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Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) writes, "It may come as a bit of a surprise to find that this refreshingly sweet and funny film was co-written and directed by Chris and Paul Weitz of the crass and sexually-minded American Pie. Let's hope other filmmakers can follow their lead and grow beyond the sexually immature humor that has so dominated American 'comedies' of late." Loren Eaton (Focus on the Family) is equally surprised: "Coming from [the Weitz brothers], About a Boy almost seems like an attempt to prove they have souls." But she concludes, "Soul alone isn't enough. While awash in noble themes absent from their previous efforts, sexual impropriety and scads of profanity will make most families want to wash this Boy's mouth out with soap."

Christopher Nolan (Following, Memento) is distinguishing himself as a director of films about good men going bad. The characters at the center of his films are far more complex, and far more human, than Anakin Skywalker. Insomnia opens this weekend, and I am confident it will be remembered as one of the year's best films. It is being described as a remake of Erik Skjoldbjaerg's 1997 arthouse film of the same title, but Nolan's revisions have drastically changed the story and even improved on it. (My full review is at Looking Closer.) It's an intense, involving thriller. But beyond that, it is an honest exploration of how a person can, with righteous intentions, stray into unrighteousness.

Will Dormer (Al Pacino) looks like a good cop trying to hunt down a clever killer. But he's also an aging professional trying to finish his career with a blameless reputation. Thus, when he and his partner travel to Alaska to hunt down a killer, he goes to great lengths to cover up anything that might look like an error or a lapse in judgment. When a second body turns up, and Dormer realizes he has made a dreadful mistake, he goes to dangerous extremes trying to appear blameless in the eyes of the local cops. Crime writer Walter Finch (Robin Williams) might be the killer Dormer is looking for, but he knows things that make Dormer hesitant to actually catch him.

Nolan sets this challenging story in a small Alaskan town on the edge of the wilderness, where fog blurs the lines between right and wrong, and where relentless, cold light burns like pangs of conscience. It's as artful and compelling a thriller to come from an American director in a good while. And it gives you plenty to ponder afterward.

We'll look more closely at it next week, as other reviews come in. If you see it, let me know what you think.

Next week: Religious media critics respond to Insomnia and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Film Forum looked at Attack of the Clones last week as well.

Past review roundups are available in the Film Forum archives.

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May (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46