer is paired with local officer Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank), a wide-eyed cop ready for some real police action.

As was the case with Memento, Insomnia does have a gimmick. Dormer suffers from sleep depravation because the sun doesn't go down in the town he's working in. However, there is much more to his inability to sleep and that's one of the many unexpected treasures of this tightly executed thriller.

While Insomnia is not in the same serial killer thriller mold as Seven or Silence of the Lambs (something the trailer kind of suggests), it isn't without it's share of intensity (that chase across the logs is a real nail biter).

Nolan has fashioned an interesting character study full of unexpected twists that revolve around the film's characters rather than it's situations. And while there are moments that are a tad obvious, Insomnia avoids becoming a typical, cliched thriller.

In terms of performances, this is Pacino's show. He exhibits the intensity and realism that made him a star all those years ago. His Dormer is determined and will do whatever it takes while on the job, but he remains a flawed man making his character all the more human. Hillary Swank is solid as an action seeking Burr. While she may come across as clueless in the early goings on of the film, her intelligence is slowly revealed throughout the picture. Finally, we have Williams who's hardly funny here. This is one of those subtle, quiet turns that makes us all realize how truly gifted this guy is under the right direction. Never overtly creepy or over the top, Williams plays Finch as a real person.

Nolan proves he's the real deal with the compelling Insomnia. Not only is he terrific with the cast and the overall mood of the picture, he really knows how to pick gorgeous locations. Insomnia is stunning to look at, with it's beautiful, Alaskan landscapes.

In a summer that is sure to be populated with big sequels and special effects extravaganzas, Insomnia emerges as a tough movie to top. It's a thriller with style and substance and I can't wait to see what Nolan does next.