One Hour Photo (2002)

A mentally unstable photo developer targets a middle-class family after his obsession with them becomes more sick and disturbing than any of them could imagine.

Director:

Mark Romanek

Writer:

Mark Romanek

Stars:

Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan

6 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Williams	...	Seymour Parrish
Connie Nielsen	...	Nina Yorkin
Michael Vartan	...	Will Yorkin
Dylan Smith	...	Jakob Yorkin
Erin Daniels	...	Maya Burson
Paul Hansen Kim	...	Yoshi Araki
Lee Garlington	...	Waitress
Gary Cole	...	Bill Owens
Marion Calvert	...	Mrs. Von Unwerth
David Moreland	...	Mr. Siskind
Shaun P. O'Hagan	...	Young Father
Jim Rash	...	Amateur Porn Guy
Nick Searcy	...	Repairman
Dave Engfer	...	Sav-Mart Clerk
Jimmy Shubert	...	Soccer Coach

Storyline

Middle aged Sy Parrish works as a technician at a one hour photo lab located in a SavMart store in a suburban mall. Sy is a lonely man, never having had any friends. He knows much about his customers through the photographs they have developed. But he knows more about the Yorkin family - specifically Nina Yorkin and her adolescent son Jake Yorkin, the two in the family who drop off and pick up the family's photofinishing - the family about whom he is obsessed, than anyone else. Nina's husband, Will Yorkin, is incidental to his obsession since Sy has only seen him in photographs. Sy's obsession includes fantasizing about being their favorite "Uncle Sy". He has even been making an extra set of prints for himself of all of their photographs since Jake was a newborn. After an incident at work and after Sy finds out more about the family through a set of photographs, he decides to right the injustices he sees in the only way he knows how. His actions demonstrate his true mental state.

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Plot Keywords:

photography | photo lab | unfaithfulness | adultery | nude photo shoot | 

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Taglines:

Er weiß, wo du wohnst! (He knows where you live!)

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robin Williams later starred in a futuristic thriller entitled The Final Cut (2004) in which he played a similar role to his role in One Hour Photo. In the film, Robin Williams stars as a man whose job is to edit the removed memory implants of deceased individuals and make them into tribute movies at their funerals. But his life is soon in danger when he edits the memories of a deceased wealthy man, discovers he was sexually abusing his daughter, and gets targeted by an activist.

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Goofs

When Sy gets out of his car and starts to snapshot his chief's daughter, he is holding a photo camera with "Minolta aspherical lens" printed around the lens. Next second there is only "Aspherical lens" around.

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Quotes

Bill Owens: [finishes flicking through candid pictures of his daughter] Motherfucker!

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Alternate Versions

In this early cut a temp score was used featuring Thomas Newman's score to American Beauty and The Shawshank Redemption. Hans Zimmer score for The Thin Red Line was used when Sy follows the Yorkins car (When he slips the photo in). 'Clint Mansell''s Requiem for a Dream score was used during the final chase sequence.

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Connections

Featured in The Making of 'One Hour Photo' (2002)

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Soundtracks

Let's Be Friends
Written and Performed by Tim Heintz

User Reviews

Haunting and depressing experience.

A realistic portrayal of loneliness and the effect it can have on a person. Robin Williams is outstanding here and carrys the film. An expertly crafted drama that will send shivers down your spine.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

One Hour Photo

Filming Locations:

20770 Madrona Avenue, Torrance, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$321,515, 25 August 2002

Gross USA:

$31,597,131

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$52,223,306

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Catch 23 Entertainment, Killer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby DTS (uncredited)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1