Sy "the photo guy" Parrish has lovingly developed photos for the Yorkin family since their son was a baby. But as the Yorkins' lives become fuller, Sy's only seems lonelier, until he eventually believes he's part of their family. When "Uncle" Sy's picture-perfect fantasy collides with an ugly dose of reality, what happens next "has the spine-tingling elements of the best psychological thrillers!"
Romanek's themes are every bit as distinctive as his visuals. Beyond the cleverness, the weirdness and the pristine camerawork, One Hour Photo is a sobering meditation on why we take pictures.
– Eleanor Ringel Gillespie,
Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
31 Aug 2002
rotten:
Not entirely satisfying as either a creepfest or a character study.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
12 Sep 2002
rotten:
Sy's scary ordinariness is a species of acting stunt. There's no there there.
– Peter Rainer,
New York Magazine/Vulture,
26 Sep 2002
fresh:
This immaculately made first feature from noted musicvid and commercials director Mark Romanek provides Robin Williams with one of his creepiest, atypical roles, and the comic star responds with an unusually restrained performance...