One Hour Photo

On a Scale of 1 to 10, with 10 Being the Best

5

Plot: A very lonely man works in a store developing photographs. There is a family (the Yorkins) that have come in for over nine years to that store and he wishes he was part of that family. The man's loneliness comes to a point where he imagines that he is part of the family. This movie is a thriller but this movie just made me feel so sad. Not only because the main character Sy has a sad life but because the late Robin Williams stars in the film. You may need a hug after this movie.

Characters/Actors of Note: 

Robin Williams playing Sy Parrish: I just felt so sad for the main character, Sy, and I spent most of the movie going, "Oh, poor thing. Okay, now stop acting crazy." It was interesting to see Mr. Williams play such a depressed and strict character. I have seen him in some of his other serious roles (Good Will Hunting and Dead Poet's Society) and found that this character is yet again different and special. I expected Mr. Williams to crack a joke at some point, as comedians often do in their somber roles because they get uncomfortable (such as Jim Carrey in The Truman Show) but not a single joke or humorous moment occurred. Sy Parrish was truly a sad, lonely, and creepy character. The strange part was that when a person watches Sy, they just keep pitying him. It gave a new outlook to the lay-person to understand those who suffer from mental illnesses. This acting was just wonderful and what could be expected from such a wonderful actor. 

*Please Note* That the other actors were minimal characters, hardly having any dialogue so I didn't critique them. 

Music: There were many quiet moments in this movie. The movie comes off meticulous, clean, and orderly and I think music would disrupt that idea. The times were it was used was for dramatic effect and it was used well. I think the sound came off tailored and always proper.

Camera Work/Cinematography: The main color of this film was white; white walls, white floors, and white clothes for Sy. The watcher feels that they are in the mind of Sy Parrish in this movie, except they know that the actions taken in the movie are not appropriate. The reason that the color white and the use of cleanliness were important to the film, is that when developing a photograph, a person has to be careful with chemicals and clean, in order to get the pictures to not be damaged. When we entered the Yorkin's home there is a feel of warmth which is such a contrast to Sy's life. As with the music, this was tailored so well. I loved the use of camera angles, close-ups, colors, and lights and also when there were nude scenes, it wasn't totally grotesque. Everything was in order and I do not believe anything was too overboard. The filming was done quite nicely.

RECAP:

It was interesting having the main character be the "villain" and gave a great insight into the mind's of those who are mentally ill. The music and cinematography were well-done as well. The reason it isn't higher on the scale is that the writing was pretty predictable. This movie also isn't that great of a thriller. There wasn't much thinking to do when you watched the movie. The watcher is waiting for the end to see why Sy is in a holding cell and that is basically all. Overall, it is great for understanding those who are alone but not great for thought-provoking ideas. 

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