Review of One Hour Photo (2002) by Rachael H — 02 May 2010

A few years back, Robin Williams seemed poised for a huge come back, and was making several good films, and he was rather good in them. From What Dreams May Come, Insomnia, and this, but then Death To Smoochy happened (a movie I defend), and it all gave way. He's had small resurgence, being the only good things about the abysmal Night At The Museum movies, and his turn World's Greatest Dad is remarkable.

Long introduction, I know, but I feel it is necessary to understand the kind of films he was making at the time, and when I say that this fit that mold, I mean it as a compliment. Williams, aside from WGD, has, perhaps, never been better. His somewhat shy and very awkward Sey Parrish is a great character, and instead of playing him as a simple crazy man, Williams builds him from the ground up, and you actually being to feel for this man, despite the obvious neurosis and creepy demeanor, and by the end, truly psycho behavior. But give credit where it's due, Williams, along with writer-director Mark Romanek, created an intriguing character study, with some great thrills and uneasy scenes.

Romanek, the booted director of the recent The Wolfman, is solid gold here. Orchestrating everything in a nimble manner, and never making a false move. The dream sequence where Sey's orifices start bleeding, surprisingly works, which just goes to show how good the writing and directing are, as it's the only thing really like that in the film.

All the characters are interesting (minus the detectives, whom at the very least, are smart and do very reasonable and realistic things), and all of them feel as if they could truly exist and survive in the real world. The supporting cast is excellent, with Gary Cole as Sey's boos, and Connie Nielsen as the wife/ mother of the family Sey imagine's he's a part of, being the best amongst them.

One of the truly great things is the lighting, as Romanek, and his DP, make excellent use of mood lighting and stylized lights, especially just before Sy goes bonkers, truly put you into the film.

Within the mini-renaissance of Williams' career resurgence, this one stands out, and if you have seen all the other ones (of which we can include Good Will Hunting), you'll know how impressive that is.