Robin Williams remembered - a DCM tribute

When the actor and comedian Robin Williams passed away on Tuesday, he left behind him a body of work that entertained and enthralled audiences in equal measure. It doesn't seem to matter who you speak to, everyone has their own favourite film from his long and successful career. Here the staff of DCM give their picks of his work and their reasons for choosing them.

Zoe Jones, Marketing Director, on Dead Poets Society:

"In Dead Poets Society, a classic late 80s coming-of-age weepie, Robin Williams delivers an emotional performance as unorthodox teacher John Keating. As a precursor to his Oscar-winning role in Good Will Hunting in the late 1990s, he demonstrated his range as an actor beyond his legendary comic roles. It was recently the 25th anniversary of the speech where he inspired his students with the words: "Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary." He certainly followed this advice and on the sad news of his death, it’s a fitting tribute that the classic "Oh Captain! My Captain!" has been trending worldwide on Twitter."

Kloe Wells, Agency Head, on Aladdin:

"As a young kid in the cinema for the first time, Robin Williams’s genie was a rollercoaster of madness and energy. You didn’t need his extravagant facial expressions in order to appreciate both the humour and emotion that ‘10,000 years will give you such a crick in the neck!’ You laughed with him, cried with him and sang along with him, Robin Williams’s genie was the best friend you had always wanted. An iconic performance and my favourite Disney character bar-none!"

Steve Davis, Head of Exhibition, on Good Morning Vietnam:

“It’s 0600 hours. What does the ‘O’ stand for? O my god its early!” As a latecomer to the talents of Robin Williams, watching prior. For me, Good Morning Vietnam highlighted not only Robin’s range from side-splitting improvisation to heartfelt dramatic performance, but also his future potential. Rarely can a film successfully create belly laughing moments and gut wrenching drama, especially when centred around arguably one of the most politically sensitive periods in American History. But he did it. In many of Robins films he would successfully balance comedy and tragedy without patronising the audience. A funny man that will be sadly missed."

Ollie Bennett-Coles, Marketing Consultant, on One Hour Photo:

"Robin Williams's performance in One Hour Photo is the sort that made you step back and realise that any saccharine/comedic pigeon-hole that he previously inhabited was completely unworthy of his talents. In the first of his darker roles in 2002, followed shortly afterwards by the brilliant Insomnia, he plays the off-key creepiness of the store assistant (with the obligatory crazed-photo-wall-montage), with such an unnerving, edgy energy that you can't take your eyes off him. An actor of true depth with genuine cross genre talent."

Tom Linay, Head of Film, on Insomnia:

"2002 saw Robin Williams deliver two chilling performances. He played the awkward sociopath in One Hour Photo and he starred opposite Al Pacino in Christopher Nolan’s terrific remake of this Norwegian thriller. Nolan is now one of the biggest of all film directors but back in 2002 he was coming off the huge critical success of Memento and for the first time in his career probably had every big name actor queuing up to work with him. That he chose Williams for the crucial antagonist role is testament to Williams’ ability to channel his unrivalled comic energy into something genuinely unnerving and sinister. "

Anastasia Takis, Marketing Manager, on Good Will Hunting:

"Robin Williams fact number 1: Robin Williams is best behind a beard. A bushy-faced Williams starred in Awakenings, The Fisher King, Aladdin (?) and most noticeably delivered an Oscar-winning performance in Good Will Hunting. Funny and moving Damon plays a hard-working yet rebellious Boston boy, with no life plans other than picking up girls and getting trashed. However, as any good plot line should allow, he's also a mathematics genius. Forced to attend therapy with a bereaved psychiatrist,  played superbly by Williams, 'Will' starts to face up to his traumatic past and his moments with Williams whether it be in his office or on the now iconic, tribute clad bench in Boston. The film is touching and feel-good, and one of Williams's best performances of his career."

Katie Saunders, Agency Assistant, on Fern Gully-The Last Rainforest:

"Before the Aladdin trilogy and Happy Feet, Robin Williams’ first ever animated role was “Batty” the Fruit Bat that was driven insane after being experimented on by scientists…sounds incredibly morbid but of course Robin Williams pulled this off in a way that a small child like me was nothing short of entertained. He was the kind of insane that was undeniably hilarious; with lines like “Humans can't feel anything. They're numb from the brain down” and of course, don’t forget the rap…" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4fmVJ3nPs0

Michelle Stevens, Agency Sales Controller, on Jumanji:

"A great bit of escapism as a child, making you wish you had a deep dusty attic, and what may be lurking in its depths? Robin Williams trapped in a board game perhaps! The film appealed to me at a time when I was fascinated with all things wierd and the occult plus the effects, for the time, were fantastic. Evil monkeys, charging rhinos, stampeding elephants and raging monsoons ravaging through a jungle engulfed house. While generally much more of a Disney animation girl, this was one of the few live action family films that had me gripped. There was talk of a reboot, let's leave it be and just keep Robin Williams remembered fondly and immortalised in this one forever."

Rebecca Sampson, Junior Designer, on Mrs Doubtfire: 

"A family classic which addresses the sadness of divorce with both hilarity and tenderness. Williams gives a performance only he could provide, equally at home in the slapstick comedy of the eponymous Eugenia Doubtfire as he is playing the poignancy and tragedy of Daniel Hillard losing custody of his beloved children. A film to watch whenever you need to know that life is somehow going to be okay. Highlight: The hoover dance to Aerosmith's 'Dude Looks Like a Lady'"