Review of One Hour Photo (2002) by Shane S — 13 Nov 2010

I honestly don't know what to make of this film.

On one hand, it's a formulaic stalker thriller with key sequences (the stalker's attack, the stalking, the constant probing into his vengeful mind). You have a guy who seems nice, but due to some traumatizing events in his childhood (in this case, posing for chubby kid porn photos), he decides to make it his life's mission to preserve this idealism that is shattered to bits when the man he thinks is the perfect father is far from perfect. He will enforce his idealism by any means necessary - even by traumatizing his victims like a proto-Jigsaw. There's even a chase sequence and police involved at the end - and yes, he runs through a kitchen.

On another hand, it's just so perfectly shot, with a perfect clash between the heavenly feel of SavMart and the harsh realities of life, a nice and interesting performance by Robin Williams, and a lot of great sequences that I see so much inspiration in. To me, despite being formulaic, its technique (unlike Phillip Noyce's outdated and paranoia fuel thriller "Salt") is what makes the film. There are scenes I will not forget, such as those sequences delving into Sy's imagination (revealing that he is still a child at heart, though not in a good way) and his nightmare where he spurts blood out of his crimson-shot eyes (strikingly powerful, if somewhat obvious, symbolism for the anguish that had overcome him when he realized that what he thought was perfect was just human). And nice for Romanek to make a shoutout to the lonely man movies of Paul Schrader (especially the Scorsese-helmed "Taxi Driver").

In that sense, it's one of those films that is staying with me for the rest of my life. It's both part of my films list and part of that collection of films where I can't exactly rate them on any standards.

So, basically, I just told you the plot, but here it is in more minute detail: Sy Parrish (Williams) is a photo developer who takes his job a little too seriously...and by that, I mean he's obsessed with keeping photos of who he considers to be the ideal family: the Yorkins. While irking the store for running off with copies of photos, Sy begins to make a connection with the family members - in strange ways. Soon, he discovers the Yorkins aren't so perfect, thus he goes on a rampage and forces the patriarch and his lover to pose for porn pictures while taking harmless photos of his hotel room.

So, yeah - simple story, amazing visuals. Kind of like the more artistic variant of "Avatar", with better acting and better writing. There isn't supposed to be comedy - this is not a typical thriller where you have such elements. This is a brooding character study of a man who has certain regulations for a family.