Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Micransix Crappy film

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

MartinHafer In many ways, "The Fisher King" is like the later film "Reign Over Me", though they're different enough I recommend you see them both. Each is about a man who loses contact with reality after experiencing the tragic loss of their family...and another man's attempt to help.When the story begins, Jack (Jeff Bridges) is a radio shock-jock...much like Howard Stern. However, after he makes an offhanded comment on the radio one day, a man goes on a murderous rampage based on the comment!! Naturally, Jack is a mess and his career disappears. Several years pass and he meets a guy who is extremely delusional (Robin Williams). It turns out the man snapped after his wife was murdered...by the same maniac at the beginning of the film! So, Jack makes it his life's mission to help the guy and help him re-establish contact with the real world. This is a pleasant film with a few odd surreal moments. This could easily turn off some viewers, but I found I was able to still enjoy the story. Plus, compared to director Terry Gilliam's other films, this one is downright normal! Worth seeing.

jimbo-53-186511 Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) is a radio station broadcaster who likes to make light of his viewers dilemmas. However, one listener takes Jack's questionable advice a little too seriously and ends up killing himself. Upon hearing of this news, Jack goes off the rails and over a 3 year period he becomes a shadow of his former self spiralling into alcoholism and depression. After being rescued by vigilante cum megalomaniac Parry (Robin Williams) Jack forms a strong bond with Parry (more so when he realises that he had a role in altering Parry's life as well...) From the start this is a tough sell, you have a hard-nosed radio DJ whom seemingly enjoys revelling in his viewers misery (although in fairness his comments are meant in jest meaning that Jack is never entirely unsympathetic). His friendship with Parry felt natural and believable; in the early stages Jack felt compelled to help Parry out of a sense of guilt, but in the later stages of the film I felt that Jack helped Parry because he wanted to - this is more evident in the bit where Jack decides to play cupid and ensure that Parry gets a date with the girl of his dreams. I think the interesting thing with this film is that both men end up on similar paths; both men are living normal happy existences at one point in their lives, but this changes for both men following a tragic incident in their lives. The journey that they undertake together is funny and touching and this is all helped by wonderful performances from Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams. The latter is particularly good and it's nice to see Williams showcase his talents in a film with a strong script that actually compliments his talents. Terry Gilliam is on directorial duties here and although he is known for some of his films being a little wacky in The Fisher King he does play things out more or less pretty straight - there is some wackiness with Williams character, but this is understandable within the context of the story and to be fair it isn't overdone here. Simply put this is a fabulous film and one that you really owe it to yourself to watch.

NateWatchesCoolMovies Tragic. Uplifting. Comical. Bittersweet. One of a kind. Terry Gilliam's The Fisher King takes on mental illness by way of a fantastical approach, an odd mix on the surface, but totally fitting and really the only way to put the audience inside a psyche belonging to one of these beautiful, broken creatures. Sometimes an unlikely friendship springs from a tragedy, in this case between a scrappy ex radio DJ (Jeff Bridges) and a now homeless, mentally unstable ex professor of medieval history (Robin Williams). Bridges was partly responsible for an unfortunate incident that contributed to William's condition, and feels kind of responsible, accompanying him on many a nocturnal odyssey and surreal journey through New York City, an unlikely duo brought together by the whimsical cogs of fate that seem to turn in every Gilliam film. Williams is a severely damaged man who sees a symbolic 'Red Knight' at every turn, and seeks a holy grail that seems to elude him at every turn. Bridges is down to earth, if a little aimless and untethered, brought back down from the clouds by his stern, peppy wife (Mercedes Ruehl in an Oscar nominated performance). They both strive to help one another in different ways, Williams to help Bridges find some redemption for the single careless act that led to violence, and Bridges assisting him on a dazed quest through the streets to find an object he believes to be the holy grail, and win over the eccentric woman of his dreams (Amanda Plummer). In any other director's hands but Gilliam's, this story just wouldn't have the same fable-esque quality. Straight up drama. Sentimental buddy comedy. Interpersonal character study. There's elements of all, but the one magic ingredient is Gilliam, who is just amazing at finding the way to truth and essential notes by way of the absurd and the abstract. Watch for fantastic work from Michael Jeter, David Hyde Pierce, Kathy Najimy, Harry Shearer, Dan Futterman and a quick, uncredited Tom Waits as well. The hectic back alleys and silhouetted trellises of NYC provide a sooty canvas for Gilliam and his troupe to paint a theatrical, psychological and very touching tale of minds lost, friendship found and the past reconciled.

g-bodyl The Fisher King is a fantastic movie directed by one of cinema's greatest visionary minds, Terry Gilliam. The movie is both funny and heartwarming and it features two amazing performances from Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges. The movie almost seems like it is a Monty Python movie in modern-day New York so that even made the story more interesting. The film also explores some powerful themes such as redemption and love and how these particular traits could change a person for the better. Terry Gilliam's film is about a radio DJ who inadvertently caused a madman to shoot up a place which left seven people dead. Several years later, Jack is left with hardly any money and on the brink of suicide. But he is saved by an unlikely source: a homeless man who believes he is on a quest for the Holy Grail. This man also happened to be one of the victims caused by Jack's words, so Jack feels as he should help the man in order to redeem himself. Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges deliver amazing performances. Williams is very funny, but he also shows a sad side of himself as a man haunted by his past and someone who is looking for a new love. Bridges is excellent as an arrogant man who finds that meeting this homeless man is the best thing that could have happened to him. Overall, The Fisher King is a fantastic movie that have powerful themes of grief, happiness, love, and most importantly, the power of redemption. The movie has a fine line to balance between comedy and drama, and it does it exceptionally well. This is the kind of movie that will make you laugh or cry perhaps both at the same time. As the movie world lost Williams recently, this movie is perhaps a little bit more emotional to watch, especially as we see him at his best. A fantastic movie thanks to the powerful acting and visionary directing of Gilliam. My Grade: A