Carpe Diem & expand your mind.

It has been 9 days since Robin Williams died. The loss is still resonating and many of us are still dealing with it. Not a day goes by that I don't have people ringing my store and asking for DEAD POETS SOCIETY... as though it were the only film he's ever made. I have at least 45 of his films in stock and have a list printed at the counter for people wanting to explore his extensive catalogue. Sadly the only film people are interested in is bloody DEAD POETS SOCIETY. Sure, it's a good film but it's not a great one. In fact it's part of that tiresome formula-machine that churns out the same movie over and over with new faces and new angles -- To Sir With Love, Lean On Me, Stand and Deliver, Dangerous Minds (etc) -- They're all the same! 

Every day the phone rings. "Do you have DEAD POETS SOCIETY?". Most of the time I inform them that the film is on hire and mention that we have over 40 other films of his available including The Fisher King, Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Again, The Birdcage, One Hour Photo, Hook, Aladdin, What Dreams May Come and August Rush. Most people say "no thanks" and hang up but if I'm lucky a few might stay on the line to discover films they never knew he made... and even then, most of them only wanted DEAD POETS SOCIETY and never ask for other titles to be set aside. 

Robin Williams has left us with so many films. Many hilarious, many dramatic and a some that are chilling. His talent extends far beyond DEAD POETS SOCIETY and if people truly want to spend some time reflecting on his brilliance then perhaps they ought to think outside of that box. After all "Carpe diem!" (damn I hate that phrase).

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