Goodbye Robin

I agree that for films he could be particularly great with drama. His movie career sure wasn't consistent, but most of the misses were things that tried to be more comedic or family oriented. I grew up watching him on Happy Days and Mork & Mindy, and remember many incredible ad libbed performances on comedy specials and Johnny Carson and Letterman and such. He had this crazy energy and ability to riff on things that was almost unmatched, really.

Fisher King is another great film that his performance elevated. Death to Smoochy, too.

He was great in stand-up and a great guest on talk shows - always watched his interviews because he was funny, intelligent, unpredictable. Will miss seeing him on TV, for sure.

It just dawned on me: Robin Williams starred in a movie What Dreams May Come. Williams' character dies and attempts to save his wife from her self imposed hell she created by committing suicide. Not a good movie, but just seems very ironic and prophetic right now. Personally, his early stand up, The Fisher King and Good Will Hunting stand out as his greatest work.

Now, the media feeding frenzy is starting. Truly sad.

Yeah. it's a good day to avoid CNN.

I forgot about Good Will Hunting. I want to rewatch the scene where he slams Jason Bourne into the wall saying that he will end him if he disrespects his wife again. Man, can that guy ever do some convincing drama.

I was going to mention One Hour Photo but got beaten to it

Gary Sax wrote: I think my problem from a legacy standpoint is I only saw him in movies. I really did not like the film performances I saw with him. On the other hand, everyone I talk to says his stand up is excellent.

I never liked his comedies, but I did enjoy his few serious roles. One Hour Photo and Insomnia were good, and I even liked Moscow on the Hudson. His performance in Awakenings was remarkably restrained, as he played it completely straight and let De Niro steal every scene.

He was also in a pretty interesting movie a few years back called Final Cut, where he played a guy who takes recorded images from people's lives (recorded via a device in their brains) and edits them together into a final "movie" to be played at their funerals.

He was a bit underrated as an actor, as many of you have mentioned he could do drama quite well.

I actually liked What Dreams May Come. Fisher King was great too. Hook. Patch Adams. Aladdin. Good Morning Vietnam. Some great stuff.


Bangarang Ruffio.

charlest wrote: He was a bit underrated as an actor, as many of you have mentioned he could do drama quite well.

I actually liked What Dreams May Come. Fisher King was great too. Hook. Patch Adams. Aladdin. Good Morning Vietnam. Some great stuff.


Bangarang Ruffio.

I really WANTED to like What Dreams May Come. The problems weren't so much with the acting, more with the overly preachy writing. Great concept, just not as well executed as I would have hoped.

daveroswell wrote:

charlest wrote: He was a bit underrated as an actor, as many of you have mentioned he could do drama quite well.

I actually liked What Dreams May Come. Fisher King was great too. Hook. Patch Adams. Aladdin. Good Morning Vietnam. Some great stuff.


Bangarang Ruffio.

I really WANTED to like What Dreams May Come. The problems weren't so much with the acting, more with the overly preachy writing. Great concept, just not as well executed as I would have hoped.

You're right about that. I think it was a bit off-the-wall and unique yet took itself seriously and that's a weird combination that stood out to me.

Another odd thing about What Dreams May Come: it's based on a book by Richard Matheson, the same writer who did great stories like Hell House and I Am Legend.