Robin Williams
Robin Williams has made a career out of being the most manic of funnymen, and while the Academy only cares when he's acts against type, we feel it's more fitting to honor the man for what he's best at -- being insanely funny and insane in general. Never has there been a better display of both than in Death to Smoochy, a pitch black comedy from 2002 that finds the former Mrs. Doubtfire as Rainbow Randolph, a corrupt host of a kids' television show who's just been replaced by the real deal. Co-starring Edward Norton as a pure-of-heart, Barney-esque dancing purple rhinoceros, Death to Smoochy provides Williams with the perfect outlet for his copious amounts of energy and creativity.
Randolph is more than slightly unhinged, making it virtually impossible to take him too far. Williams spends most of the movie dancing, diving, spinning, and spouting impressive verbal tirades without wearing out his welcome. His passion and vigor are contagious despite Randolph's twisted motivations and downright disgusting goals. The TV host's background as an entertainer is enough to justify Williams' various accents and disguises, and his constant need to insult anyone and everyone around him lets the stand-up comedy veteran improvise as much as he likes. Norton, meanwhile, is the picture of purity and poise, making him an ideal foil for Williams' wild antics. It's not so much that they play well off of each other as Williams overpowers his good-hearted counterpart with a grotesque display of depravity.
Did I mention this was a black comedy? While Williams can certainly play the kind hearted comedian -- Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society -- Death to Smoochy arrived during a career renaissance for the stand up turned thespian. In the same year, Williams played two memorable murderers in Christopher Nolan's Insomnia and the truly terrifying One Hour Photo. Rainbow Randolph, with his own deadly plans, doesn't feel out of place. He may be more in line with what we've seen from the real Robin Williams, but he's certainly taken to the nth degree by an actor who's made a career out of doing just that. It's only fitting his best work be closer to home. ~ Ben Travers
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