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Review of One Hour Photo
March 31, 2003
 Kristen
and I rented One
Hour Photo last night. It stars Robin Williams and the guy from
Alias,
although Robin Williams has the only starring role. The movie is very
slow. Robin Williams character is a lonely, boring guy who is obsessive
about making the perfect prints at the counter of a one hour photo place at
Savmart. The writing and photography is bland, but I believe that was on
purpose to make the character seem bland. He becomes obsessive about a
family who have been developing film about once every few weeks for nine
years. He perceives them as the perfect family, and sees himself as
practically a member of the family, only in his own mind. You realize he's
losing touch when they show his apartment, including a room wallpapered with
extra copies of the family's prints.
 Generally this movie was well crafted, almost too well. The character
is perfectly portrayed as boring and lonely, but unfortunately we don't enjoy
boring people. Watching him on screen virtually 100% of the movie, was
tedious. Several times I nearly hit stop, but didn't.
Of course, half-way through we realize that life is getting bad for Seymour
(Williams) and the family isn't as perfect as he perceives. When Seymour
gets fired, and steals a giant hunting knife from Savmart, we know the big
climax is coming. The police start tracking his movements, too easily,
and we get geared up for another nick-of-time rescue. Only, it never
happens. The ending has an unpredictable twist that's worth sitting
through the boring parts.
It's one of those movies worth watching, but not worth watching
twice. I got my $3.95 worth, but not much more.
Starring
- Robin Williams
- Connie Nielsen
- Michael Vartan
Director
Writer
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