Tommy Adler (Robin Williams) has been a go getter salesman at the company works for a decade. But when he finds out he has to halve it with his supervisor's kid he goes berserk and gets fired. Leaving his girlfriend behind in Massachusetts he heads for Gotham in hopes of getting a job, checking in on his kids and confronting his stern tight fisted old man (Joseph Wiseman) for some cash. While there he comes under the influence of Dr. Tamkin (Jerry Stiller), a con artist that promises him a quick killing in the market. Meanwhile the old man berates, the sons avoid and the ex-wife pressures for financial support.
Seize the Day is a dark depressing study of man whose life is spiraling out of control. From his early erratic driving to the frantic pushing and shoving climax, Adler remains in a state of frenzy as friends and family abandon and his options shrink. Director Fielder Cook's stark direction is sober and to the point. Populating his cast with cold, joyless characters sympathy comes at a premium making even some decent comedy relief hard to enjoy while Tommy self deconstructs.
The daring and off beat casting of film funnyman Robin Williams pays off in spades in what I believe is the most powerful of his career. It's an incredibly challenging role that many fine dramatic actors might be able to pull off but I feel few could apply the unique combination of self pity and rage he displays here with such incessantly agitated humiliation.
Wiseman as the intimidating old man and Stiller as the unctuous motormouth offer strong back-up while a borscht belt crowd of actors and extras fill out the hotel dad lives in and the local stock exchange to add to a very convincing 1957 look. An unentertaining intensely told story and a must for Williams fans.
Seize the Day is a dark depressing study of man whose life is spiraling out of control. From his early erratic driving to the frantic pushing and shoving climax, Adler remains in a state of frenzy as friends and family abandon and his options shrink. Director Fielder Cook's stark direction is sober and to the point. Populating his cast with cold, joyless characters sympathy comes at a premium making even some decent comedy relief hard to enjoy while Tommy self deconstructs.
The daring and off beat casting of film funnyman Robin Williams pays off in spades in what I believe is the most powerful of his career. It's an incredibly challenging role that many fine dramatic actors might be able to pull off but I feel few could apply the unique combination of self pity and rage he displays here with such incessantly agitated humiliation.
Wiseman as the intimidating old man and Stiller as the unctuous motormouth offer strong back-up while a borscht belt crowd of actors and extras fill out the hotel dad lives in and the local stock exchange to add to a very convincing 1957 look. An unentertaining intensely told story and a must for Williams fans.