One Hour Photo (2002)

Director:

Mark Romanek

Writer (WGA):

Mark Romanek (written by)

Release Date:

13 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | 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 | Department Store | Baby | Tears | Revenge

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:

The toy Jake shows Sy is indeed from Neon Genesis Evangelion, an anime series. It is called a Production Model Evangelion, is much taller than Jake says it is, and is definitely not a "good guy"; it is, in fact, one of many identical models, and is best known in the series for swarming one of the "good guys"' giant cyborgs and eating it.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During several scenes throughout the movie, especially Sy's final walk through the store after losing his job, we see that the shelves throughout the aisles are perfectly stocked (as in all items are at the edge of the shelf) throughout the entire movie. Do Sav-Mart customers ever buy any items?

Quotes:

Sy Parrish: [voiceover] I've been doing P.O.S. mini-lab work for more than 20 years now. I consider it an important job. When people's houses are on fire, what's the first thing they save after their pets and loved ones are safe? The family photos. Some people think that this is a job for a clerk...

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of 'One Hour Photo' (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Quiet Time

Another Example Of A Comedian Who Can Be Effectively Serious

Robin Williams once again proves how good comedians can be at serious drama roles. Williams is especially good at playing creepy characters, as he has done several times in the last decade.

Here, he plays "Sy, the photo guy," a lonely employee in the photo department of a suburban Target/Walt-Mart//K-Mart-whatever who lives vicariously through a nice family, whose family pictures he has developed and printed for years. So, when Sy discovers the husband of that family is cheating, he takes it personally....and gets involved.

This was a fascinating portrait of a deranged man and a wonderfully photographed movie. The colors in here are astounding at times and the camera-work innovative with some neat angles. The suspense of the story builds and builds one gets that old film-noir feeling of impending doom.

This has a different ending, though, than most old film noirs, not exactly what the viewer might think will happen.

This is a film that, as far I know, never got much publicity, but it's a gem. Williams is outstanding in his role and the hour-and-a-half you invest in this movie flies by.