Robin Williams is one of the most iconic comedic actors of all time, but it's his performance in an underrated thriller from 22 years ago that could very well be his best. Throughout the '80s and '90s, Williams became a prolific actor, releasing some of his best films during that era and cementing himself as a comedy legend. His performances in Goodwill Hunt, The Fisher King, Aladdin, Mrs.and Good morning, Vietnam they were all equal in genius; just to name a few.
Robin Williams was a larger-than-life character on the big screen, delivering some of the most impressive performances of all time, and doing so across a variety of genres. He was incredible in comedy roles, of course, thanks to an irrepressible commitment to improvisation, but Williams was much more than a jovial clown, an actor. Due to his worldwide recognition as a comedian, some of his more serious performances tend to be forgotten, which is a shame, considering that there are some that will stand the test of time in his filmography.
Robin Williams has given incredible direct performances in several films
Some of his best work came from acting against type
It's inevitable to see Robin Williams as an incredibly talented comedic actor, first and foremost. But that wasn't the extent of Williams' talent, as He has delivered some of his best performances in films where he plays in a more direct and serious manner than he is typically known for.especially in thrillers. He played the character in several incredible films, showing how versatile and talented he truly was, elevating these films to even greater heights.
Some of his best dramatic roles include the likes of Goodwill Hunt, The final cutand Insomnia. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as he has acted in several other thrillers and dramas throughout his career. Still, these films are essential to Robin Williams' filmography, despite going unnoticed when compared to his mega-successful comedic roles for which he has become known throughout his career. And one of his most serious roles is also one of his best.
One-Hour Picture Is Williams' Best Dramatic Role
A cold, scary killer played by the coolest guy in town
When looking at Insomnia and One hour photothese two films stand out as tense psychological thrillers, with Williams playing incredible antagonists in each of them. Williams gets darker than ever with his performances, and it's difficult to determine which one is truly the pinnacle of Robin Williams' dramatic talent. Insomnia is absolutely a strong contender, given that it's also one of Christopher Nolan's most underrated films, but One hour photo features an unsettling acting masterclass from Robin Williams.
In One hour photohowever, Robin Williams plays a much more external antagonist, as every trait of his character is on the surface to be seen in all its glory.
There's a lot more to ponder about Robin Williams' performance in One hour photo compared to Insomnia. In Christopher Nolan's thriller, Williams plays this with much more subtlety, as the character hides his true nature for most of the film's running time: his wicked secret is that he seems normal. In One hour photohowever, Williams plays a much more exaggerated antagonist, as every subtle tic of his character is at or just below the surface.
Sy, the photography guy, exudes goosebumps even when his desire is to be accepted: and a lot of that comes down to the clash between expectations and how Williams delivers the performance. Even now, It's hard to watch Robin Williams in One hour photo sometimes, which is why it's his best dramatic role.
Why the One-Hour Photo Deserves More Attention
Even when it was released, One hour photo It was very popular with critics, with an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and Williams, of course, is the highlight, truly commanding the screen every time she appears. Chilling from start to finish, the film deserves to be seen more, if for nothing else, than one of the best performances by any comedy actor in a serious role. Even the late Roger Ebert praised Robin Williams' performance in it, stating:
“Robin Williams plays Sy, another of his grinning, open-faced madmen, as the killer in Insomnia. He does it so well that you don't have the slightest difficulty accepting him in the role.”
One hour photo it even had some success at the box office, with the thriller grossing over $52 million against a budget of $12 million. Despite being warmly received at the time, One hour photo seems to have fallen into relative obscurity, lost in the many gigantic performances of Robin Williams' career. It's also a shame that the film went unnoticed after debuting to relatively strong success 22 years ago. Of course, One hour photo is not lost forever, and anyone who wants to see Robin Williams at the height of his talent would be remiss not to watch the film, which deserves its prominent place.