Review of One Hour Photo (2002) by Jeff Z — 26 Nov 2010

"And if these pictures have anything important to say to future generations, it's this: I was here. I existed. I was young, I was happy, and someone cared enough about me in this world to take my picture.".

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

REVIEW.

Williams (in one of his best roles to date showing his true range as an actor) stars as a lonely manager of a film development center in a convenience store who becomes obsessed with a family whose pictures prove to be more than a thousand words. Conveying the pain, desire and utter despair of a disturbed man wrestling with the inner demons of a depleted life, Williams makes Sy Parrish an indelibly remarkable cinematic character along the lines of Travis Bickle, Norman Bates and Harry Caul . Mixed with creepy awareness and an acute social commentary by writer/director Mark Romanek (in a notable debut) who knowingly captures genuine moments of unease and empathy in a particularly conceived concept: how does one live without human contact and the essential ingredient of love? A stunning achievement by all connected with one of the 2002's best films.