Amazon.com essential video: Arthurian mythology and modern day decay seem perfect complements to each other in this Terry Gilliam drama/comedy/fantasy. Shock jock Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) makes an off-handed radio remark that causes a man to go on a killing spree, leaving Lucas unhinged with guilt. Lucas's later, chance meeting with Parry (Robin Williams), a homeless man suffering from dementia, gets him involved in the unlikely quest for the Holy Grail. The rickety, and patently unrealistic stand that insanity is just a wonderful place to be, and that the homeless are all errant knights, wears awfully thin, but there are numerous moments of sad grace and violent beauty in this film. The screenplay by Richard LaGravenese launched his successful career and his smart wordplay helped garner Mercedes Ruehl an Oscar as Lucas's girlfriend. --Keith Simanton
The Fisher King Directed by Terry Gilliam....Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Amanda Plummer, and Mercedes Reuhl combine their awesome talents to create a remarkable modern-day dark fable of love and adventure in Manhattan's. sometimes harsh, cultural realty.
Bridges plays a "shock jock" who unwittingly helps to cultivate more madness in Manhattan, a karmic psychological madness that he finds constantly dogging his heels. Williams plays a vigilante knight, coincidentally created by Bridges' radio show, running loose in Manhattan (and his own mind) on a quest for the holy grail, "a billionaire's bowling trophy". As Bridges slides deeper into his karmic pit of unresolved guilt the exciting and gorgeous Mercedes Reuhl plays an oscar-winning role as his lover on the way down. Amanda Plummer succeeds as William's timid mousy love interest.
Excellent casting, excellent plot, and excellent entertainment set in a great city- New York!
Good Things Take Hard Work This movie merits consideration by anyone who is looking for a thoughtful, yet entertaining vehicle for entertainment. The production and script are outstanding, and I am sure you will find good coverage of those factors in some of the other reviews you will find here. What makes this a stand out film with a message in the caliber of "The Razor's Edge", is its ability to transmit the following concept: If we are to make any progress in this life, whether it is to heal our own wounds, or to help others heal theirs, we must be ready and willing to extend ourselves beyong our normal comfort levels. Nothing good and ever lasting can occur unless we push ourselves to the point of discomfort ( ie hard work). The movie points this out > people throwing money at their guilt vs. getting personally involved ( and securing a grail). This movie is rich in thought and lesson. You get to see one man actually evolve as he slowly rises above the maelstrom of egocentricity, modern society's self-centeredness and its attendant callousness. Our protagonist backslides as he believe his work is done, but life and circumstances push him even further as he realizes that more work must be done. He eventually does the right thing and a multitude of benefit and good consequences follow - We see the eventual healing peace and contentedness that follows. You could do a lot worse in picking a film. This is one of the few that really illustrates a story of positive personal growth in the context of a modern day tragi-comedy. Kudos to all who were involved in this great reflective and inspiring, if not instructive work!
wonderful film A strangley realistic seeming film because it involves homeless and poor people and psychology yet includes the wondrous element of hope. Great flick.
Superb The Fisher King [1991] Dvd ~ Jeff Bridges Availability: Currently unavailable
Superb, 30 Dec 2007
Superb. There have been very few movies that I can say, hand on heart, that have ever touched a nerve with me, but this is did. If anyone but Williams and Bridges had played these roles, the film would have dragged on and on. Bridges is excellent as the ex shock jock, trying to make some restitution for the consequences of his 'actions'. Williams should be given some kind of Knighthood - the man is flawless as he tries to claw his way out of his personal madness, his grief and guilt. The support cast are pretty fine, too. Excuisite.
Baby Cromwell, Nottingham, England
Uneven, cutesy in parts, Williams overacts again Generally unbelievable film about a man's dissolution and redemption. Jeff Bridges does a magnificent job with the material; unfortunately, Robin Williams is miscast as a crazy person (who has gone crazy by an act that was precipitated by Jeff Bridges' character). Williams should have played his part with some degree of complexity, but all that comes out is tics and showiness. What a shame. The script is uneven, in parts very insightful and in other places simply stupid (the dinner with the four main characters is just awful). If a the movie and therefore the script had been shortened by 30 minutes, the movie would have been much better. As it is, the unbelievability overwhelms whatever good points the movie has. Too bad.
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