Product: The Fisher King [VHS] (1991)
Rating: 5.0
A MYSTICAL MASTERPIECE ABOUT A REDEMPTIVE ACT OF LOVE
I hadn't seen this film since it's release in 1991. I borrowed it from a friend's bookcase and watched it last night. I had forgotten how funny, surreal, and moving this film is. Along with FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, this is one of Terry Gilliam's best films. Although, the themes of these two films couldn't be farther apart.Jeff Bridges is Jack Lucas. A rich radio shock jock who has unwittingly prompted one of his lonely and psychotic listeners to commit a heinous massacre of innocents with a shotgun in a New York cafe. Media attention has caused Jack to become a broke self-loathing alcoholic full of guilt. Robin Williams plays Parry. (Not his real name.) Parry rescues a suicidal Jack from two youths who attempt to burn him alive, believing he's a homeless drunk. Coincidentally, after witnessing the horrifying murder of his fiancee at the hands of the psychotic listener, Parry has become a broken homeless schizophrenic knight-errant in search of the Holy Grail. Is he schizophrenic? It seems God and some small floating fat people are very specific about proving their reality to Parry. They also insist that Jack is the "ONE" who can save Parry from the flaming Red Knight; a presence that symbolizes evil and haunts Parry's every waking nightmare. Parry tells Jack that only HE can defeat the Red Knight by stealing the Holy Grail. Jack starts to believe that maybe God is speaking through Parry, but ultimately remains unconvinced of the truth until Jack forces himself to perform an act of love for Parry. And thus begins Jack's redemption through Parry.What prompted this review are comments made by viewers below. One who falsely claims this film to be meaningless and another who goes on about T.S. Eliot's Wasteland and how there's no "wisdom or morality" to be found here. Whatever. The search for the Holy Grail was a mythic quest to find the chalice that Christ used to figuratively share his blood, love, or life force with his disciples during the Last Supper. This film is a wonderful metaphor for the Blood of Christ which signifies to me, redemption through the sacrifice of love. The screenwriter, Richard LaGravenese, does this brilliantly through the symbolism of the Grail. Halfway through the film Parry, who's completely nude, and Jack are lying in Central Park looking up at the stars in the night sky. Parry tells Jack a story, or Zen parable, about a depressed King who is redeemed by the act of a Fool. The Fool doesn't see a king, but only a lonely and troubled man. The King tells the Fool he is thirsty. The Fool offers the King a chalice of cool water that makes the King whole again through his simple act of kindness. At the end, Jack must perform a similar act of kindness and sacrifice to make Parry whole again. THIS IS A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN MODERN FABLE ABOUT SACRIFICE AND REDEMPTION OF TWO SOULS THROUGH AN UNCONDITIONAL ACT OF LOVE, as it may destroy the beginning of Jack's radio and TV comeback and a return to his old prosperous life.I do agree with some of the reviewers who claim that even though Mercedes Ruehl won an Oscar for her role as Jack's girlfriend, everyone should have been nominated for a Golden Boy. It also should have won Best Picture. Jeff Bridges is remarkable. Michael Jeter is funny as hell. Amanda Plummer is perfect. And next to AWAKENINGS and THE DEAD POETS SOCIETY, this is truely one of Robin Williams' greatest dramatic roles.You'll laugh, you'll cry, and if you're thoughtful, you'll be thoroughly moved by this amazing piece of film. Don't listen to the few negative reviews about this film. How can anyone not see the beauty of this story. It's one of the most surreal, uncynical films about THE POWER OF LOVE to ever hit the silver screen. Big budget Hollywood films like this are a rarity. SEE IT NOW and you'll be singing, "I like New York in June, how about you? I like a Gershwin tune, how about you?" It's a CLASSIC that belongs in your collection. I know it belongs in mine.