Robin Williams - Going Faces!

Robin Williams is an exceptionally talented actor. I guess this new generation would find it a tad difficult in identifying him. Perhaps they would identify Robin William (a singer of certain repute) but not Robin Williams. His acting prowess exceeds others in his genre. In fact, Jim Carey took couple of leaves from his book.  Ironically, Robin Williams and Jim Carey have hell of a similarities. Both were stage performers. Both do amazing impersonations. Both dreamed of doing big banner movies but didn’t get that right break for a longtime. Another thing I learnt about Jim Carey, which kind of totally altered my perception, is: When Jim Carey wasn’t a big star; he wrote a million dollar cheque on his name and kept it in his purse, saying one day I am going to receive a cheque like this for one of my movies - which he eventually did. Now, that’s what I call power of positive thinking. Ever since then, I haven’t let my dislike for his overacting come in between judging him as an actor and appreciating him as an individual.

However, as an artist, Robin Williams’ a shade better than Jim Carey for the clear reason that Jim perpetually goes overboard on his role. And some of his idiosyncrasies drive most people up the wall. However, there is this one chartbuster movie, where his acting skills rocked! –‘The Mask’. No denying anybody would have done better than him. He scored a perfect ten on it, excluding this one movie, I guess every one of his movies is little overbearing.  Robin Williams, on other the hand, has every hair in its place. Delivering just what the role requires and what the audience needs. Be it acting like a 40-year old kid, or donning on the role of woman with élan, or putting on those scientist’s glasses and forgetting to attend his own wedding, or the doctor who treats patients psychologically first and anatomically next…he has multiple on-screen facades that kind of wire differently and make you sit up and take notice.

His stage performances are hilarious yet articulate. He once featured in one of those intellectually thought-provoking shows, “Whose Line It Anyway” where Drew Carey - even though Drew is the anchor of the show – is butt of all jokes. Of course, when you put a deadly team of individuals together you can’t stop those fiery arrows fly around, even when it means at you! Anyways, in a show like this where you need to be at the top of your game or else someone is bound to steal your pants; Robin Williams managed to steal everybody’s pants. Talk of talent! The man’s a blob with viscosity that could transform itself into any form. Now, now, you might say so much of adulation is uncalled for?! But check this bit in the movie, Mrs. Doubtfire, where he does ‘Voices’…and you will know what I mean. And don’t you miss out on his impersonation of the ‘Hot Dog’!