Cool News
More ONE HOUR PHOTO Reviews Rolling In!!
Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
Last night's review was a quickie, but two detailed looks came in today from people who took a little time to contemplate what they saw and how it affected them. Sounds to me like Mark Romanek has done exactly what I was hoping he would do... made a strong character drama. It sounds like a cool drink of water for filmgoers parched from the total lack of characterization in movies this summer. I know I was sitting in a theater last night watching the underwhelming FINAL FANTASY last night, longing for something even vaguely human. First up, we've got Kzingirl's look at the film...
You know the drill, long time reader first time poster and all that good
stuff.
I too got a chance to view a sneak of a rough print of One Hour Photo. Since
Dixie Cup's pretty much given you the total plot summary already I'll get
right into the review.
This movie is the epitome of character study. The first hour is almost
completely devoted to establishing that Robin Williams is a poor lonely
maladjusted man who's become fixated on this one family. And this for me was
a bit of a problem. Some of the scenes were just a bit too long. I never got
bored and the film definitely held my interest but there were just certain
times where the pacing lagged. However that's a problem that can fixed with
just a little judicious editing and since that seemed to be the main beef
that people had I'm assuming that it's something that will be addressed.
(For the record I enjoyed Unbreakable and I didn't have a problem with the
pacing.)
On the directing front there isn't much to say, which for this film is a
compliment. For this concept to work it had to seem real and the director
made sure that he didn't sacrifice that realism to the Gods of Cool Angles
and Fancy Shots. That's not to say this was a by the numbers directing job.
There were a number of interesting shots that helped set the mood for many
of the scenes. The only problem, as mentioned before, was there seemed a few
too many of these mood establishing shots that slowed the film up a bit.
That said this movie is probably one of the most conceptually original and
interesting pieces I've seen in some time. It focuses on an area of our
lives which most of us hardly ever give thought too, namely the photos we
take and the people that develop them. There are definite moments that cause
you to think about things in a totally different light. (You will never look
at Red Eye the same way again.)
The plot itself is interesting enough and picks up notably at the end.
However if it's a suspenseful nail biter you're looking for this isn't you
film. Like I said before, this is a character study which is why so much of
the film rests on Robin Williams and his portrayal of Sy the Photo Guy. And
as surprising as it may seem he does an excellent job in getting the
audience involved in his character. With a rather understated and fairly
calm performance he creeps you out and engages your sympathies all at the
same time. This isn't the Patch Adams Robin Williams this is the Good Will
Hunting Robin Williams. There are very few times when he isn't on screen and
never once do you see Robin Williams. He IS Sy the Photo Guy and he's the
single best thing about this movie.
The other actors also step up and perform, especially Connie Nielson
(Gladiator) who plays the mother of the family Sy is fixated on. She always
comes across as completely natural and genuine as she shifts through the
entire emotional spectrum. Michael Vartan (Never Been Kissed), Gary Cole
(American Gothic, B5: Crusade), and Eriq LaSalle (ER) also put in very good
performances and help add to the general realistic feel of the film.
Overall I found this film to be interesting and engaging even if it was a
bit slow. I'll definitely be interested to see it again once it's done. That
said I'm not sure this is a film that I can recommend, at least not at the
prices you have to pay at your local megaplex. This isn't one of those that
you have to see on the big screen so if you feel like waiting for video you
really won't miss much. However if the words "original meditative character
study" get you all warm and tingly then you might consider taking out
another mortgage on the house and going to a matinee.
Then an Anonymous User came swirling up out of the ethernet and spilled his thoughts on the film for you as well...
When I heard Mark Romanek was directing his first film with Robin Williams,
I really didn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't the intimate,
unusual character study that "One Hour Photo" is. I'll keep the plot
synopsis brief since it's been on AICN before, but basically Williams plays
Sy, an old man who works at the photo counter of a Wall-Mart-esque store,
and photographs are his life. Not taking photos, but developing them. Some
of the best parts of the movie are early scenes which follow a roll of film
through a developing machine, with Sy talking about each step of the
process. He takes amazing care in every photo that he develops, and talks
about it as if running the machine is like making great art. He talks a lot
about photos themselves, and what they mean to us, why they're so important.
