10 Off-The-Wall Casting Choices That Were Somehow Awesome

6. Robin Williams €“ One Hour Photo

Robin Williams - One Hour Photo Love him or hate him, you have to admit that Robin Williams is essentially harmless. Yes, he€™s manic and sometimes his comedy stylings can prove to be extremely annoying, but really, all he ever portrays is goofballs or occasionally maudlin softies. Even if they promise to €˜f**kin€™ end€™ Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting, you still can€™t get past the fact that he's a pretty cuddly person, really. Whenever he does embrace the darker drama, there€™s still this noble streak in his roles. With this in mind, nothing could prepare you for One Hour Photo. Williams had foreshadowed his step into the dark side with Christopher Nolan€™s big-screen debut Insomnia where he played a murderer, but this was another kettle of fish. It wasn€™t that Sy Parrish was worse than Insomnia€™s Walter Finch, he was just altogether more tragic. Nothing in Sy€™s life was good €“ an abuse victim who lived alone in a Spartan flat, who obsesses over a family because there's literally nothing else in his life. It was a role that required both pathos and unhinged psychosis €“ basically, two things you assume Robin Williams wouldn€™t have in his wheelhouse. But have them he did, and he dredged up something extremely unsettling €“ a monster you couldn€™t help but feel for, despite his heinous actions. Like I said, very unsettling.
Contributor
Contributor

Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League. You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.