Movie Review: One Hour Photo (2002)

Sy (the photo guy) Parrish is an employee of a one-hour photo lab who becomes obsessed with a young suburban family. After developing the family's film for many years, he begins to fantasize about being part of the family, their Uncle Sy. Once he finds a glitch in the family circle through the photographs, he decides to right the wrong the best way he knows how which lets us see the true mental state of Sy (the photo guy) Parrish.

I was told this movie was super creepy and after reading the synopsis for it, I was expecting to watch a SUPER creepy movie. I didn't get that at all. The story in itself was creepy but that was it. I feel like they left so much out and there were too many plot holes. Robin Williams play the role of Sy Parrish and does an excellent job. After watching him as Mrs. Doubtfire, you wouldn't expect to see him pull off a role like this one and he killed it. That's how diverse his acting ability is.

Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan and Dylan Smith did a great job as the Yorkin family that Sy was obsessed with. The movie as a hole takes place in Sy's world. The Yorkin family and Maya are all key points in the movie that help connect the story together but it's really all about Sy. That's all you begin to care about in the film - at least I did. You don't feel sorry for him you just want to see more of an in depth look at him.

At the climax of the movie you get to see Robin's performance really glow but that was it. I wanted the movie to show more scenes of him being psycho but it didn't. That's something I felt like they left out and really should of had in the movie. The contrast blended well with the cinematography in the film but they could of portrayed an eerier atmosphere throughout the movie. All in all it wasn't a bad film but it wasn't memorable and could of done A LOT better. They also could of spiced up the dialogue a bit. The movie was written and directed by Mark Romanek. Don't really know much about him besides the fact that he directed one of Madonna's music videos.

I do like how the movie puts the thought into your mind of what the photo guy could be thinking of when he's developing your photos. You never know whether he's forming an attraction to you or even a hatred/jealousy from what he see's in your photos. Just think of all the times we left film to be developed. For all we know, one of the photo guys could of jacked off to one of our pictures. Good thing we went digital. ;)

I give this movie 3 out of 5 Skulls.