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One Hour Photo- 8/21/02 - R - 98m
Robin Williams
Connie Nielsen
Michael Vartan
Director: Mark Romanek
JEF
This film was very well done.
Let's start with the acting. Robin Williams played "Sy [short for
Seymour] Parrish," a man who works at a "sav-more" one
hour photo processing. He did a fantastic job, at becoming this character.
A no-nonsense man, who likes to keep his workplace, and home clean and
in impeccable order. He is a company man for sav-more, well dressed, all
his clothes neatly pressed, and always on time. He prides himself in running
the one-hour photo lab with the utmost care.
Now at this point, is where the story becomes interesting... Sy, has gotten
to know his customers through their photos. He's seen their kids grow
up, their holidays, birthdays, etc... He's taken a liking to one family
in particular. The Yorkins; Nina Yorkin (Connie Nielsen), Will Yorkin
(Michael Vartan, who can be seen in the new hit TV series "ALIAS"),
and the son Jacob Yorkin (Dylan Smith). Connie did a fantastic job at
playing the mother. Jacob was great as the kid, with a real feeling of
caring, and Will was good too, as a distant father figure. Another surprise
was to see the actor Eriq La Salle, playing the role of Detective Van
Der Zee. Eriq is best known for his role in the TV series "ER"
as Doctor Benton. Although his role was small but important, he played
the character well.
I won't go too far into the storyline as the less you know about this
film, the better. It will take you on a ride of some humor, art, and suspense
like few that I can compare to. Already there is talk of an Oscar for
Robin Williams. When I say humor, don't expect a comedic role by Robin
Williams. There is none. But rather some scenes will bring a smile, and
laugh at just the right points in the movie.
Some of the cinematography in this movie is excellent. Mostly to highlight
the importance of taking photos, For example we get a glimpse of the photos
from Jacob that Sy gave to him as a birthday present. And these photos
were incredible to look at, as they come from the eyes of a 9 year old
boy. The use of color in this movie was excellent as well, From the stark
whites, and greys of the store, and Sy's home, to the warmth of the Yorkins
house which looked like something out of a magazine.
An example of the levels of this film... Early on in the movie, Sy leaves
his work, and comes out to his car only to find a broken windshield. It's
unclear how it happened whether it was just an accident, or maybe vandalism,
but that's not really the point ... because that was a key scene to point
out, that when we see Sy driving around in his "Toyota - Echo"
that the world he is now viewing is now cracked. And perhaps Sy is starting
to "crack" now as well.
One other point I'd like to make about this film is some of the narration
on what we generally think so little about ... our photos. There are some
very insightful, and well written comments on the importance on taking
photographs during our daily lives. It will make you want to go home and
find your camera, and start taking some photos right away. But ... you'll
also consider buying a digital camera after seeing this movie.
Go see this movie, and hang onto the edge of your seat for a ride that
you're not sure where you'll end up, and you're not sure you really want
to be on.
Jef
PS> The reason I mentioned the "Toyota - Echo" was that some
of the product placement in this movie was in your face. The Toyota car,
the Agfa photo processing, Hello Kitty toys, etc... I understand the importance
of getting corporate sponsorship to help pay for the cost of a movie through
product placement, but I'd like to see it done in a more subtle way. A
movie should not become a 2 hour commercial.