His voice-over narratives are really wonderful throughout the film, and
through them we begin to understand Sy's character. We learn that he is
very lonely, and he has a bizarre obsession with a family that regularly
brings their photos to him for development. His relationship with the
family is extremely well handled, because although everything Sy does (from
covering his walls with photos of the family to buying gifts for the little
boy) is undeniably creepy (and there are scenes which make your hair stand
on end because you just want him to stop), we never believe for a moment
that Sy is a pervert or intends any harm, and more than anything we
sympathize with him. Even when his downward spiral begins and he really
goes off the deep end, we mostly just feel bad for him. He is not a
monster, just a sad, lonely little old man.
As the other review mentioned, this is a slow-paced film. That is not a bad
thing at all. It takes its time because it really needs to. There's a very
gradual build-up that leads to a bizarre, unsettling, and tragic climax that
I won't go into because it's worth seeing for yourself. But before we get
to that we have to know Sy, and we have to have compassion for him. The
ending leaves a few questions about Sy's character and his life that you
sort of have to figure out for yourself.
As a fan of Romanek's work in music videos - most of which are rather
extravagent and eye-popping - I must admit I wouldn't have expected
something so visually simple from him, but that's not really a bad thing.
OHP finds beauty in small, subtle things, and keeps a consistent,
interesting visual tone, especially in Sy's large Wall-Mart type store,
where the long aisles and bright white lighting are emphasized, and where
elevator music always seems to be humming away in the background.
And Robin Williams, I must say, is fantastic. He plays Sy perfectly - very
sweet, caring, even grandfatherly, but with that bizarre obsessive quality
always lurking just underneath. And when things really go to hell, Williams
brings out a fantastic dark side that you wouldn't expect.
This certainly isn't a film for everyone - it's a small, unusual, arty film
that probably won't enjoy any sort of wide release or box office results.
But I definitely recommend it, especially if you're patient and enjoy
interesting character studies.
-
+ Expand All
-
At the very least, Robin Williams seems to be moving away from sappy comedies.
-
"No, Hollywood has burned me too many times before." "It could happen." "That's what you said about Swordfish. You promised me I'd see something I never saw before." "And I delivered. Had you seen Halle Berry's tits before." "Well, not since the restraining order kicked in." "See. I always give you what I say, I just don't always give you what you expect." "Oh Halle why have you forsaken me?" "Uh, are you listening to me." "I'm sorry, please go on." "Ahem. As I was saying, this could be something unique. A smart, paradigm busting Hollywood movie." "I'd like to believe you, but...but...I just can't get my hopes up like that again." "Oh, come on. Have a little faith in the big H machine. Every season can't be like this past summer, and spring, and winter. Hey, what are you looking for?" "Have you seen my copy of Last Boy Scout around?"
-
i really really really need to know if Trent Reznor is going to score this!! somebody, Mori, ANYBODY! please confirm is this is locked. Reznor, when he is pulling off sonic scabs, can convey just the right amounut of emotional pain into musical beauty...which seems to suit Cy Parrish...again, as i said on the other OHP talkback, we are all in for something special.
-
Jul 12, 2001 7:18:31 PM CDT
FLOOD OF MUSIC VIDEO/COMMERCIAL DIRECTORS CONTINUES ON WITH THEI
by sierramountain
I love it. Kevin Smith, Bryan Singer, Sam Raimi, Paul Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino will all be long gone along with other second-tier, unfashionable, and boring directors alike. Can't wait for One Hour Photo. I think the movie will be badass especially since the news of Romanek NOT going overboard with using the habitual glam visual compositions that hes honed with music videos. This can mean he put storytelling over meaningless outlandish visuals. He may turn out to be the first music vid director since David Fincher(for The Game only) to actually use camera compositions in relation to the story. Michael Bay, Tarsem, Harald Zwart, Jonathan Glazer, David Fincher, Mark Romanek, Spike Jonze, McG, Simon West, Dominic Sena, Antoine Fuqua, Guy Ritchie, Michael Mann, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, David McNally, Kinka Usher, damn the list goes on and on. Indie "filmmakers" or AKA "I don't know how to tell an emotionally compelling story or even a narrative story so I cover my incompetence up with shocking subject matter," will be an extinct species in a few years.
