"One Hour Photo" (2002)

[GoogaMooga]

***ONE HOUR PHOTO***

I don't really like Robin Williams, and I am not the only detractor. He tends to divide people. And there's no denying he's been in a fair share of stinkers. Need I remind you of "Patch Adams" or "Jumanji"? These are the sort of films I wouldn't touch with a bargepole. His pictures just got worse and worse, after a promising start.

The stand-outs for me are the films where he reins in, "Insomnia" and "One Hour Photo". "Insomnia" more so than the latter. "Insomnia" was a remake of a Norwegian fim, and it was so good, I never even felt the inclination to seek out the original.

Then there is the much lauded "One Hour Photo" from 2002. USA Today calls it his finest hour, and I must admit, he does a very good job. Williams puts in a subdued and more complex performance than what we are used to seeing from him.

This is a story about obsession, a tried and tested trope in popcorn movies. Williams plays a loner, a real saddo who lives for his work, developing photos at a SavMart big box superstore. He takes pride in what he does and even philosophizes over it. But that is all he's got. He doesn't have a life outside the lab, no friends, no interests, other than those goddamn snapshots.

So far, so good. The first half is where he really shines. We are transported to a world we know so little about, and the film does an excellent job showing the intricacies of photolab work and the art of customer relations. Williams is so courteous, we even feel sympathy for him.

The second half, where he is fired from his job and stars to unravel, is where I begin to lose interest. This is the point where it becomes just another psycho picture, and I have seen far too many of those things to really care. Still, I stuck it out to the very end, but it's the first half that I will remember with fondness.

[Samoan]

It's an excellent film with fine acting.
I found it on DVD in a charity shop many years ago and have watched it numerous times.
What accounts for Sy's (played by Williams) behaviour is the abuse he underwent in childhood.

Interesting to see the bloke from ER (Eriq La Salle) playing a cop rather than a surgeon.

[GoogaMooga]

Oh yes, it holds up to repeated viewings.

[ChrisB]

Very powerful film. It must be good because, usually, anything with Robin Williams has me reaching for the off button. Possibly the most annoying man of all time