ShangLuda
Admirable film.
Chirphymium
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
Jonah Abbott
There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
dariuslanghoff
With so many reviews before I will contribute mine in a very brief fashion. I consider this Terry Gilliam's motion picture highly overrated. I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind would want to watch it more than once - and even single viewing is an ordeal in this case.Jeff Bridges looking for redemption and Robin Williams as a "bum" who helps him find it. This is a film that is calculated to appeal to trendy "Thirty- Fourtysomethings." I find it one big bore, but then again, perhaps I just like to think young !
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.
leplatypus
This movie keeps balancing between « 4 » and « 7 » : i liked the underbelly of NYC that was common in 80s, 90s and that has nearly disappeared today ; i liked the interest into those bums, losers while now only the winners can talk ; I liked the demented vision, the fantasy world because Gilliam really transcends the material and knows how to organize things ! Robin is fantastic, so free, showing so much different feeling, it's incredible ! I like the punch of the videostore owner ! I like the hidden fun (his movies posters, Hitler salute, …) On the other hand, i can't stand the Bridges family (as well the Sheens, Baldwins) and the first half of the movie is totally useless and boring ! I don't like the Lydia character as she is not that easy and kind ! I don't like how the movie lost its way, has a lot of scenes totally expandable and how a heroic fantasy magic tale suddenly becomes a romance comedy ??? I don't like the way Robin has nothing to do in the last half hour. The train station scene is a total flop and the score is particularly weak ! At the end, i give « 7 » because if i cut all the bad scenes, the remaining is pretty cool so it's not a total stinker !
bsbulldogs
It had been a couple of years since I last watched this film and I must say I have found more appreciation for it since. Redemption is a strong theme of this film as it tells the story of a shock jock, who becomes suicidal after a listener he offended going on a murderous rampage and in order to redeem himself, helps a homeless man who was affected by the tragedy. Jeff Bridges is one of the stars in this underrated dramedy, playing shock jock Jack Lucas who comes across as arrogant and obnoxious but starts to show a softer side as the film progresses. The other star of the film is the incomparable Robin Williams who plays Parry, a mentally disturbed homeless man who has hallucinations about knights and believes himself to be on the quest for the "Holy Grail". The acting in this movie is top notch as the cast give close to career best performances, Jeff Bridges proves he is truly an underrated actor from his generation and Robin Williams perfectly blends his dramatic and comedic sides here to give one of his best all-round performances. Most people see Williams in more strictly funny roles like Mrs Doubtfire, Patch Adams and the like but he is one heck of a good actor, one of the best comedic actors of all time. Amanda Plummer sort of plays against type in this movie as Lydia by not playing her usual crazy woman roles (ie. Pulp Fiction) but in a way, it is Mercedes Ruehl who steals the show as Anne Napolitano, the girlfriend of Jack who is not just eye candy but is almost like a voice of reason to him. Speaking of Ruehl, she fascinated me as I always used to wonder why she won an Oscar for this role but not every Oscar winning role needs a member of the audience to feel sad or cry, she does the opposite by making me laugh and bringing deeper meaning to her character which is hard to do in a comedy. And of course, credit must go to Terry Gilliam who strikes gold with this modernistic take on an Arthurian tale and is personally the mastermind of weird movies such as this. But whoever said weird was bad? If you think so, I suggest you take time to appreciate "weirdness" such as this.
