Review of One Hour Photo (2002) by Andrew M — 29 Jul 2016

In dramas, the characters dictate the story. This thriller is no anomaly to that formula. Williams delivers a daunting performance as "Sy The Photo Guy" who grows morbidly fanatical towards a frequent-customer family. He prints carbon copies of all their photos for his own appetite, he stalks them, he even imitates their hobbies. He wistfully dreams about being "Uncle Sy." The denouement was definitely foreseeable yet so reassuring that we take pride in the inklings hitherto. Williams is a quasi-bald, lonely (oops, he actually has a pet hamster), blood-curdling hermit whose psychosis pervades the film. My favorite aspects of this flick include the considerable amount of strife at every corner: from Sy's internal junk to the family's issues to the involvement of others in Sy's "art" to the husband's infidelity. The discords are persistent atop of Sy's illusory sub reality. All this is backed by a terrifying, undecorated score. Ultimately, we sprint away from this thriller with an invaluable teaching that lies in the very title. One Hour Photo showcases "one" man with "one" passion and "one" vision for a better life even if it means reaching unconscionable extremes to achieve so. People shouldn't be alone: it is deleterious to mental and emotional health. Freaky shit.

P.S. We've seen the whole "creepy stalker" thing before, but this was an engrossing twist.