In the opening moments of the hilarious and heartbreaking HBO documentary, “Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind,” David Letterman recalls being awestruck when he first saw Williams perform in Los Angeles when they were both fledgling stand-up comedians during the 1970s.
“It was like observing an experiment,” he says. “All I could really do was hang onto the microphone for dear life. And here was a guy who could levitate.”
Directed by Marina Zenovich (“Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired”), the two-hour film is an enticing invitation to explore, in a fresh light, the various components of Williams’ comedic genius. What exactly was it that fueled the bountiful imagination, magnetic charisma and rapid-fire riffs of one of our most beloved entertainers? And what kind of pain was all that revved-up merriment often masking?
Ultimately, Zenovich’s biographical portrait can’t answer all our questions. How could we ever fully understand the iconic star who shockingly took his life in 2014 at the age of 63? But it succeeds in at least drawing us closer.
Told largely through Williams’ own words, and interviews with those who knew him well, the film follows a chronological path that ranges from his youthful school days in the Bay Area, to his time at Juilliard in New York, to his dizzying rise to fame via the sitcom “Mork & Mindy,” to his successful transition into big-screen movies.
Included are career highlights such as Williams’ landmark comedy show at the Metropolitan Opera, his Broadway debut in “Waiting for Godot,” his Oscar-winning performance in “Good Will Hunting,” his dazzling work in Disney’s “Aladdin,” and confessional bits about his alcohol and drug issues and 2009 heart surgery.
It all might feel familiar to anyone with a cursory knowledge of Williams’ career. But “Come Inside My Mind” is fortified by substantial amounts of never-before-seen material. There are bawdy bloopers and behind-the-scenes outtakes from “Mork & Mindy,” as well as clips from obscure performances that capture the exhilarating rush of his improvisational brilliance and zany intensity.
Among the best moments is a segment from “Inside the Actors Studio” that has host James Lipton asking Williams how he explains the “mental reflexes that you deploy with such awesome speed?” Taken aback, Williams initially doubles over in laughter, but then springs from his chair to deliver a seemingly off-the-cuff, lightning-quick dissertation about the wonders of the brain (“a three-and-a-half-pound gland that pumps neurons constantly.”).
Zenovich clearly is most interested in celebrating Williams’ outsize talents. She wants us to fondly recall what made us love him in the first place. Still, she doesn’t shy away from his often turbulent personal life, which included three marriages and struggles with addiction and depression.
Steve Martin, at one point, talks about how confident and fearless Williams was while performing, but off the stage, “I just felt he was holding himself together.”
Says Williams’ oldest son, Zak, “My father didn’t always feel like he was succeeding, but he was the most successful person I know.”
The words ”vulnerable” and “sensitive” are often used to describe the film’s subject, who apparently hungered for constant validation.
“He needed that extra little hug you can only get from strangers,” says Williams’ close friend, Billy Crystal. “… That laugh is a drug. That acceptance.”
The documentary does have some noticeable omissions. Only Williams’ first wife, Valerie Velardi, is interviewed, and only Zak — one of Williams’ three children — makes a contribution. Moreover, there are just vague references to Williams’ debilitating brain condition which came to light after his tragic death. (For a more complete portrait, I suggest combining the film with Dave Itznoff’s excellent biography, “Robin”).
Still, “Come Inside My Mind” is a must-see for any Robin Williams fan. It’s a glorious, nostalgic romp through an amazing show-biz career — as well as a poignant and moving reminder of the personal toll that too often accompanies such success.
Contact Chuck Barney at cbarney@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/chuckbarney and Facebook.com/bayareanewsgroup.chuckbarney.
‘ROBIN WILLIAMS: COME INSIDE MY MIND’
When: 8 p.m. July 16
Where: HBO
