One Hour Photo (2002) + Extras [w/Commentary]

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.



Audio Commentary by Mark Romanek and Robin Williams: The director and his star – who's in a more thoughtful and reserved mood here than usual – share a highly informative conversation about the making of the film and the story's underlying themes.

Extras:
– Lensing One Hour Photo (25:33): A somewhat unconventional making-of featurette, comprised entirely of behind-the-scenes footage overlaid with archival audio interviews with Romanek and film's actors. A fascinating look at the challenges of the production, including a burst water main that nearly ruined the Savmart set.
– The Charlie Rose Show (35:57): As a Charlie Rose junkie, this is by far the gem of the new special features, with Romanek and Williams sitting down at the famed interviewer's circular table. Williams, of course, begins by pretending they're there for a seance and proceeds to improvise spastically for a good minute. An excellent interview, especially when Williams calms down and begins discussing his character and how he got involved.