-
My brother used to work at one of those places and every other day he'd come home with several copies of nudie pics. Usually more funny than flattering. When I first heard of this film, it sounded like a high concept wacky Robin film, like Mrs. Doubtfire. Nice to hear this could be something special.
-
I don't understand your post. Are you bashing music video directors or are you bashing writer-directors? Why did you include Paul "Soldier" Anderson in a list with Tarantino and PTA? Why did you praise Fincher and then list him with Michael Bay and Simon West in a seemingly derisive manner? Are you being sarcastic... or... to quote the two bitter Gen-X rockers from the Simpsons "Hullabalooza" episiode... "I don't even know anymore."
-
That 2001 Harry Ape licking the Monolith and taking a bite is the funniest damn thing I've seen in a while.
-
Jul 13, 2001 4:25:56 AM CDT
SierraMountian/Mali_Ocean - Are you implying that Michael Bay ha
by mr_sinister
Ok ok, so it was a predictable thing to say but why not?
-
Talk about your poorly constructed narrative threads...
-
Damn, I thought that thing was a big door!! Thank you, Mickey!
-
Fish are good. They like to swim. They live in water. If these statements seems trivial and obvious to anyone reading, it's because I wanted to fit in with the generally dull tone of this talkback.
-
Ok, I'm getting really fed up with this. Summer movies are friggin summer movies! You're supposed to have a good time and not be so damned critical! God, I go to the movies enjoy myself. Do I think all movies this summer rule? No. Do I think all movies this summer suck? No. Is there line in for improvement? Oh, of course. I mean, Tomb Raider, you guys bitch and moan about the movie being unrealistic and shit. The movie is based on a god damn video game! It's supposed to be faithful to it and frankly, I don't think there was any bullshit in it like that Super Mario Bros crap. But that's my opinion. Secondly, if there's anything in my opinion that stands out this summer, one of the movies is Crazy/Beautiful and no, I don't think it's a stupid teen movie, I think it's humane and daring, even for a PG-13 movie. But again, that's my opinion, so there. The point I'm trying to make, is that these movies are meant to be made for the summer. God, why do they call them summer movies? Of course, Hollywood can be notorious for being desperate in wanting sequels, but then again, I've seen worse. I've seen movies where a motion picture illustrates a long take and just keeps it stationary like that for the entire movie and pretty much hardly shit happens, like an Andy Warhol film. Believe me, it is painful to sit through and not cinematic at all. I wonder, do you people ever get out in the world and get sun? It could help, because all you guys ever seem to do is watch movies 24 hours a day and don't get a chance to relax. I mean, for christ's sake, if you think Hollywood makes so much crap, go out there and do something about it! As Steven Soderbergh once said, "Just go out there and make a film." Or teach a film class and show people films on what you think they should be influenced. I mean, my Intro to Cinema Studies teacher last semester was very much anti-Hollywood, but that didn't stop him from showing films he wanted us to get exposed to what he considered to be great cinema, so that eventually, we'll become a lot more unique filmmakers in the future.
-
I want to know if those people who saw ONE HOUR PHOTO remember seeing a featured extra portraying a cop protecting the family. Thanks.
-
I'm curious to know if anyone that saw ONE HOUR PHOTO remembers seeing a cop who was guarding the family.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 419 total posts 209 posts
- WTF HOLLYWOOD: SOLARBABIES -- 131 total posts 129 posts
- Herc’s Seen Tonight’s Return Of THE WALKING DEAD!! Discuss Also DOWNTON ABBEY, FEAR FACTOR, PAN AM, ONCE, SIMPSONS, DYNAMITE, LUCK, SHAMELESS, BAIT CAR, THE GRAMMYS And More!! Sunday Is Sweeps Day 11!! -- 123 total posts 122 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 124 total posts 58 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 191 total posts 47 posts
- Avid Comic Reader Hercules Does Battle With Tedium During Kevin Smith’s COMIC BOOK MEN! -- 43 total posts 43 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 60 total posts 42 posts
- I am The Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day! No, I’m the Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day! -- 27 total posts 27 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 506 total posts 26 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 77 total posts 24 posts