One Hour Photo: Isolation has no cure...

One Hour Photo (2003)
Starring: Robin Willams, Connie Nielson, Michael Vartan, Erin Daniels & Eriq LaSalle
Directed by: Mark Romanek

Plot
Sy the photo guy, works at the local big chain discount store. Seemingly alone in the world he attaches himself to a family who he fantasizes has the perfect life. With no life of his own to speak of, Sy tries to enter the lives of the Yorbin family. He has been at every birthday, and happy event for the last 11 years through their photos. When Sy begins stalking the family members and trying to get some real interaction with them it builds upon the illusion that they live the perfect life...but when things go wrong at his job, and he discovers a dark family secret, will Sy finally loose his mind?

Review
This film should be called, Examination of a Isolated life...cause that is what it is...This is the first film i have ever seen to portray loneliness so well. It is billed as a thriller...but there are no thrills to be found for this film is about being uncomfortable...and haunted by ghosts in the mind of the main character Sy Perrish (Willams).

Robin Willams, made famous by playing over the top lovable yet zany characters tones himself down (way down) to be the man whom seems to be just another face in the crowd. The sets and images that surround Sy are in themselves his creation... his home and clothing are indistinct, just bland pale colors white, cream, beige, light grey. This is the best and clearest indication that his life is empty, lacking the substance of something useful, meaningful and worth wile... well that is until you get to his secret room...the ones with the photos...the photos of one family in particular. Williams plays this character so uncomfortably well, you squirm when he speaks (as the film as a few monologues ) or talks to the family which is the object of his obsession. It is this obsession that causes him trouble at work, and eventually gets him into bigger trouble when he discovers his dream family isn’t as perfect as he wished it was...

This uncomfortable and haunted tale is driven by some brilliant writing and wonderful visuals, assisted by an eerie haunted lonely soundtrack. If you ever want to walk a mile in a lonely man’s shoes, then this is the film for you ... wonderful, frightening, haunted, and refreshingly uncomfortable...

Observations
Robin Williams was on Prozac for this film (he had to be hes so subdued)
This film is very uncomfortable, full or awkward moments and forced conversations...
Toward the end of the film there is a naked woman, she has winter bush...it seemed to be late autumn

Likes
The haunted uncomfortableness of the film
The haunded soundtrack
The story, setting and mood of the film
the wonderful visuals

Dislikes
winter bush
pace...kinda slow

What I Learned
Don’t fuck with a lonely man’s fantasies
Becareful who ya go and fire...
women get winter bush all year round...

Best Quote
“If you touch her again; I stab you in the heart! ”~ Sy

Rating
I give this flick 3 1/2 outta 5

Final Comment
This movie is a nice bit of storytelling. If you are in the mood for something sad, haunting and uncomfortable this is a must see...