Saturday, August 30, 2014

Robin Williams



Robin Williams-July 21, 1951-August 11, 2014

So much has been said about his passing and his death goes along with many shocking deaths we have experienced when it comes to famous people. He was a true giver and I have yet to hear anything negative about this man. He was a genius in comedy just like his idol, Jonathan Winters (who also suffered from depression). He was Mork from Ork (Nanu, Nanu) (I also loved his latest sitcom but I seemed to have been the only one who watched it). He was great on late night T.V. and any interview as his mind was always going, never stopping. He was intelligent and a deep thinker who went to Julliard. He met his life long friend, Christopher Reeve, there and they were blood brothers. Knowing some other men, in the late 50's and early 60's who went into a deep depression, I wonder if male Menopause is something that should be looked into. It is only in the last 30 years that Doctors talk seriously about female menopause but nobody thinks of Male menopause. I wonder, if some men who already deal with depression, suffer even  more so when their hormones go "out of whack"...just thinking. Anyway, Here are my 10 favourite films. It does not include Aladdin because I have not seen it yet (slapping my hands). When I made this list it was pick just 10 so let me know if you have any others to add.

10.  One Hour Photo-2002- Robin Williams plays one creepy nut in this film. He gave me the heeby jeevys but it goes to show how great an actor he was.

9. Insomnia- 2002- OK, another creepy outing from this man and I was amazed by his range in acting and how he outdid Al Pacino. Worth looking into this film.

8. The Bird Cage- 1996- Robin Williams plays the "straight" man in this gay comedy. A remake of La Cage Aux Folles. This is just downright funny especially Nathan Lane  and Hank Azaria. One has to see it if only to see Gene Hackman in a dress.

7. Good Morning Vietnam - 1987- This is a comedy-drama and was the first film I remember to put Robin Williams on the map for movies. Yes he made "The World According to Garp" and "Popeye" but this gave him range and one got a sense of his soul from this film which is based on a true story.

6. Happy Feet - 2006- Great animated tale about a dancing penguin and it wouldn't be the same without Robin Williams at one of his best. You have to watch this to laugh at Robin's ad-libs (Like Aladdin)

5. Dead Poet's Society- 1989- A teacher who inspires but there is so much more to this than this small sentence. Robin received his 2nd nod for best actor(first was for Good Morning Vietnam). This film has soul and some may be upset that I have it at #5 but this is my own little list...:)

4. Good Will Hunting - 1997- Robin finally won the Oscar and it was about time. He plays a prof and helps the young Matt Damon in so many more ways than just as a teacher. Robin, talking about his dead wife, left tears in my eyes.

3. Mrs. Doubtfire - 1993- Who hasn't seen this film?? There are so many classic scenes (his breasts catch fire, face in the cake..."helloooooo") but there was so much more to this film. It has heart with a lot of laughter. Creating his Mrs. Doubtfire and going through all the different "women" made me fall off the couch laughing

2. What Dreams May Come- 1998- This is, to me, such an amazing film and very few know about this gem. It is about life and death and the after-life. The imagery is spectacular especially how the film incorporates painting into his version of heaven. It is more sad now considering Robin's death and it still moves me to tears

1. The Fisher King - 1991- Yes this is MY favourite Robin Williams film. I love Terry Gilliam (director) and I love Jeff Bridges. Robin's energetic take on a homeless man who teaches how to live life to the fullest to Jeff Bridges is stellar. It resonates all the more when one finds out how and why Robin Williams' Character becomes homeless. Robin's acting is superb!

Any other films you wish to add?

27 comments:

  1. So glad Robin Williams got his Oscar. He had such amazing range. I loved him in all of these movies but I never cared for Good Will Hunting. I found Matt Damon's character very unsympathetic and I never warmed up to him. I did like Robin Williams' performance in it, though--it just bugs me every time it's on because of Matt Damon. I think that's the reason I still don't like him today--how mean he was to Minnie Driver in it. (And then he turned around and dumped her in real life on Oprah, which kind of echoed his character's jerky behavior!)

