Film: One Hour Photo

[haste]

I borrowed this on DVD last nite and I've been wrestling with whether I acutally like it or not. To me it seems to be a movie that never reaches it peek, it seems to be building towards something but it never reaches it. I enjoyed William's portrayal of the main character and it shows his versatality as an actor.

I think it suffers from some poor writing - I can't seem to put my finger on it. It seems to lack "omph" for the want of a better word. Its a very subdued movie and not what I expected.

Would love to hear what others thought of it!

 

[Raz]

Yeah, I thought it was very overrated....Robin Williams does have a lot more range than just being a funnyman, but it certainly didn't take this film to show me that. I think he proved himself as far back as Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society.

I was dissapointed in this film to be honest....his character is really not THAT psychotic when you look at the history of film, and I don't really think it was anything more than a well-done overly long short film.

 

[keej]

I thought it started off with a lot of potential, but the film just failed to take itself anywhere beyond that. Subdued is definitely a good word for the film, it could have been something special but the poor script held it back. Although it was weak, I still think it was worth a look.

There's some beautiful camera work - I remember admiring a lot of the techniques and effects, particularly with the colours.

 

[Neural Shock]

Yeah, it's somehow missing true depth. And why does the husband fool around with a bint when he's married to a total hottie ? The best thing about it is Robin Williams. My favourite scenes are at that mart where he works. Great cinematography, and good tension. But the plot is... well, not ballsy enough. Oh yeah, the scene where he fantisizes breaking into their home (and having a crap) is good too.

 

[Stark]

I think the whole point of it was that he wasn't psychotic. he just took pictures.

I watched it on a headful of K, which probably made the slow pacing more acceptable to me.

 

[MOS]

I thought that Robin Williams was excellent in this movie, I think the big problem lies in the writing as well.

 

[xena]

i liked this movie. robin williams' character was very believable, and while i knew that something was wrong with him, i felt sorry for him throughout the whole movie.

while robin williams is an amazing comedian, it's great to see him in something besides a comedy.

 

[SardonicNihilist]

There was another film, of which I forget the title, something about night and day, in which Robin Wililams plays a supposed 'psycho'. It was with this description that I was recommended One Hour Photo.

I can't believe people interpreted his character as a psycho. As was said earlier, I felt amazingly sorry for him the whole time and often when I see someone in their late 40s with no family or kids I kind of think back to the movie and sympathise. Loneliness can drive people to do some weird things.

I recommend any horror fans out there to see "May", for some really weird shit that lonely people can do.

And the fact that this film 'had no balls', was sort of the point. I was glad to see a film which didn't have that one really violent gorey bit that everyone will talk about as the climax of the film. It was a timid, and yes, subdued drama.
Just saying I thought it was alright.

(I like this new forum)

 

[xena]

^^i think i know the movie you're talking about. it took place in alaska when they have 24 hours of sunlight each day... i think it was called 'insomnia' anyway, i saw that one too, and robin williams was also great, convincing, and creepy in that one as well.

 

[Silver7]

yup, it was "Insomnia." Al Pacino and Hilary Swank were also in it. I didn't liek it that much and I haven't seen "One Hour Photo" yet.

 

[MOS]

robin williams was also great, convincing, and creepy in that one as well.

I agree - I also thought Pacino was great in his role. However, this one suffered severly from a pathetic script. Too bad - it had great potential.

 

[-spiderman-]

I thought the idea of it was cool. And I mean a crazy sadistic Robin Williams?! Aw man I had to see it.

But it just ended up never delivering, and after a point it all just got mundane and dragged and dragged. As someone said, i felt like it was buildling up and building up to something and at the end just couldn't do it. Like a little frail guy talking mad trash at the gym and pumping himself up and his friend pumping him up and giving him pep talks, and when he goes to bench 300, he just grunts and nothing moves. Kinda like that.

 

[Raz]

There was another film, of which I forget the title, something about night and day, in which Robin Wililams plays a supposed 'psycho'. It was with this description that I was recommended One Hour Photo.

And the fact that this film 'had no balls', was sort of the point. I was glad to see a film which didn't have that one really violent gorey bit that everyone will talk about as the climax of the film. It was a timid, and yes, subdued drama.
Just saying I thought it was alright.

(I like this new forum)

Insomnia...yep, that was an okay movie...I much preferred it to One Hour Photo.

I think when people complain about it having no balls, they're not necessarily talking about gore....Dancer In The Dark, The Baby of Macon, Dogville...these movies all have a colossal amount of balls, and there isn't much explicit violence or gore in any of them. You can build a lot of intensity with the power of suggestion. For me, the problem with One Hour Photo was that there wasn't any intensity. It was more of a sad little story about a tired lonely man, and maybe if it had been marketed that way rather than as a thriller, it'd be more palatable....each to their own though I guess.

And I like this new forum too.

 

[wanderlust]

i agree... it was lacking, but not a total loss.
maybe there is a point to the lacking feeling we all seem to have been left with.

 

[alasdairm]

aside, insomnia was a remake of an earlier norwegian movie of the same name and featuring the (excellent) Stellan Skarsgård.

the original is recommended (by me )

alasdair

 

[RareForm]

Robin Williams is simply the greatest actor I have ever seen..he can be weird and creepy and play serious roles or he can be the funniest guy in the business. Props to Robin Williams and this movie. Great Movie.

 

[wanderer21]

one hour photo...what's the deal with the ending?

I've watched one hour photo (with Robin williams) so many times, matter of fact I just bought it.

I am still SO confused as to what exactly happened.

there are times when I watch it and think that Robin Williams did actually act out that scene with the cheating husband and his mistress...then I look at it again and think that it was just in his head (like the scene where he goes in their house, takes a dump and watches tv).

But, still I'm confused


Can someone please help me!!??

 

[randycaver]

I'm going to merge this thread with one already in existence

 

[j22]

Did not enjoy this movie

I was hyped up to see it. There just wasn't enough going on in for me. Predictable and bland.

 

[wanderer21]

^oopsie!! I got so confused for a moment!! Thanks, didn't know one was started.