Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind is an emotional journey back into the life of one of the most beloved comedians of our time. Every minute is worth watching–trust me.
Synopsis: A funny, intimate and heartbreaking portrait of one of the world’s most beloved and inventive comedians. (HBO)
Starring: Interviews with Billy Crystal, Eric Idle, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Pam Dawber and his son, Zak Williams–amongst many more
Director: Marina Zenovich
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 117 mins
Trailer:
Sitting down to watch this HBO documentary, it was easy to get heavy-hearted knowing that this will surely be emotional, saddening, and a reminder of the man that is no more. Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind is a heartfelt, beautiful insight into the life of a man who made us smile, laugh, and feel happy for so many years. His loss was a great one to the world and this documentary encapsulates the sentiments of all those that loved him and still do to this day.
Not only was it enjoyable to see the interviews with celebrities that were close friends of Williams’ but so was hearing Williams be a part of the documentary with old footage, voice-overs, and photographs of his past. It tugs at your heartstrings to learn about how Williams got his start, and the people he befriended along the way. The documentary touches on his time performing at The Comedy Shop and navigating through the world of stand-up comedy. As seen in the documentary, Williams cast a spell over the world very quickly, and though there was always something saddening within him inside, he strived to make people laugh with his profession.
One of the most honorable aspects of this documentary is highlighting that Williams was a human like the rest of us, with his own issues, demons, and struggles. Often we don’t take a moment to understand that someone is silently suffering, and because the profession Williams was in, his internal dilemmas were never obvious. But to those around him, they began to notice these changes, and how he hid behind his comedy.
The HBO documentary spends a lot of time reflecting on Williams’ personal life including his children and his half-siblings. It was a wonderful part of the documentary to see what he was like at home, especially because fans only got one view of him. He loved his kids, and he loved with his heart, and though he wasn’t always around, it was a happy feeling to know his kids still loved him dearly.
Seeing the impact Williams made throughout his life on millions of people simply brings tears to your eyes. In one specific part, they reflect back on his USO tour where he visited the army in various countries and performed for them. In his sadness and struggles, he found a way to make those helping smile.
The documentary also spent some time talking about his struggles with addiction, which helps the audience understand that he was just a human with his own set of problems to tackle. This was the best part about this documentary as it showed us how he was a good person and a funny person, but he wasn’t perfect and he had a lot he was dealing with throughout his life.
In the final moments of the documentary, Billy Crystal reflected on his last conversation with Williams where it felt like they were saying goodbye. To hear about that moment is so heartbreaking and devastating because Williams left behind a world of people that felt inspired by him, felt happier because of him, and continue to go back to his amazing pieces of work over the years because he is a man we still cannot shake and forget.
Thank you, Robin Williams, for giving us a lifetime of happiness, iconic roles we can relate with, and for the laughter you provided that will always warm our hearts.
Score: 8.5/10
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