Dito Montiel, the filmmaker behind âRiff Raffâ with Bill Murray and classics starring Robert Downey Jr., has worked with many Academy Award winners across his career. But among those collaborations, none left the same impact as film and comedy legend Robin Williams. Their 2014 film âBoulevard,â shot in Nashville, became Williamsâ final completed performance, and Montiel recalls an emotional late-night memory that captured the actorâs relentless drive and vulnerability.
Robin Williamsâ career spanned generations, from his Oscar-winning role in âGood Will Huntingâ to beloved performances in âDead Poets Society,â âMrs. Doubtfire,â âAladdin,â and âJumanji.â Known for seamlessly blending comedy and drama, he remains one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood history.
Robin Williams Cared Deeply About Every Scene
In an exclusive interview with EntertainmentNow, Montiel explained that Williams wasnât the type to rely on his reputation or accolades. Even with decades of acclaim behind him, he pushed himself harder than anyone. âI loved working with Robin Williams. That maybe is a combination of both, you know what I mean? Like I just loved working with him so much and I was so proud of the film we made,â Montiel said. âRobin Williams is one of the few people, famous people that I donât think thereâs a person that would not love him. Like you go into a supermarket and theyâre like, oh my God. Every generation has a different Robin Williams they fell in love with.â
The director remembered one late-night shoot in East Nashville when Williams couldnât shake his doubts about a scene. âRobin was not feeling like he was getting a scene, you know? And we had broke for lunch and he was so freaked out. He was coming up to me, heâs like, Iâm not getting it. Iâm not getting it. Like, can we take a walk? Can we take a walk? And Iâm like, yeah,â Montiel recalled.
The two spent the next hour walking through quiet streets while Williams agonized over how to make the scene work. Montiel admitted to having an âout of body experience,â realizing he was coaching one of the most iconic performers of all time â and marveling at how much Williams still cared.
Robin Williams Says Filmmaking Is A Circus
The moment defined Montielâs view of working with Williams. âI was thinking, I canât believe he cares so much. Like this guy has won everything you could win in life,â he said. âAnd he was just on about this one scene. âWhat am Iâhow am I going to get it? How am I going to get it?â And of course I was too. But it was like a strange out of body moment where I thought, how incredible, how nice, or generous, I donât know what the word is.â
Williams nailed the performance later that night, and Montiel says the experience stayed with him. âThatâs probably the best analogy of this business, you know? He would say to me, itâs kind of like a circus light, you know, like we all get together and for like three months, theyâre really up in each other. Every little thing weâre talking about, everything emotional, what hurts, whatâyou know what I mean? Like weâre trying to tap into everything and then we put out this little thing and then we hope to run into each other in six years at another circus somewhere or at passing circuses. And then sometimes you donât, you know? So I kind of look at it that way. So itâs just an accumulation of proud and heartbroken moments. Thatâs life, right? Thatâs just the way it goes. And with art, I guess itâs kind of like that too.â
Where to Watch Robin Williams’ Last Film
âBoulevardâ is currently available to stream for free on platforms like Plex and Tubi, and can also be rented or purchased through services including Fandango at Home and Google Play Movies.
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