Review: One Hour Photo

By Yakobusan August 20, 2002 11:07 AM

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He plays "Sy, the photo guy", who works in a walmart-like shop, where he leads since 11 years a photo-develop-shop. His life is empty, no wife, no children, and a hard childhood...

But he knows every customer he deals with from the pictures, because he always looks at the photos of everyone very good. And he really has it in for one family, who is a customer ever since at his shop. We meet Sy at the point, where he is starting to tilt. He dreams of beeing "Uncle Sy" for the family Yorkin, because he thinks this is the perfect family, everybody seems to be happy, the father, the mother and the child, Jake. So he wants to become a part of it. He makes them presents, has a wall full of double printed photos of them, and follows them home (sneaking) dreaming about how nice it could be if he would be a part of this family.
But then comes one day, where a new female customer wants him to develop her photos... And they show her with Will Yorkin, the father of the so beloved family, kissing and beeing together. Now he?s mad and wants to let him pay for the destruction of his illusion...

I won?t tell you more, cause then the whole tension would be gone ;)

Anyway, Robin Williams is so strong in this role, you can see him change from the lovely foto guy to a ?complete psycho who?s world is crashed...
Really scary. I think the fact, that we all know him as a good guy, makes the whole movie even better.

But now don?t expect something like "AMERICAN PSYCHO", the movie starts really slow, and gets deeper more and more. Exept for one really scary scene the tension is Hitchcock style, you don?t see much violence, at the end you?re really scared of him, while you found him more nice at the beginning.
The change of his character made me remember Jack Nicholsons character in "SHINING", it?s kinda like there.

So, I would recommend this movie if you like movies liked "CAPE FEAR", and I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. For the acting, I would say give him an academy award or something! It?s really awesome.

--
Yakobusan.

| comments: 9

Reader Discussions:

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Sweet!   reply

Posted by Jack (jack@dtheatre.com) on August 20, 2002 11:10 AM

I've been looking forward to this film for many moons.

RE: Sweet!   reply

Posted by Yakobusan (spam@mysan.de) on August 20, 2002 11:44 AM

you REALLY understood my review? ;)
well please excuse my spelling mistakes, but this movie made me a little bit enthusiastic, so I tried to write it in english... :)

RE: Sweet!   reply

Posted by FredHater (fred_hater@hotmail.com) on August 21, 2002 7:21 AM

The english wasn't perfect, but it never is online. The article was intriguing, the film is now on my must see list.

RE: Sweet!   reply

Posted by Moose (moose@dtheatre.com) on August 21, 2002 12:45 PM

Nice Review. It put this film very high up on the MMS (Moose Must See) list.

RE: Sweet!   reply

Posted by The Original Shemp (Daddy-O@shempsrule.com) on August 21, 2002 6:47 PM

I agree, it almost makes me want to see it.

Although I'm sure it will suck.

RE: Sweet!   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 5, 2002 8:52 PM

hey, i just saw 1hour earlier today. despite the bad reviews our local so-called reviewers gave it, i liked it. it was really tense. good acting from everyone.

great   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 9, 2002 7:24 PM

it's really great!!!!!

I really liked One Hour Photo   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on October 15, 2002 6:10 PM

I am amazed so many mainstream reviewers gave the film average reviews.  The film is excellent.  Thrillers rarely get great reviews compared to classic dramas.  This film is a top of the line thriller with great performances, and beautiful cinematography.

one hour photo review   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on April 28, 2003 11:11 AM

you can't spell "being"??