Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
Mon Aug 18, 2014, 12:31 PM Aug 2014

Still Remembering Robin

5 Underrated Roles In Which Robin Williams Stole The Spotlight

Since Robin Williams' death last Monday, many are recalling his most memorable roles in Oscar-nominated films "Good Will Hunting" and "Dead Poets Society" along with Disney's "Aladdin."
While plenty of Robin's most well-known comedy bits, movie scenes, and inspirational speeches have been making the rounds, many of his wonderful performances seem to have fallen by the wayside.
Williams was an incredibly versatile actor whose on-screen presence always elevated the material no matter how small or large the role.
Williams was an incredibly versatile actor whose on-screen presence always elevated the material no matter how small or large the role.

<snip>

5. "Deconstructing Harry" (1997)
Robin may have been on-screen for only a couple of minutes, but his cameo in Woody Allen's "Deconstructing Harry" as a man who is permanently "out of focus" is so delightfully silly that it may be the most memorable scene in the film.

4. "One Hour Photo" (2002)
Mark Romanek's unsettling debut feature stars Williams in what has to be the darkest, creepiest, and least comedic role of his career. Williams plays a pharmacy photo lab clerk who becomes obsessed with a family whose photos he has been developing for years, and his performance totally anchors what is essentially a one-man show. "One Hour Photo" is a bleak character study of a disturbed person, and while that fact may now hit too close to home, it doesn't take away from his extraordinary performance.

3. "Ferngully: The Last Rainforest" (1992)
Everyone seems to remember Williams as the genie in Disney's "Aladdin," but he also voiced a role in the cult favorite animated film "Ferngully: The Last Rainforest." Much like "Aladdin," Williams acts as the film's comic relief, this time playing a witty, rapping fruit bat named Batty. The environmentally conscious, kid-friendly film has since become a classic, and many claim it inspired James Cameron's "Avatar," though Cameron himself would disagree.

2. "Death to Smoochy" (2002)
This 2002 box-office bomb gets a bad wrap — it's actually a gleefully twisted satire that just may have been a little too over the top for its own good. The film (directed by Danny DeVito) cost a reported $50 million to produce and barely managed to gross $8 million during its entire theatrical run. Williams plays a publicly disgraced children's TV show host named Rainbow Randolph who gets replaced by a Barney-esque character named Smoochy (played by Edward Norton). As the title indicates, Rainbow Randolph doesn't take this career change lightly. The film may be crass and mean-spirited, but so many talented and funny people are involved that it manages to remain engaging and fun.

1. "World's Greatest Dad" (2009)
Robin Williams' performance in Bobcat Goldthwait's "World's Greatest Dad" is easily one of the best performances of his career. The underseen film suffered from a very limited release (during its widest theatrical release it was playing on just 30 screens) but has since found a second life thanks to home video and streaming services.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/robin-williams-most-underrated-roles-2014-8#ixzz3AlHnEybB



2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Still Remembering Robin (Original Post) Tuesday Afternoon Aug 2014 OP
I watched "Dead Poet's Society" on Saturday LynneSin Aug 2014 #1
I want to do a Robin Marathon one weekend. I have not seen all of his films. Now, it seems, Tuesday Afternoon Aug 2014 #2

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
1. I watched "Dead Poet's Society" on Saturday
Mon Aug 18, 2014, 12:46 PM
Aug 2014

I bawled by eyes out after the suicide scene. Yes it wasn't Robin's Williams character but was poignant because of what had happened to Robin Williams in RL.

That was such an amazing movie and it was filmed here in Delaware.

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)
2. I want to do a Robin Marathon one weekend. I have not seen all of his films. Now, it seems,
Mon Aug 18, 2014, 12:49 PM
Aug 2014

I can't get enough of him. And yes, DPS is/was an excellent film all the way around.

I have not seen Death To Smoochy or World's Greatest Dad either.

Now, I want to see both of them just for Robin's scenes.


Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»Still Remembering Robin