Le pouvoir de l'argent

Saw this on American Playhouse years ago. A very powerful performance by Robin Williams. A slice in the life of a man on the brink of desperation, a life long midnight of the soul. There is no resolution because there is not supposed to be a resolution. I don't necessarily recommend seeking it out, but if given a chance to see it please 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......

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.

I would consider myself a legitimate Robin Williams fanboy, I adored the man and considered him one of the all time greats whether straight role or comedy. He holds the record of the largest number of movies I rate THAT highly but he has done some stinkers as well.

I was late to the party with Seize The Day, I'd never even heard of it but seeing it's cast and reading its premise I was excited.

Williams once again puts in a strong performance and that simply cannot be disputed but the film plods along at an odd pace and never seems to actually go anywhere. They say every story needs a beginning a middle and an end but Seize The Day feels like a 93 minute middle and nothing else.

The film reminds me a The Pursuit Of Happiness (2016) in that you are witnessing a man going through a bad period of his life and you the viewer rally behind him hoping for him to turn things around. Difference is PoH feels complete, like a whole package while STD (Very unfortunate acronym) simply doesn't offer that and instead depressed me to my very core.

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!