Bill Goodykoontz

USA TODAY NETWORK

Harkins Theatres is hosting a week-long tribute to Robin Williams, starting Friday, Aug. 15.

The films included in the event, held at Valley Art, are: "The World According to Garp," "Good Will Hunting," "Dead Poets Society," "The Birdcage" and "Good Morning, Vietnam." Tickets are $5 per movie, and the proceeds go toward St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Dan Harkins, the owner and CEO of Harkins Theatres, will introduce "Good Morning, Vietnam" at 7 p.m. Friday.

"I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Robin Williams," Harkins said in a statement. "We at Harkins Theatres are deeply saddened by the loss of a genuine person and comedic genius."

Williams, 63, hanged himself Monday, Aug. 11. Known as a brilliant stand-up comic, he was also an Oscar-winning actor who excelled in dramatic roles.

Of the films Harkins is presenting, I'd rank them like this, from top to bottom:

"Good Will Hunting" (1997): Williams won his Oscar playing a psychologist treating Matt Damon; the therapist in this case was probably as troubled as the patient. The movie is really, really good, the best thing Williams appeared in. (His tastes sometimes ran to the maudlin.) For me, the best part was when he simply held Damon and repeated the words, "It's not your fault." Damon resisted, then broke down. It was heartbreaking and, more importantly, cathartic.

"Dead Poets Society" (1989): He did drama to some extent in "Garp," but this is the film that announced to the world that the funny guy could handle serious drama. Williams played an English teacher who passes on his love of poetry to his students. After Williams' death, many people said (including Jimmy Fallon) and wrote, "O Captain! My Captain!" as a tribute. It's a line from Walt Whitman's poem used to good effect in the film.

"The World According to Garp" (1982): Williams' film breakout, in which he plays the title character from John Irving's novel. The whimsy and humor mixed well with drama, and showed Williams' range.

"Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987): Williams plays Adrian Cronauer, a real-life DJ who is transferred to Vietnam, where he works for Armed Forces Radio. This also plays to Williams' strengths; his radio rants are great, the best thing about the movie.

"The Birdcage" (1996): Williams and Nathan Lane are funny as a gay couple who pretend to be straight, to impress their son's fiancee's parents. It's a good movie, but it suffers from a classic lament: the original ("La Cage Aux Folles") is so much better.