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    1. Yes that is true...Matt Damon was a bit of a nob(a bit??). Thank God Minnie didn't end up with him after all. You I wasn't even thinking about Matt or Ben in that movie. All I could think about was Robin Williams:)

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  2. You brought up a very good point about male menopause, however they want to label it, but I am sure a man's body goes through similar changes as a woman's as they age. would make a good research project I think.

    I have to say the only Robin Williams movie I saw on your list was Mrs. Doubtfire, which is always a favorite of mine when I catch it on TV. Must put these on my list to see sometime.

    betty

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  3. We just ordered Insomnia on DVD as I realized it was the only Nolan film we didn't own and often overlooked.
    I think in men it's called mid-life crisis. I fixed mine with a new sports car.

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    1. Sports car is always great:) Let me know what you think of this movie:)

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  4. Another sad loss. I enjoyed Dead Poets' Society and Good Morning Vietnam. Less keen on Mrs Doubtfire because I was very familiar with the book and the film took a different tone. But that's not his fault!

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    1. I didn't realize it was a book first. Yes that would change one's thinking on a film as most films change what is in the book

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  5. I just saw him in August Rush. He was such a talented man. I also heard that every movie he was on he insisted they hire homeless people to work behind the scenes. A little known fact that he didn't advertise, just being a good guy.

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    1. I did not know that about the homeless people and that is amazing. One wonders what other generous acts he did few know about. I have to see this film you mentioned

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  6. I have actually seen What Dreams May Come. Interesting movie. (It was one of those that I had a hard time "getting".)

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    1. Oh I loved this film-LOVED it!! Love, death, reincarnation, so many layers to this film and how love transcends all

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  7. I really loved him in Gary. It was my favorite book at the time and I was very concerned about Mork playing the part but he proved me wrong.

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    1. He was great in that film. I had a hard time just having 10 in this list

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  8. Excellent point about male Menopause. I never thought about that.

    My all-time favorite role of Robin's is Mork. It was love at first sight for me; I wanted to be Mindy.

    Be well, BB.

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    1. Ah Nanu-Nanu:) He was great as Mork and I wanted to be Mindy too:) He was hilarious

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  9. Good point about male menopause.
    Robin Williams did so many films that I really liked. Probably my favorites would be Good Morning Vietnam and Aladdin.

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    1. I still have to see Aladdin so that is on my list of films to see

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  10. I think men go through some kind of menopause, too. They're hormones are going wackadoodle, too.

    I liked him in "World According to Garp" and when I went through my long writer's funk recently, I quite understood what his character was going through and thought how right on Robin portrayed him.

    Have you seen "Jumangi" yet? That one had me on my seat. He and Bonnie Hunt were great together.

    And, "Jack". When I heard he had died, I thought of Robin in that movie. The character aged at a rapid pace so that he was physically an adult when he was a middle schooler.

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    1. Yes I have seen Jumangi and it is a great fun movie. I have not seen Jack yet. There are so many I still have to see and I could have made my list longer

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  11. "Awakenings" is a marvelous movie. I'm going to have to find a a few from your list that I haven't seen. The world needs more good souls like Robin Williams. His passing makes me wonder about the connection between brilliance and mental illness. His despair must have been great, he must have felt it deeply. You have an important point about male menopause. We are all prisoners of our biology, and if we understand what's going it might make it easier. A friend of mine once told me "suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem". I wish somebody could have helped him. Thank you for your post.

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    1. You know, I heard Robin Williams say that saying and it was eerie. When he passed, one of the entertainment shows played that tape where Robin talks about Suicide being permanent and it was so eerie. I also love Awakenings and my list could have been much longer. I wanted to highlight some lesser known films but equally great. I Think there is a link to male menopause and bad depression. It doesn't hit all and maybe few go to an extreme depression but I think there is something to it

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  13. Have to agree with your first two choices especially! He'll be sorely missed. I actually saw him do stand-up just a few years ago. What a mind.

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    1. He was amazing and what he could keep in his mind left me dumbfounded

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