By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald Rating: * * * *)
One of the best things about home movies this year is that there have been two Robin Williams' flicks that are worth seeing. After the schmaltz of the late 90s, of Patch Adams, What Dreams May Come, Bicentennial Man, his vanity project Jakob
the Liar, and half a dozen forgettable others, it was easy to suggest that (a) Robin Williams is not funny any more; (b) Robin Williams is not serious any more; (c) Robin Williams is not Robin Williams any more.
Then came the moody, nasty Insomnia, where he played the sinister bad-guy killer to Al Pacino's sinister bad-guy cop. Just a few weeks later Williams gets more exposure and develops his range further in One Hour Photo.
Sy Parrish develops people's photos in the local supermarket/mall. He seems friendly, takes a great interest in his customers and makes sure their snaps are perfectly developed. When the shop closes, Sy is a loner who lives in a colourless apartment without family or friends.
One of his regular customers is Nina Yorkin (Connie Nielsen): married to the perfect man, living in the perfect house. Sy has developed her family photos for 10 years and his interest crosses the line from customer relations to obsessive.
As Williams uncovers the many sides of Sy, he is helped by a script which also slides from the familiar to the disturbing and doesn't come up with a contrived, happy ending — unlike so many Hollywood movies, especially Robin Williams' movies.
It is the work of Mark Romanek, a writer-director who made one feature, Static, 17 years ago and has been working in pop videos for the past 10 years (Best of Bowie, Madonna's Video Collection, REM: Parallel, Nine Inch Nails: Closure).
No word on his next project, but keep an eye — or an ear — out for it. Williams is working with former Python Terry Gilliam on a fantasy based on the real-life fairytale collectors, the Brothers Grimm. Now there's a couple of guys who could come up with weird stories about strange men. And no happy endings, either.
DVD features: movie (96min); commentary by Williams and Romanek; Sundance channel feature Anatomy of a Scene; Making of ... ; The Charlie Rose Show with Williams and Romanek.
Rental video, DVD: May 21
One Hour Photo
By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald Rating: * * * *)
One of the best things about home movies this year is that there have been two Robin Williams' flicks that are worth seeing. After the schmaltz of the late 90s, of Patch Adams, What Dreams May Come, Bicentennial Man, his vanity project Jakob
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