Just yesterday I wrote a little thing noting that I have lots of favourite films, but I don’t really have favourite actors, or stars. That may be true now, but if wasn’t always. Certainly, if you’d asked me in the mid-90s who might favourite actors were, Robin Williams would’ve been up there, top three. A fantastic talent. Made me laugh possibly more than any other performer. Certainly made me cry more than any other performer. Could do drama just as exquisitely as comedy. The dude could certainly speechify with the best of them. Partly due to his background in stand-up. Many of my favourite Williams’ scenes weren’t of him interacting directly with other characters, but instead of him speechifying – delivering comedic or inspirational monologues into a microphone (Good Morning Vietnam, Jack, the early bit in Mrs Doubtfire) or a TV camera (the final bit in Mrs Doubtfire), or to a class (Dead Poets’). Certainly some post-GMV films of his were oversentimental and unnecessarily maudlin, but that was mostly due to the scripts: his perfs themselves were never overrated (his work in Good Will Hunting and Aladdin will always deserve the accolades) and often underrated (I hope his layered work in Hook and Jack and Bicentennial Man gets critically re-evaluated now). The bloke was awesome. I will always be grateful for the positive effect he had on my life. A lot of people I know get sanctimonious when we choose to mourn – or celebrate – the life of a celebrity that has passed. These friends cite the dozens of unknown people who have died in tragic circumstances that same day, questioning the inequity of recognising the life of a celebrity over an unknown. I get that. But while I didn’t know Robin Williams THE MAN – and while I can never know the demons that haunted the poor bloke for much of his life – I DO know his performances. Robin Williams was not my friend. But through movies and TV, he incited genuine thoughts and feelings inside me. He brought joy and laughter and sadness and inspiration into my life. And that is why I am sad today. He gave me – and millions of others – a great deal. That is what I mourn today. That is why I respect his contribution to cinema, and to this world. And that is why when I passed through Boulder, Colorado a few years ago, I found Mark and Mindy’s house and turned upside down on a car. Rest in Peace, Mr. Williams. Nanu Nanu, Captain My Captain. Genie, you’re free… My Top 10 Favourite Robin Williams Performances 1. The Genie in Aladdin 2. Mork in Mork & Mindy 3. Jack in Jack 4. Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning Vietnam 5. Peter Pan in Hook 6. Andrew in Bicentennial Man 7. Mrs Doubtfire/Daniel in Mrs Doubtfire 8. Sean McGuire in Good Will Hunting 9. Mr. Keating in Dead Poets society 10. Armand in The Birdcage
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 05:53:20 +0000