Director Christopher Nolan followed his amazing Memento with the more conventional but no less effective Insomnia, a murder mystery that gradually evolves into a grueling ordeal -- physically, ethically, and personally -- for a Los Angeles homicide detective, beautifully played by Al Pacino. Nolan's pacing and camerawork compliment the story effectively, resulting in a thriller that builds tension and atmosphere through a strong story and its characters. Particularly noteworthy is the film's depiction of the effects of insomnia -- through magnified sound effects and instants of disorientation -- that are eerily realistic.