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In Reply to: When a keyboard reaches retirement age, the caps are always first to go! posted by Audiophilander on September 22, 2002 at 10:16:42:

Saw Robin Williams yesterday in "One-hour Photoshop" (sic?), mainly due to your recommendation. Sorry, though I agree with a lot of your opinions on other films, this one wasn't worth the matinee entry (I am not asking for a refund...).
ATT: READ NO FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS FLICK!
First, the ending. Would any cops in their right minds first go to Robin's room and leave the "victims" alone all that time? No. A major mistake!
The darn thing took too long to get going. At least 20 minutes of sloooooow preamble, by which time I was daydreaming a bit.
It didn't help that the husband and wife are really tv-quality hacks. But the main problem, outside of pacing, is the director's lack of skill. It looks like he was assembling a collage of scenes, with no connection between them, either logically or stylistically.
And last, we get no reason for the psychopatholgy. None. I imagine the original script had Robin being a religious lunatic, but this was expunged for political reasons. After all, that level of prudery, carried to an obsession, must have religious roots, especially in our society.
I didn't find Robin's performance especially compelling, either. In eliminating his previous mannerisms, he left himself no palette to work with.
The plot was stolen from an upcoming re-make, anyhow. "The Red Dragon" takes the conceit of a photo shop and uses that as the springboard for a REAL story. If you haven't seen the original movie of the book (this movie had a trailer of the Hopkin's new version), called "Manhunter", I'd recommend it strongly. The Hannibal Lecter interpreter gives Anthony a some real competition.
Now, have you seen "The Interview?" This Australian film, now out on video, is the real deal. Chilling. Unforgettable.

Follow Ups:

Cannot Recommend "One Hour Photo" - Robertc88 16:52:40 09/22/02 (0)
Perhaps I'm also in the minority overall, although the 4 folks I viewed it along with were not very thrilled or excited. I don't believe they were going to tell friends to see it therefore.
I don't believe it got a full movie house release across the country. Is it still playing??
Wow! Sorry that you didn't like One Hour Photo. - Audiophilander 15:46:33 09/22/02 (4)
For my wife, myself and several other friends who've seen this film we regard it as one of the year's best thus far! IMHO, Robin Williams turned in a creepy, entirely believable (Oscar caliber) performance; this is definitely going to be an addition to our growing DVD collection. As you warned folks of spoilers in your post, I don't want to give anything away for those who haven't seen or might be contemplating seeing One Hour Photo. Nevertheless, I think it's safe to say that you may have missed much of the film's nuances and subtext since the film really isn't about catching a serial killer as in Manhunter or it's remake Red Dragon. My suggestion would be to go to Rotten Tomatoes and read some of the critic's reviews there (i.e., over 80% positive across the board; that's out of over 130 reviews!). Now I'm not suggesting that all of the positive reviews are correct or that your impressions are wrong because it goes against the consensus, but some films just strike folks the wrong way some time; perhaps, in your case, this is just one of those kinds of films.
BTW, if my wife weren't wrapped up working on a new novel I'd ask her to share her impressions of this film with you as well. She views films with a much more critical eye than I do from the standpoint of plotting, pacing, continuity, tension, character interpretation, etc., and it's rare when a movie impresses her to the degree that One Hour Photo has!
Thanks for the Aussie film recommendation; m'Shiela 'n I haven't seen The Interview yet, but crickey, we'll go on walkabout for it. :o)
G'day mate,
AuPh
- Speaking of Manhunter.... - Mrs. Piggy 20:11:05 09/23/02 (1)
  to change the subject just a wee bit, was an excellent movie. The acting wasn't the best I've seen, no, but the random creepyness of the way the show played out was horrific-true horror. I think the subject matter and sense of helplessness that was an intregal part of Manhunter was missing in Silence of the Lambs. I didn't really care if they caught Hannibal L. The movie was always "watched" and never "felt" with me. It was too much of a spectacle.
  BTW
  Did your wife like In Dreams (Annette Benning)? Just curious--I thought the movie took some bold chances and came out ahead.
  mp
  - Manhunter wasn't bad, but In Dreams didn't work as well for either of us. - Audiophilander 22:16:24 09/23/02 (0)
    We usually like Neil Jorden's films and Annette Benning's acting, but as bold as In Dreams strives to be it just doesn't quite achieve it's ambitions, at least for us. I literally had to look the film up since it's been several years since we saw it and I'd forgotten most of the plot (Sorry, it's my shamefully poor memory, I guess.).
    Cheers,
    AuPh
- Will check out reviews, just one other - tinear 15:56:42 09/22/02 (1)
  point occurred to me: did Robin take this movie so he wouldn't have to get out of character from his role in "Insomniac?" Two loonies, right in a row!
  - I saw Insomnia as well, but felt that Robin William's portrayals were entirely different. - Audiophilander 20:58:08 09/22/02 (0)
    Insomnia was basicly an Al Pacino vehicle, but that film was poorly paced, dialogue impoverished and generally not satisfying (i.e., it cured any insomnia I might've had while watching it). William's character in Insomnia seemed to me to be somewhat over the top and cartoony and not especially creepy, which the role should've demanded.
    AuPh

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