Seize the Day (1986)

Plot Summary: In 1956, Tommy Wilhelm (Robin Williams), a down-on-his-luck salesman, loses his job and marriage. He moves to New York seeking redemption through a risky investment set up by Dr. Tamkin (Jerry Stiller). As his life spirals, debt, family strain, and betrayal, Tommy must face harsh truths about himself and “seize the day.”

Director: Fielder Cook
Producers: Chiz Schultz, Brian Benlifer
Screenplay: Saul Bellow (novel), Ronald Ribman (screenplay)

Starring:
Robin Williams as Tommy Wilhelm
Jerry Stiller as Dr. Tamkin
Joseph Wiseman as Dr. Adler (Tommy's father)
Glenne Headly as Margaret, Tommy's estranged wife
Richard B. Shull as Rojax

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

Jerry Stiller Got Me Here

Hey everyone, I’m back with a hard-to-find movie featuring the one and only Robin Williams. The reason I picked Seize the Day was actually Jerry Stiller. I’ve been watching King of Queens with Krasnaya for nostalgia, and I got curious about Jerry’s film career. Turns out it’s not very long, but his role here as Dr. Tamkin delivers exactly what you'd expect. That familiar shouting, the dramatic hand gestures into the sky, it’s all there. It’s like Arthur Spooner time-traveled into a serious drama. He looks exactly the same too. The man did not age. God rest his soul.

Robin Williams Without the Laughs

Robin is one of my all-time favorite comedic actors, but don’t come to this movie looking for laughs. His character is deeply sad, maybe even too much. I found some of his performance a bit over the top and hard to sit through at times. The real standout for me was the father, played by Joseph Wiseman, who managed to be so cold and distant it actually made me angry. The whole movie left me confused, but in a good way. It made me curious about Saul Bellow, so I went and read parts of the book. Especially that final scene with the stranger’s funeral, powerful stuff. The book’s writing style is easy to follow, and I’d honestly recommend reading it before watching the movie.

Mid-Century Soybeans and Existential Crises

The movie feels like a TV film, and I wasn’t surprised to learn that the director, Fielder Cook, mostly did television work. The cinematography isn’t anything special, and the lack of music doesn’t help carry the emotions. A few well-placed tunes would’ve helped a lot. Still, I believe that movies sometimes find you when you need them. There were things in this story that hit close to home for me. I liked the glimpse into 1950s city life, and the scenes at the commodities market were fun to watch, lots of yelling and chalkboards. I have no idea how any of that worked before computers. Overall, it’s an OK movie with some meaningful themes, especially if you’re feeling a little lost in life. Just don’t expect it to lift your spirits. And if you're curious, you can find the whole thing on my YouTube channel. It’s not great quality, but hey, it's Robin Williams.

🎥 Cinematography (5/10):

Nothing terrible, but nothing memorable. Felt like a TV movie.

📖 Story (6/10):

The plot has emotional depth and literary roots, but might be hard to follow without the book.

🎬 Direction (5/10):

Solid effort, but lacking flair or cinematic punch.

👥 Characters (7/10):

Strong personalities, especially Dr. Tamkin and the father. Robin's character feels overdone.

💥 Visual Effects (N/A):

Doesn't matter, 5 points to balance it out.

🎭 Acting (6/10):

Mixed bag. Jerry’s great, Robin tries hard, but sometimes too much.

💬 Dialogue (6/10):

Some strong moments, especially from the book, but not consistently engaging.

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (5/10):

50s vibe comes through, but could’ve been explored more visually.

🎵 Music (0/10):

What music?

😄 Entertainment Value (6/10):

Not that boring. Interesting if you’re into Robin Williams or Saul Bellow.