2001: A Space Odyssey, the 1968 sci-fi masterpiece by Stanley Kubrick, is one of the most influential films in the history of the medium. Having inspired countless filmmakers ranging from Christopher Nolan to William Friedkin, 2001 is inevitably compared to any addition to the genre that dares to follow in its footsteps. However, Robin Williams once likened one of his own comedy projects to Kubrick’s immortal magnum opus.
Known for his iconic performances in beloved movies like Good Morning, Vietnam and Dead Poets Society, Williams had a huge impact on the landscape of American comedy. Like many other great comedians, the American actor showed his versatility and talent by delivering equally impressive work in more serious projects such as Awakenings and One Hour Photo, which proved to be invaluable additions to his impressive filmography.
During a conversation with Rolling Stone, Williams once opened up about the movies in the 1980s that kickstarted his trailblazing career. He had fond memories of certain projects, especially The World According to Garp, which was one of his first major features. Starring alongside other prominent names like John Lithgow and Glenn Close, Williams started attracting attention to his unique approach to acting even in those early years.
While talking about the work, the actor gushed: “I think Garp is a wonderful film. It may have lacked a certain madness onscreen, but it had a great core. It had a wonderful sense of family. Maybe if I had known more about children at the time, I could have done more with it. I would love to take now what I know about my son and the powerful feeling of parenthood and play Garp again.”
However, he didn’t share that sentiment when it came to Robert Altman’s Popeye: “I had to dub that movie over twice, though, because people couldn’t understand what I was saying. I sounded like a killer whale farting in a wind tunnel. The weirdest thing of all was to watch it at one of those Hollywood premières, which are rough to begin with. But when a film doesn’t work — [simulates a seizure] oooh! I remember walking out and seeing this fifty-foot can of spinach. It was like 2001, but on bad acid.”
Robert Altman’s projects are always wildly original and unconventional, and that is definitely the case with his 1980 interpretation of Popeye’s mythology. Although it gave Williams his first major leading role, he thought the end product wasn’t satisfactory and compared the ambition of the project to a trippy analogue of 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the years that have followed, the movie has gained a cult following as newer generations of audiences delved deeper into Altman’s unparalleled brilliance.
Watch the trailer below.
