I can only write so much about Robin Williams, as any longer and I would have to put out a huge essay about my respect for the actor and comedian that I grew up watching, while trying to keep from becoming too emotional. Williams was certainly one of the early celebrity figures in my life that I would consider to be key in representing much of what I knew about comedy. A film like Aladdin, in particular, was one I would watch constantly and find plenty of joy in, regardless of whether or not it moves the film into a whole new anachronistic direction. Even films I consider to be sub-par, such as Hook or Jumanji (yes, I was a child that didn’t care for those movies growing up), managed to show off Williams’ capabilities as an actor with true talent that extended beyond just the realm of comedy.
This brings me to my other thought on Williams: his talents as a dramatic performer. I think it is fairly obvious that Williams was an incredibly strong dramatic performer at this point. While he had received plenty of accolades for his comedic work, he had certainly received almost just as much praise for his talents as a dramatic thespian as well. With that in mind, I would like to list out the three movies I consider to be my favorites of what Robin Williams had to offer as an actor, while keeping the quality of the films in mind, too.
In chronological order:
Good Morning, Vietnam – The film I generally name as my favorite Robin Williams film. I find it to be a great combination of Williams’ talents as a fast-speaking comedic talent and an early look at the depth of his work as an actor who could walk the line between comedy and drama.
Good Will Hunting – It is a supporting role, but William earned his Oscar for the amount of pathos he put into the Sean Maguire character, let alone the terrific chemistry he shared with Matt Damon.
World’s Greatest Dad – Underseen, but deserving of heavy praise, as the film once again found a way to perfectly show how capable Williams was at adding a touch of humor to even the most dramatic of events.
I cannot even begin to imagine what Williams must have been going through that lead up to this unfortunate end of his life, but while it may be a tragedy, I will remain happy when considering the amount of joy he brought to many, be it in his comedic work or his dramatic roles.
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