(rated R, 98 mins.)
What is this world coming to when we can’t trust the smiling sales associate developing our one hour pictures? Isolated by loneliness, photo developer Sy Parrish (Robin Williams), spirals headlong into an obsession of “Kodak Moments” through the private lives of long-time customers, Nina (Connie Nielsen) and Will Yorkin (Michael Vartan). Sy deludes himself into believing that he is a member of the family that barely knows he exists. After a hooked-on opening, the movie slowly unravels to process (no pun intended) slow scenes when Sy decides to take matters in his own hands, after discovering that Will is less than the ideal husband. Williams has found a career revamping (post “Mrs. Doubtfire” or “Patch Adams” sappy-sweetness), through his sudden string of dark roles (“Death To Smoochy” and recently “Insomnia”). The voyeuristic elements are original (though no seat-jumping complexities) with an antagonist that gives us the creeps. As Sy, Williams conquers that easy-go-lucky character he does best, although this time the twist comes in suspecting something is off with trouble about to brew. Directed by Mark Romanek, his overly exaggerated musical score makes it clear he has a history in music videos.
