ONE HOUR PHOTO (2002) |
| Starring: Robin Williams. Connie Nielsen,
Michael Vartan, Dylan Smith, Erin Daniels, Paul Hansen Kim, Eriq LaSalle and Gary
Cole. Screenplay by Mark Romanek.
Directed by Mark Romanek.
Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures. 98 minutes.
Rated R. |
|
One Hour Photo
Robin Williams'
movie career had seemed to be stuck in a pool of dreck like Patch Adams and Bicentennial
Man just a few months ago. Well, Williams recognized the danger he was in of
becoming known as a sickly-sweet character actor and has reinvigorated his acting muscles
by playing villains in three movies this year. The first one, Death To Smoochy,
was a curious misfire. His chilling turn as a serial killer in Insomnia
with Al Pacino was much better, but still essentially a supporting role.
On One
Hour Photo he is finally able to show his range and it has rejuvenated my faith in
Williams' acting career. His character of Sy Parrish, with a blond crew-cut and dead
eyes, is sort of the anti-Robin Williams... a man who is so buttoned-down and repressed
that no one can really know him except in the most superficial of ways.
Sy mans the
photo counter in bright, fluorescent, mind-numbing discount superstore. He makes up
for his lack of friends and a life by becoming obsessed with the Yorkins, a
picture-perfect suburban happy family (Connie Neilsen, Michael Vartan and Dylan Smith) who
has been bringing him his snapshots to develop for years. As Sy's delusions grow he
starts to see himself as a part of the family... Uncle Sy, and starts inserting himself
into their lives. He shows up at young Jake's soccer practice and follows wife Nina
to the mall to "accidentally" run into her.
His fantasies finally run
amuck once he loses his job because his boss (Gary Cole), a retail tyrant, stumbles
on the fact that Sy has printed many extra, unpaid for, snapshots... though he does not
get the significance of the act. This frees Sy up to follow his dream family, and
when he realizes the father is having an affair, his by now slight thread of reality
snaps. It is to writer/director Mark Romanek's credit that once this happens,
Sy does not become a homicidal maniac... his reaction is more complex, and in many ways
more disturbing. (9/02)
Jay
S. Jacobs
Copyright
© 2002 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted: November 6, 2002.
 
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Copyright
© 2002 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved.
Posted: November 6, 2002. |
