In Reply to: A comic genius that should have stayed in stand-up. Smarmy, posted by tinear on August 6, 2005 at 08:27:37:
tinear,Yours is the best summary of Williams I've read in a long while.
I might extend your "repulsive" remark. I agree he has an amazing, imaginitvely and playfully fun, cognitively jarring stand up style, but I just can't look at him for very long- his physical presence is actively annoying: mincing, fawning, dancing around and he's so sweaty and hairy and cylindrical. No one else has permanent five o' clock shadow on their eyelids other than Robin Williams!
Jim Carrey produces this effect too- not the hairy eyelids, but the gradually fatiguing physical presence. I have a similar physical dislike- I can like the general comedy enough to ride along awhile, the mannered, self-conscious style is tiring and distracting. With Carrey, it's that rubber face style and kind of oily smooth, studied movement. Like Williams, even in his serious roles like "The Majestic", that oddly forced over-expression comes througha and I have togo and listen to some Bach to wash off the oily film.
I think Williams best movie role was probably "Fisher King", because it's a rollicking, madcap comedy where an insane character can get away with slapstick- but it's still tough to watch.
I ramble.
Cheers,Bambi B
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Follow Ups
- I may be a Bambi, but I wanna slap him around too! - Bambi B 09:10:58 08/06/05 (15)
- Re: Jim Carrey is, at least, much more versatile, n'est pas? (nt) - Jeff Starrs 12:51:19 08/06/05 (2)
- No he is certainly not... - RGA 18:09:43 08/07/05 (1)
- Re: Good post, thanks (nt) - Jeff Starrs 03:38:46 08/08/05 (0)
- Thanks. Agreement on Carrey: I'd like them to be embracing as the - tinear 11:10:07 08/06/05 (0)
- Re: I may be a Bambi, but I wanna slap him around too! - Jim Campilongo 09:25:24 08/06/05 (10)
- Re: I may be a Bambi, but I wanna slap him around too! - Bambi B 09:52:31 08/06/05 (9)
- Re: Ok for Jeff Bridges, yes you're right there.. - Jeff Starrs 12:54:55 08/06/05 (3)
- Jeff Bridges in the Last Picture Show is a class act (nt) - grinagog 17:22:48 08/06/05 (0)
- The Big Lebowski rules! When I was in Santa Cruz not long ago some local - tinear 12:56:53 08/06/05 (1)
- Re: Jesus christ... - Jeff Starrs 13:03:05 08/06/05 (0)
- Re: I may be a Bambi, but I wanna slap him around too! - Jim Campilongo 10:01:38 08/06/05 (4)
- Re: Remember Pauline Kael's comment about Jeff Bridges? - Gee LP 12:15:10 08/06/05 (3)
- I think his best early work was in the much neglected - tinear 13:00:48 08/06/05 (1)
- John Savage - kanesays 15:25:20 08/08/05 (0)
- Re: Remember Pauline Kael's comment about Jeff Bridges? - Jim Campilongo 12:44:26 08/06/05 (0)