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Laramie Movie Scope:
The Photographer

A whimsical trip through the Oz of New York

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by Robert Roten, Film Critic
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November 9, 2008 -- On the recommendation of a friend I watched a movie called the “The Photographer.” He said, like Arte Johnson, it was “Very interesting.” Well, it is. It is an odd, whimsical, spiritual journey through the back streets of New York. The film is beautiful to look at, but its beauty is only skin deep. The substance of the film, the script, detracts from the beautiful images on the screen.

The story concerns a photographer, Max Martin (played by Reg Rogers of “Runaway Bride”) who has lost his muse. He is told by his agent that if he doesn't come up with some good images for his next show he is going to be dumped. He wanders out in the New York City night and promptly runs into magic. He buys a mysterious tall man named Butler (Tom Noonan of “Synecdoche, New York”) a drink. The next thing he knows Butler is gone, leaving behind an envelope of 10 beautiful black and white photographs of scenes in New York. For some reason, Max decides to take the photos and pass them off as his own, hoping to save his career. Before he can do that he gets knocked out by some thugs while trying to help another man (an aspiring writer named Romeo, played by Rob Campbell of “Boys Don't Cry”) and loses the photos.

Romeo, who says he is good at finding things, vows to help Max find the photos, which turn up in the most unlikely places, such as glued to a lamp post. Along the way, Max and Romeo pick up others in their search for the photos, a psychic, Miri (Maggie Gyllenhaal of “Secretary”) and a drunk who has escaped from his bachelor's party, Paul (Chris Bauer of “Flags of Our Fathers”). During their all-night odyssey to find the photos, Max starts to get his artistic vision back. He begins to see the photos come to life in his mind. It turns out the photos are all about Max's future. He sees them come to life as he travels through the night, arriving at the same time and place the photos were taken. Romeo, who writes stories on a typewriter missing its ribbon, miraculously finds a typewriter ribbon while looking for Max's photos. He also finds romance. Max runs across an old flame, Amy (Tina Holmes of “Half Nelson”) at an all-night bar during the journey.

The group hears rumors of a street person named Violet (played by Mary Alice) who has mystical powers and may be able to lead him to the missing photos. Violet is a kind of oracle, which is odd because she also played “The Oracle” in “The Matrix: Revolutions,” typecasting? Violet also serves as Max's muse in this movie. It is a bit like Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion headed to Oz to see the Wizard, except that it is Max and Romeo seeking their muse. Max gradually begins to realize that what he is looking for in his long journey through the night is not the photos, or his past, but his future. When he eventually runs across the mysterious man named Butler for the second time in the same night, he doesn't seem surprised. He tells Butler to take the group to the site of the very last photo, taken, appropriately enough, at dawn.

The award-winning cinematography, by Vanja Cernjul (winner of the Spirit Award for his beautiful work in this film), is fantastic. Every frame looks like a painting. The dialogue, however (Jeremy Stein wrote and directed this film) is as bad as I've heard in a long time. Stein tries for lyrical mysticism and poetry, but most of the time it just comes out as the kind of lame cliché-filled patter one hears in soap operas. Did anyone proofread this dialog? The plot doesn't really work, either. There is no reason whatsoever for Miri and Paul to join Max and Romeo on their quest for the photos. No credible relationship is established to get them started on such a crazy journey. The acting isn't half bad, highlighted by Maggie Gyllenhaal's performance as Miri. Maggie was not a well-known actress at this point in her career. Her breakout role in “Secretary” came two years after this film was made.

With a slightly different setting and twist, this could have been a great Christmas movie. The time of year is right. There are lights in Central Park and there is snow and magic in the air. A church hymn is even sung with some feeling by Violet, but there is no effort made to capitalize on the Christmas potential of this film. As is, this is close to being an above average film, but it doesn't quite work well enough for that. This film rates a C.

In addition to the above-named actors there are a number of other well-known actors in minor roles, including Anthony Michael Hall (yep, he's still around) as Greg. Hall has had an interesting career, starring as a gawky teen in such movies as “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club.” He filled out and went on to star in his own TV series, “The Dead Zone.” He also appeared in one of the most popular films of all time, “The Dark Knight.” Also appearing in the movie is John Heard as Marcello the depressed photographer who lost his camera. Heard was most recently seen in the popular “Prison Break” TV series. Heard has appeared in scores of films, including “Big,” “Home Alone” and “The Pelican Brief” and in scores of TV shows. Also appearing is Marisa Berenson as Julie Morris. Berenson once upon a time starred in such classic films as “Cabaret” and “Barry Lyndon.” This film originally was seen at the Taos Talking Picture festival in the spring of 2000. It had a very limited theatrical run in 2003. It seems to have made little impact on national movie box office returns. I saw it on DVD, widescreen format. Good images, but no extras.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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Copyright © 2008 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.
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Robert Roten can be reached via e-mail at my last name at lariat dot org. [Mailer button: image of letter and envelope]

(If you e-mail me with a question about this or any other movie or review, please mention the name of the movie you are asking the question about, otherwise I may have no way of knowing which film you are referring to)