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IMDbPro

One Hour Photo

  • 20022002
  • RR
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
125K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,465
630
Robin Williams in One Hour Photo (2002)
Trailer
Play trailer0:34
2 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaThriller
A mentally unstable photo developer targets an upper middle-class family after his obsession with them becomes more sick and disturbing than any of them could imagine.A mentally unstable photo developer targets an upper middle-class family after his obsession with them becomes more sick and disturbing than any of them could imagine.A mentally unstable photo developer targets an upper middle-class family after his obsession with them becomes more sick and disturbing than any of them could imagine.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
125K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,465
630
    • Mark Romanek
    • Mark Romanek
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Connie Nielsen
    • Michael Vartan
    • Mark Romanek
    • Mark Romanek
  • Stars
    • Robin Williams
    • Connie Nielsen
    • Michael Vartan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 654User reviews
    • 182Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    One Hour Photo
    Trailer 0:34
    Watch One Hour Photo
    One Hour Photo
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch One Hour Photo

    Photos136

    Robin Williams and Connie Nielsen in One Hour Photo (2002)
    Robin Williams in One Hour Photo (2002)
    Robin Williams and Connie Nielsen in One Hour Photo (2002)
    Robin Williams in One Hour Photo (2002)
    Connie Nielsen, Dylan Smith, and Michael Vartan in One Hour Photo (2002)
    On the set of One Hour Photo
    Mark Romanek in One Hour Photo (2002)
    Robin Williams at an event for One Hour Photo (2002)
    Robin Williams at an event for One Hour Photo (2002)
    Robin Williams at an event for One Hour Photo (2002)
    Robin Williams at an event for One Hour Photo (2002)
    Robin Williams at an event for One Hour Photo (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Seymour Parrish
    Connie Nielsen
    Connie Nielsen
    • Nina Yorkin
    Michael Vartan
    Michael Vartan
    • Will Yorkin
    Dylan Smith
    Dylan Smith
    • Jakob Yorkin
    Erin Daniels
    Erin Daniels
    • Maya Burson
    Paul Kim Jr.
    Paul Kim Jr.
    • Yoshi Araki
    • (as Paul Hansen Kim)
    Lee Garlington
    Lee Garlington
    • Waitress
    Gary Cole
    Gary Cole
    • Bill Owens
    Marion Calvert
    • Mrs. Von Unwerth
    David Moreland
    David Moreland
    • Mr. Siskind
    Shaun P. O'Hagan
    • Young Father
    Jim Rash
    Jim Rash
    • Amateur Porn Guy
    Nick Searcy
    Nick Searcy
    • Repairman
    Dave Engfer
    • Sav-Mart Clerk
    Jimmy Shubert
    Jimmy Shubert
    • Soccer Coach
    Eriq La Salle
    Eriq La Salle
    • Det. James Van Der Zee
    Clark Gregg
    Clark Gregg
    • Det. Paul Outerbridge
    Andy Rolfes
    Andy Rolfes
    • Officer Lyon
    • (as Andrew A. Rolfes)
      • Mark Romanek
      • Mark Romanek
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Robin Williams overheard viewers say that they forgot it was Williams in the lead role 15 minutes into the film. An observation that made Williams proud.
    • Goofs
      Red light is added by the filmmakers to show the film moving through the developing machine. Color film is sensitive to all light, therefore all of that film would be fogged. Red light is only used for black and white paper print developing.
    • Quotes

      Sy Parrish: And if these pictures have anything important to say to future generations, it's this: I was here. I existed. I was young, I was happy, and someone cared enough about me in this world to take my picture.

    • Alternate versions
      An early cut of the film had several differences than the theatrical version.
      • The opening Fox Searchlight logo briefly becomes a negative image as it fades out. This is obviously a reference to picture negatives.
      • An alternate prologue before the main titles featured a narration by Williams on the red eye effect in human's and animals, while a photo of a family with red eyes, footage of animals with this effect and video of what's happening in the eye when this happens.
      • There was also a scene near the end where a police detective reviews the pictures Sy took of Will & Maya at the hotel. In the theatrical version these photos were never shown and it was left in question whether they were actually taken.
      • The argument between Sy and the photo machine repair guy was extended.
    • Connections
      Featured in Anatomy of a Scene: One Hour Photo (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Coming Home
      Written by William Aura, Craig Dobbin and Alain Eskinasi

      Performed by 3rd Force

      Courtesy of Higher Octave Music

    User reviews654

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    I was here, I existed and someone cared about me enough to take my picture.
    One Hour Photo is written and directed by Mark Romanek. It stars Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, Dylan Smith, Gary Cole and Eriq La Salle. Music is scored by Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek and cinematography by Jeff Cronenweth.

    Sy Parrish (Williams) is a loner photo technician at SavMart's one hour photo shop who becomes obsessed with a family whose photographs he develops....

    No one takes a photograph of something they want to forget.

    2002 was a stellar year for Robin Williams, it saw him give two dramatically potent performances that dampen down the bile spewed up by those who haven't been able to forgive him his comedy excesses. Insomnia has (rightly) found a more appreciative audience since 2002 because of the rise of its director, one Christopher Nolan. One Hour Photo, though, still seems to be striving for recognition for its qualities, in fact, for its understated qualities.

    It's evident now that many have gone into the film expecting some psycho stalker movie, and subsequently have been disappointed to find One Hour Photo is nothing of the sort. What unfolds is a sedately paced story of a fractured mind, of a loner who is so detached from society he imagines himself being part of a family, by way of his job, that he thinks is perfect. When the family of his selection turns out to not be a bastion of Americana, the little thread in his head clinging to sanity finally breaks, and then......

    Here's the problem. This is no slasher, people need to understand that mental illness or isolation from society does not mean psycho death killer, and thus Romanek's film becomes an observational character study of someone detached from realism. Creepiness permeates the picture, big time, but you shouldn't be putting this in the horror genre. Romanek always holds the upper hand, structured as it is, we the audience find ourselves holding on to see just how far Sy Parrish went with his pursuit of family harmony? With that comes the question of if the finale delivers substance? Well that depends on if you want red blood histrionics or brainy grey area.

    There were cuts and studio interference, and in the finale an explanation for Parrish's mental issues reeks of a writer being "handed" a solution by the studio paying his bills. Yet this is mature pot-boiling stuff, a film that dares to simmer and not let the pot spill over for multiplex appeasement. While Williams is nothing short of terrific, an edgy and understated performance that only makes us lament that he didn't do more of these portrayals at his peak. 8/10
    helpful•11
    1
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Sep 30, 2012

    FAQ5

    • What is One Hour Photo about?
    • Who's taking the pictures when the entire Yorkin family is in the shot?
    • After developing Sy's film how did Yoshie know it was Bill's daughter in the pictures?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 13, 2002 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Searchlight Pictures
      • Catch 23 Entertainment
      • Killer Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 36 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby

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