A film which simultaneously explores alienation and obsession as well as is a nuanced and powerful indictment of American values such as they exist today. Writer/Director Romanek launches a salvo albeit a sublte, relentless one against the reigning corrupt consumerist values that dominate American culture. Less overt in it's skewering then "American Beauty" it is a darker and more pernicious view. The seamless combination of dialogue, color palette, music and editing created a feeling of ominousness throughout the film keeping my stomach churning. The interesting thing that Mark Romanek did with this film - which is something that I always enjoy- is to make the viewer sympathize with an unsympathetic character, such as the one played by Robin Williams. I felt sympathy for this person who on the surface is repulsive in that he is a dark room voyeur- he is the person that I imagine is hoarding the cache of porn photos (as an ex-roomie of mine once did who worked at a One Hour Photo). Sadly this character is lonely and alienated with a pathological need to connect with a suburban family that he idealizes. The family appear to be perfect but in actuality under the surface are materialistic and completely emotionally empty. The film skewers consumerist American values and it is not a coincidence the setting of this is a shopping mall - the great American shrine to consumerism. Less satirical then Solondz, although both explore themes of desire and alienation, Romanek's vision of family life is the antithesis of a Kodak moment.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
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