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ONE HOUR PHOTO
 
Starring Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen,
Michael Vartan, Dylan Smith and Gary Cole
Director Mark Romanek
Canadian Rating 14A
Released by Fox Searchlight Pictures - 06/02
In “One Hour Photo”, Robin Williams seems to have completed the dark transformation he began in “Death to Smoochy” and “Insomnia” earlier this year. Taking on a character who is depraved, disturbed and lonely, Williams disappears into this new role with a quiet and assured determination that could signal a wild resurgence in his career, which has been slumming as of late. The critics have praised Williams for taking this brave new path into bleak dramatic territory. Some audiences, on the other hand, aren’t sure how to react.
After all, this man was Mrs. Doubtfire. And Patch Adams. The excitable human wind-up toy we see performing two dozen impersonations while squirming in his seat next to Jay Leno. It’s all the more remarkable, then, that Robin Williams can step into the shoes of someone like Sy Parrish and convince us beyond a shred of a doubt that he is an innocent, mannered man with a head full of traumatic demons. Sy works at the photo processing shop at SavMart, and takes much pride in his work. His favorite customers are the Yorkins - namely, Nina (Connie Nielsen) and her son Jake (Dylan Smith). Sy is very private but obsessive, and keeps an extra print of every Yorkin family photo posted on his wall at home, in a shrine that seems dedicated to his own loneliness and despair. He enjoys thinking of himself as Uncle Sy. By now, you just know this story isn’t going to have a happy ending.
“One Hour Photo” is all about Robin Williams, and the actor is chillingly, memorably great in the role, never threatening to go over-the-top until the story’s inevitable destination calls for it. The performance is a study of poise and shrouded emotion, and a reminder of the undeniable talent that Williams possesses. Moving on to the rest of the film: writer-director Mark Romanek gives “One Hour Photo” a stylish and photogenic look, with scenes at the SavMart bathed in ethereal blues and whites, and Sy’s own personal world a dark, plain dungeon. Unfortunately, Romanek also has a superficial approach to some of his storytelling. Sy is so convincing and layered as a person that, by contrast, some of the supporting characters comes across as little more than well-coordinated pawns designed to tap into his disturbed psyche. Despite some strong supporting turns (including Michael Vartan as Will Yorkin, and Gary Cole as Sy’s photo shop boss), no one truly emerges from Williams’ shadow to provide supplemental dramatic support.
After a deliberate set-up, the movie builds some real tension toward the end, and leaves you extremely unsettled. And that seems to be the desired effect. “One Hour Photo” is a triumph for Robin Williams, and seeing him this good in a role this different and demanding is something you should not miss.
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