Film Critic to the Culver City Observer and over 132 Publications Worldwide including: The Observer, Inc., John Schimmenti, Inc., CCN, Inc.,
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ONE HOUR
PHOTO
by
debbie lynn elias
"One Hour Photo" is all it takes
to convince one of the virtues of digital cameras. Starring Robin Williams in
what is undoubtedly another Oscar-worthy performance, "One Hour Photo"
is the story of Seymour "Sy" Parrish, a lonely but seemingly kind,
calm middle-aged gentleman hiding behind some over-sized glasses, who works
as a film processor for a one hour photo booth in the local Say Mart store.
With a forced cheerfulness uttered through whispered tones, a sort of desperation
oozes to the surface leading one to believe that "Uncle Sy" is not
exactly what he would have us believe him to be and below that exterior calm
is a time bomb waiting to explode.
On the surface, Uncle Sy is the epitome of perfection in a photo clerk - being
prompt and attentive to his customers, not to mention giving generous discounts
or 5x7's instead of 4x6's when the photos are particularly "happy."
His primary business is repeat customers, some of whom he develops great affection
for, and none more so than the seemingly blissfully perfect Yorkin family. Taking
an exceptional interest in the Yorkins, Sy seems to dote on them, taking extra-special
care of their photos and paying extra-special attention to Nina Yorkin. (Now,
bartenders I expect to have pay extra-special attention to their "special"
customers - they get tips. But the photo guy?) A quick look at Sy's apartment,
however, shows a completely different side of him. Looking more like a shrine
to the Yorkins than Sy's place, we see the walls covered with Yorkin family
photos, including pictorials of their son Jake, spanning the 8 years of his
young life. Sy's wallet contains Yorkin photos as well which he happily shows
off as "his family."
But, as to be expected, retail and freebies do not go hand in hand, and management
gets a bit tired of Sy's generosity, not to mention his peculiarity and obsession
with the Yorkins (did we say quadruple prints), leading him to be fired. This
is the trigger mechanism in Sy which leads up to some sort of unspecified violent
crime (which I will not divulge) which sets up our tale.
Known primarily for his background in music videos, first time director/writer
Mark Romanek does a breathtakingly haunting job of voyeuristically and subtly
breaking apart Sy's facade, capitalizing on not only William's extraordinary
voicing and characterization talents, but by heavily relying on the edgy cinematography
of Jeff Cronenweth. Using one of my favorite techniques, Romanek opens the film
with Sy in custody being interrogated, basically retelling the events of his
life for the audience. The script is minimalist - clean and strong with little
excess - everything that is said and done has a specific point and purpose in
bringing Sy's story to an unsettling and frightening crescendo.
Connie Nielson as Nina Yorkin follows-up her stellar performance in "Gladiator"
with a picture perfect characterization of the suburban housewife and doting
wife and mother. Michael Vartan (voted one of this year's Sexiest and Most Eligible
Bachelors by "People" magazine), leaving behind his nice guy image
seen in "Never Been Kissed", is riveting as Will Yorkin - self-made
successful businessman who resents his wife's apparently excessive spending
habits, giving us yet another dichotomous character as an added piece to this
puzzle. Eriq LaSalle of "ER" fame, comes convincingly into the fray,
bringing his own tacit brand of acting as the detective investigating the crime
for which Sy is accused.
The suspense is real. The situation in this day and age - believable. After
his work in the recent "Insomnia," I thought it almost impossible
for Williams to push the envelope any farther towards the dark side. I was wrong.
Robin Williams makes this movie what it is with his uncomfortably fearless portrayal
of the wimpish Sy the Photo Guy, giving us the creepiest, most spine tingling,
heebie-jeebie making film of the year.