Review of One Hour Photo (2002) by Matt A — 04 Feb 2011

It's really hard to label One Hour Photo as a suspense film,drama or many of the above.But,it has many different themes here to keep just about everyone in guessing.With a simply brilliant performance by Robin Williams as lonely and mysterious photo developer Seymore "Sy" Parrish,this is by far one of his best "villian" roles.

The film is given a unususl and otherworldly feel in it's overlit and underlit style right out of any simple music video.Not surprising since director Mark Romanak has a background in that exact field.

Playing well off a rather simple theme that we usually do not give a second thought to.What do we know about our neighborhood film developer?Sy lives his life,obsessivly,through a family that he has served for years.

But what happens when that is severed?Sy loses his job due to the fact that the company is on to his taking photos for himself.That's when his emotional dam collapses.From there on,the darkness pretty much consumes his whole world.

One Hour Photo has no major violence,blood(exception of one scene)and,(spoiler)no body count.For a thriller,that is refreshing.This is a film that combines visual style very well with story and a simple plot.

With an amazing and chilling soundtrack score that compliments it well.One Hour Photo is proof positive that from an old saying,never judge a book by it's cover,and do we ever really know about anyone?A simply engrossing drama thriller that will be very hard to forget.