Totally new territory for Robin Williams. Here he takes on a much darker role than the lighter and more personable roles that are his trademark. Here he plays Sy 'the photo guy' at an overlit 'walmart' lookalike variety store. ***POSSIBLE SPOILERS*** Sy is a perfectionist, utterly professional and proficient in the finest detail of his craft. However, away from his element, he is a deeply troubled loner who has great difficulty forming relationships or making friends. He is eccentric and develops a strange and somewhat creepy fascination with a family (the Yorkins) who've been sending their 'happy' snaps to his photo lab at 'Savmart' for years. Sy is affectionately known to them, especially the son - but only in a casual and fleeting way. However, Sy feels he knows the Yorkins intimately through all the photos he's secretly copied and kept. In his inner world, he is part of their family. And thus the obsession to make his fantasy reality grows. Sy awkwardly attempts a 'chance meeting' with Mrs Yorkin at the mall to serve as as a vehicle to get 'closer' to them. He tries befriending the son by showing up to watch him at soccer training and buying him his favourite toy. The tension builds as two events in Sy's 'world' throw him off balance and threaten to send him over the edge (won't give it away). One feels empathy for his character, for his loneliness and longing to feel accepted and loved. All that is totally understandable, but the audience will undoubtably also feel wary and off putted by his strange and bizarre antics. On the one hand you care for the guy, while on the other you'd be relieved to see him locked up somewhere for good where he could'nt do harm to anyone or himself. The clear cut message the film conveys IMO is to highlight the plight of countless lonely souls out there like Sy who can only dream of having and experiencing what we've got, i.e, to be accepted and loved. The second message being to appreciate what we have and not take anything for granted. All in all, Robin Williams is brilliant in One Hour Photo - not just because he plays a role a far cry from what we've all grown accustomed to him playing, but also because he is just damn convincing doing 'creepy troubled eccentric' and this is a side to Robin Williams acting range which is pleasantly refreshing and original. He is supported by a credible supporting cast headed by the beautiful and talented Connie Nielsen (of Gladiator fame) but Robin Williams 'IS' One Hour Photo. Thumbs up from me, see it now!