One Hour Photo (2002)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Mark Romanek

Writer (WGA):

Mark Romanek (written by)

Release Date:

13 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The things that we fear the most have already happened to us...

Plot:

An employee of a one-hour photo lab becomes obsessed with a young suburban family.

Plot Keywords:

Photography | Theft | Obsession | Fired | Loss Of Job

Awards:

5 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Seymour Parrish
Connie Nielsen	...	Nina Yorkin
Michael Vartan	...	Will Yorkin
Dylan Smith	...	Jakob Yorkin
Erin Daniels	...	Maya Burson
Paul H. Kim	...	Yoshi Araki (as Paul Hansen Kim)
Lee Garlington	...	Waitress
Gary Cole	...	Bill Owens
Marion Calvert	...	Mrs. Von Unwerth
David Moreland	...	Mr. Siskind
Shaun P. O'Hagan	...	Young Father
Jim Rash	...	Amateur Porn Guy
Nick Searcy	...	Repairman
Dave Engfer	...	Sav-Mart Clerk
Jimmy Shubert	...	Soccer Coach

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | USA:R (certificate #38597) | Finland:K-11 | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Ireland:18 | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 (f) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | France:U | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

In preparation for his role, Robin Williams trained for two and a half days at a photo developing training facility in Southern California on an Agfa MSC 101-D photo developing machine.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Seymour is following Nina's SUV in his Toyota Echo, the "door ajar" light is on, which probably indicates that the car is on a trailer with one or more of its doors open or even removed (although it *is* possible that he really was driving with one of the doors improperly shut - it's not unheard of, after all).

Quotes:

Detective James Van Der Zee: [Sy sits alone handcuffed in a sterile police interrogation room, door buzzes and Van Der Zee walks in] We processed the roll of film we found in your bag, Mr. Parrish. They're not very pretty pictures. Also, you left the camera in the hotel. We processed that roll as well.
Sy Parrish: Can I see them?
Detective James Van Der Zee: That's not a courtesy, Mr. Parrish. This is evidence.
Sy Parrish: Do you guys have your own lab or do you have to send it out?
Detective James Van Der Zee: We have a lab.
[pauses]
Detective James Van Der Zee: Your legal aide should be here within 30 minutes or so. Now you understand you don't have to talk to me until she gets here if you don't want to. You know that, Sy?
[Sy nods and affirms]
Detective James Van Der Zee: Good. Sy, can I ask you one question?
Sy Parrish: Sure.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in On the Set of Sightlines (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Quality Time

Mr. Williams Steals The Show In This Clever Little Chiller

On face value, 'One Hour Photo' may seem like an average thriller but you'll be in for a surprise if you think so. It is a clever little movie that works both as a psychological thriller and an intriguing character study. Thankfully it does not have the absurd twists one has witnessed in the overrated 'Fatal Attraction' or nonsensical ones like in 'Single White Female' or 'The Hand That Rocks the Cable'. The storytelling is very coherent and the portrayal of the characters is very subtle.

This isn't a fast-paced thriller. Writer and director Romanek takes his time to tell the story but that does not make 'One Hour Photo' boring. On the contrary, it allows us to discover the shades of Seymour and allows the viewer to feel sympathy for but also be fear of him. Likewise, we also discover the family Seymour/Sy stalks. At first they appear to be like a happy American family but soon we see, through Seymour's point of view, that reality is something else. Romanek creates a very gloomy cold atmosphere. The viewer does feel Seymour's loneliness from the busy supermarket to his claustrophobic apartment. The film is very well shot as it highlights the gloominess, indifference and closed atmosphere. Romanek also approaches interesting themes about what photographs mean i.e. proof of ones existence (beautifully explained in the film). While people take pictures of happy moments, their reality is something else.

Coming to the performances, what would 'One Hour Photo' be without Robin Williams? The actor is in a completely different form and he does an excellently downplays Sy. Sy is gentle, polite, pathetic and creepy. Williams really brings a humane quality to the character rather than portray him as the clichéd stalker. Nielsen and Vartan are good too. La Salle and Cole give sufficient support. But, in the end, it's a one man show that belongs to Mr. Williams.

There are a few very minor flaws such as a few scenes where reality is suspended but overall this is a cleverly chilling film that deserves to be watched but do not expect lots of murder, bloodshed, or silly twists like boiling a live rabbit.