It would have been easy for Robin Williams to play Sy Parrish – “Sy the Photo Guy” to his customers – as the monster at the mall. Going the psycho route is a ham actor’s dream.
But Williams, following the spare lead of director Mark Romanek (the video whiz who brings a striking style to the film), gives a performance in this psychological thriller that is riveting in its recessiveness and, as a consequence, is truly, deeply scary.
Sy blends in with the antiseptic surroundings at the Savmart where he works. Quiet, anal, meticulous, he goes about his business. And Romanek goes quietly, anally, meticulously about the business of watching him.
For the transparently lonely Sy, people’s photos are personal. He connects to the photos he develops, none more so than those of the Yorkins – wife Nina (Connie Nielsen), husband Will (Michael Vartan) and their son, Jake (Dylan Smith) – whose photos he has been developing since Jake’s birth nine years ago.
A quick, chilling shot of Sy at home – it’s as white and sterile as the mall – shows his wall covered with photos of the happy family. Then, Sy comes upon a photo of Will that tips the balance of his relationship with the Yorkins.
It’s explosion time, as Sy invades their house and crosses the fragile line that held his emotions in check.
Williams handles the gradations of Sy’s madness with subtle skill – we’re a long way here from the soppy excesses of Patch Adams(1998) and Bicentennial Man (1999).
Sadly, Romanek’s script settles for facile psychological profiling in the final third of the film, reducing a complex character to a trite history of abuse and dysfunction.
Until then, One Hour Photo strikes a nerve. And even when the lights of inspiration flicker in the film itself, Williams remains electrifying.
Seymour Parrish
Robin Williams Nina Yorkin
Connie Nielsen Will Yorkin
Michael Vartan Jake Yorkin
Dylan Smith Maya Burson
Erin Daniels Yoshi Araki
Paul Kim Jr. Bill Owens
Gary Cole Mrs Von Unwerth
Marion Calvert Mr Siskind
David Moreland Det. James Van Der Zee
Eriq La Salle Det. Paul Outerbridge
Clark Gregg Officer Lyon
Andy Rolfes Officer Bravo
Carmen Mormino Superintendent
Izrel Katz Hotel Desk Manager
Peter Mackenzie Duane
Andy Comeau Eye Surgeon
Robert Clotworthy Risa Owens
Megan Corletto
Director
Mark Romanek
Video
You May Also Like
Play It Again, Sam (1971) "My parents never got divorced. Although I begged them to." Film critic Allan Felix (Woody Allen,…
Me, Natalie (1969) Natalie Miller (Patty Duke) is a young woman from Brooklyn who has struggled with her self-image…
Mommie Dearest (1981) This absolutely riveting biographical drama about Joan Crawford is based on her adopted daughter Christina's vengeful…
Do The Right Thing (1989) Sal's Pizzeria has been trading for 20 years and now represents one of just a couple…
Polyester (1981) Former Baltimore hairdresser Harris Glenn Milstead carved quite a career for himself as cinematic drag queen…
Astronaut, The (1972) Set in the near future (1981!), the Americans are about to complete their first mission to…
General's Daughter, The (1999) This film version of Nelson DeMille's 1992 best-selling mystery novel is a lurid mess - a…
New York, New York (1977) Egotistical saxophonist Jimmy Doyle (Robert De Niro) and spirited USO singer Francine Evans (Liza Minnelli) meet…
Sy blends in with the antiseptic surroundings at the Savmart where he works. Quiet, anal, meticulous, he goes about his business. And Romanek goes quietly, anally, meticulously about the business of watching him.
Seymour Parrish
Yoshi Araki
Det. James Van Der Zee
