Today would have been the 70th Birthday of the great, Robin Williams, and the world is such a sadder place without him. His loss should be mentioned with those like Elvis, Marilyn and Dean, gone too soon for reasons that could have been helped, and far too soon.
We saw a lot of Robin in the characters he portrayed because most producers were smart enough to give him the basics then just let him go, so many of his most memorable scenes were completely Robin just doing what he did best, go with the moment.
Not enough people really get the greatness of, The World According to Garp (1982), and what it told us about Robin, how much he loved life and it's wonders, it's a film that should be talked about more often. I felt it was better to start with this film because it was the first time that the masses really got to see HIM. It was a bit odd, but also about the oddity of life itself and how one odd individual tried to live it, showing that, in reality, we're all odd.
I'm not sure how much of Robin we got from, Mork & Mindy, because sit-coms of the day were pretty structured and I know from reading about him, Robin didn't like that part of it, he like films where he had more freedom to just be himself and let fly, so I'm going to skip that part.
At the time, and for a long time after, Popeye (1980) really wasn't
appreciated, but in fact, it was fairly straight up with the classic characters, we'd just never seen them come to life before but it really was a Popeye cartoon just with real people. Put it in with 1990's Dick Tracy and 1980's Flash Gordon and you suddenly realize that the movie was pretty good. The soundtrack was great and I always felt that Robin's interpretation of the character was spot on, just not sure if people were ready to see it live on the big screen.
Many great films between, but when, Dead Poets Society came out, it really did throw some people off because of how serious the nature of the content was. Yes, we got Robin, but a side of him that was more down to earth, a true Teacher, trying to enlighten young minds and enflame young passions with life. To this day, I have to be in the right mood to watch this or it haunts me for a week, the realism of these kids and the pressures they were under pulls you in. Keeting feels like he's teaching you as you watch it, you really get pulled in and live it with them. Although the poster centers on Robin, the film is far more about the boys in his class, far and away more.
Taking on a true story, or even one just "inspired by" would
restrict a lot of people but it seems that, Adrian Cronauer though wasn't a restriction for Robin, in fact, it seemed perfect for him. The over the top DJ from the war was just right and only lent itself to Robin's impromptu style, he learned about the man and just let loose. Again though, there was the element of a younger bunch that his character was influencing when he suddenly took over the language class. It also showed the darkest sides of war, deceit and betrayal of someone taken in like a brother. But it left you with laughter as he summed up Sgt Major Dickerson in one line... you know the one...
Then along came Disney, with the opportunity to have Robin let loose on the silver screen in even bigger ways than he'd ever done, with a Genie and we've felt the magic ever since. He received an honorary Oscar for the performance, but many felt that it was also an apology for his being ignored for an award in, Dead Poets Society (which he should have won), but either way, Oscar didn't matter in this one. This will be forever his best known role, even with the atrocious live-action film Disney would later make, Robin will always be Genie to the world. We heard him sing, we felt him dance and we FELT the magic! That was Robin's truest gift, we FELT it, in whatever role, he got to our soul and touched it.
Looking back, Adrian Cronauer seems like a test run for the role
that would be Robin's true masterpiece, Patch Adams. This was more like hand & glove than any other role he ever had, he really was Patch... In this film, you feel all those other roles, you see the development and growth and blossoming of both actor and the person he portrayed. Like Johnny Depp for Capt Jack or Robert Downy Jr as Tony Stark, Robin Williams was born, created, tailored for Patch Adams and the messages he had for the medical community and the world. I've given away at least a dozen copies to young people who wanted to be Doctors, "watch it until you GET IT", is what I tell them.
So many films left off this list; Moscow on the Hudson, The Fisher King, Good Will Hunting, Hook, What Dreams May Come, Toys.... the man is truly one of the greatest legends in the history of all entertainment.
It wasn't until it was too late that we found out the deeper side of Robin, the issues of depression and later, starting to lose his faculties. Robin died actually believing that nobody love him or remembered him, that is the darkness of depression. I think I can easily speak for most of the world when I say he was one of the most beloved people to EVER honor us with his talent and the beauty of his soul. Even though they say it was suicide, I still say that he'd already gone, passed from a broken heart and I feel that pain and only wish he knew how loved he was.
Keep an eye on loved ones, don't let yourself get caught up in the world to the point that you overlook those who truly have a place in your heart. Depression, more than anything else, is a true silent killer. This is something we CAN beat, a tragedy we do have the ability to slow down and sometimes stop. Depression is as real as it gets, it affects everyone, weather people admit it or not, we've all had issue with it. Don't ignore it, don't deny it, be honest with it and about it. Nobody deserves to feel worthless.
We love you Robin and we miss you dearly. 💓
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