Seize the Day

SEIZE THE DAY (1986) (MADE FOR TV) **** Robin Williams, Jerry Stiller, Glenne Headly, Tony Roberts, Joseph Wiseman, William Hickey. Williams delivers the best performance of his career in this little-seen but genuinely excellent film as Tommy Wilhelm, a loser on a continuous downward spiral, who desperately grasps at straws and for his father's unwelcomed love. Heartbreaking yet powerful Saul Bellow short-storyesque feel with one of the most realistic nervous breakdown ever captured on film. A must see for quality acting and directing.

This is an obscure little film that is probably Williams' best dramatic role--at least on par with the troubled psychiatrist in "Good Will Hunting". He plays a man victimized by his life--everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Williams is painful to watch in this role, but proves that his dramatic talent knows no bounds. Absolutely compelling; a film I am not likely to forget. Why this sleeper is so underrated and obscure I will never know. If you can get your hands on it, do so!

I have to say that Robin Williams has come a long way regarding his acting. This is an early work and one that probably had folks confused since he was best known as the manic comic. But this Saul Bellow story of dispair and humor would have been considerably more depressing (good or bad) with, perhaps, Dustin Hoffman in the lead. Being 1986 and for TV, this was quite a groundbreaker. Don't get me wrong, I liked it -- I just couldn't help but wonder what a re-make would be today with our current abilities (and obsessions) at making rage and dispair truly palpable. There was a bit too much self-awareness on the part of the director/writer at making sure there was comic relief where none was needed......

I accidentally found this movie, and it was pretty good. The movie reminds me of Rquiem for a Dream, as it's a story of a man that his life totally colapses in peaces.

The movie is just depressing, and it does it's job pretty well. However, the movie is a slow one. Do not expect a fast pasing movie, this one is pretty slow, but it's good anyway. If you want see a good Man's life completely get shatered by his father, ex-wife, and a scammer. You got yourself a movie that really shows it all.

This man had his dream of being an actor it failed. Now he has the dream of being with his children, when his wife took everything from him, and just cares for him for his money, it fails as well. I did not watch this movie with subs on my language so it was a bit hard to understand the speaking completely, but i have understand the movie, and it's a really good one.

Acting was really good. Everyone, but mostlyRobin Williams does his job very well. Sometimes the story gets a bit repetitive and slow, but it wont kill off the movie. This movie is like the old-school version of Requiem for a Dream, and both of these films are really good.

This film is a match for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. A very tightly controlled drama with richly vivid characters and the casting is excellent. Robin Willimas has never done anything better and without all of that comedy schtick that he is so famous for. Joseph Wiseman is an absolute monster and that 'hotel' they live in might as well be hell. It is even depicted as hell with those scenes in the steam room/spa with all those walking corpses wondering around. I read the novel this was based on nearly thirty years ago, and my feeling then as now, seeing the film, is that there is no resolution. Wilkie has no exit from his situation. One thing for sure, he needs to get away from those people (his girlfriend seems to be in love w/him, regardless of the money, so that's something). I give this a very strong recommendation.