Christopher Nolan Movies: Ranking The Rug-Pull Moments

9. Robin Williams (Insomnia)

One of Nolan's most endearing traits is his absolute conviction in telling the story that he wants to tell. His 2002, Nordic-esque thriller Insomnia substantiates this when considering that the director went uncredited for his final rewrite of the script - a move that somewhat elevated him away from the 'studio mercenary' earmark that many were keen to associate to any up-and-coming directors at the time. However, what Insomnia boasts in solid direction, it somewhat lacks in plot twist or rug-pulls when compared to the director's other work. It represents the point in Nolan's career where he had to prove he was studio-friendly, after the casual post-release (yet financially tepid) success of Memento. As such, arguably the biggest moment of surprise comes when Robin Williams, an actor known for his catalogue of amicable protagonists, is revealed to be the killer in the case spear-headed by Al Pacino's insomniac cop. It is a bold move from Nolan that reflects his penchant for nonconformity without alienating mainstream audiences from what is essentially, a straightforward thriller. This is not to take away from what Insomnia does achieve. When compared to Memento, their objectives are starkly contrasting; Memento looks back on itself, searching for reason where Insomnia looks forward, following a protagonist forced to deal with the consequences of his actions. To this end Insomnia is a success, however in a list based on the merits of a scintillating twist, it unfortunately fails to deliver.