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I
think we are all used to Robin Williams’ comedic outbursts in his films. Even
in serious films like Insomnia, Good
Will Hunting, and Dead Poet’s Society Williams works comedy into his
roles. This does not always work well in the film, but it is usually
entertaining, plus it is his trademark. However, in One Hour Photo there is not
a single comedic outburst, and there is very little humor at all in this dark
film. The
story starts with photo technician Cy Parrish (Williams) in police custody
talking to a detective Van Der Zee (Eriq LaSalle, Dr. Benton from ER). The
detective asks Cy why he has done what he has done, and then we go back only a
short time in history as we get our first glimpse of white. I am not sure what
director Mark Romanek was going for with all the white, but it is the one color
that dominates the film. Soon we see Cy working at the photo lab at the SavMart
where he has been working for a long time when longtime customer Nina Yorkin
(Connie Nielsen, Gladiator) stops by with
son Jake (Dylan Smith) to drop off some birthday pictures. It is here that we
discover Cy’s obsession with the Yorkin family as he eerily recalls Nina’s
home address by memory, makes an extra set of prints for himself, and then gives
nine year-old Jake a disposable camera for free. Later we find out that this is
just the tip of the preverbal iceberg of Cy’s obsession. And, at first, you
might think that he is some sick pervert getting cheap thrills from pretty women
and little boys, but we later learn that sexual desire has nothing to do with
his obsession. Eventually, Cy’s behavior at work, which includes a shouting
match with a repairman (Nick Searcy) in front of customers, causes the manager
(Gary Cole) to let Cy go. But, before he goes, Cy discovers that Mr. Yorkin
(Michael Vartan) is having an affair with another of his customers, Maya (Erin
Daniels). Since Cy’s obsession is rooted in a desire to belong, he desperately
wants (and imagines) to be part of the Yorkin family as uncle Cy (this includes
a humorous moment at the Yorkin residence). However, Cy is now jobless, and no
longer has the perfect circumstances to be the fly on the wall at the Yorkin
house, so he starts to lash out at those who have hurt him and his perfect
family, mainly his boss (more of a diversionary tactic) and Will Yorkin who has
ruined what was once Cy’s happing imaginary family. At the same time, there
are also hints of an obsession with Nina in particular as borne out when Cy buys
& reads the same book as Nina after observing that she had purchased the
book. So in the end, you are not quite sure why Cy does what he does at the end
of the film (that act being the one that has him under arrest). But let’s just
say Cy lets the world see how messed up his mind has become. Also
in One Hour Photo are Lee Garlington (The Sum of All
Fears), David Moreland, Jim Rash (Minority
Report) as an amateur pornographer, Dave Engfer, and Paul Hansen Kim as
Cy’s assistant photo guy Yoshi at SavMart. One
Hour Photo is beautifully and eerily directed by Romanek, who is also
responsible for the writing. Williams is at his dramatic best in his role, and
is so into the part that he even looks like a weirdo/pervert. All of this adds
up to nine couches for the About-Movies.com rating.
Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:48:19 AM Click Here to get back into frames.
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