The Fisher King

1991

Action / Comedy / Drama / Fantasy

73
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 85% · 67 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 85% · 25K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.5/10 10 95858 95.9K

homeless person unsociability holy grail sense of guilt loss of loved one cynic

Plot summary

Two troubled men face their terrible destinies and events of their past as they join together on a mission to find the Holy Grail and thus to save themselves.

Director

Terry Gilliam Photo
Terry Gilliam

Top cast

Anita Dangler Photo
Anita Dangler as Bag Lady
Jayce Bartok Photo
Jayce Bartok as First Punk
Christian Clemenson Photo
Christian Clemenson as Edwin
Richard LaGravenese Photo
Richard LaGravenese as Strait Jacket Yuppie
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
990.27 MB
1280*694
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 17 min
Seeds 15
2.07 GB
1920*1040
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 17 min
Seeds 49

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by erwinjones 7 / 10

Grand Central Station scene is one of cinema's greatest

Family film night and Sarah Erwin Jones. Choice but she was cajoled a bit by me to pick this over The Piano (which will be viewed shortly). The Grand Central scene alone makes this essential viewing. A fantastical exploration of Arthurian legend, Ethel Merman and the fragility of mental health. Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams are stunning with William's performance all the more poignant in light of his own personal demons. Mercedes Ruehl deservedly took the best supporting actress Oscar but Amanda Plummer also excels. Despite the fantasy world Terry Gilliam has never directed such vivid relationships on screen. A gem.
Reviewed by gbill-74877 8 / 10

Capraesque

Deep humanism runs through the veins of this film from Terry Gilliam, and in some ways it reminded me of old Hollywood and Frank Capra. Its treatment of the homeless and people suffering mental illness because of trauma is highly sympathetic, and in working in fantasy and romantic comedy elements, the film has a light, magical air to it. Jeff Bridges plays an unpleasant radio DJ and Robin Williams is the homeless man whose world was shattered because of something the DJ broadcast, and they're both brilliant here. Mercedes Ruehl and Amanda Plummer play their love interests, and they're fantastic as well - but Michael Jeter nearly upstages them all as the homeless cabaret singer when he belts out a show tune in drag in an office space.One of the things I liked most about the film was how it deals with charity. We see people throwing coins at homeless people without even looking at them, and a gift of big bills in a shallow attempt to atone for wrongdoing. The scene where Bridges' character says it's not his fault to Williams who can't respond is powerful, and such a metaphor for the affluent wrestling with guilt over those who've been trampled by life (for the rich who actually feel guilt anyway). True charity begins with true empathy, we see, and the giving that comes from immersing oneself into another person's world is divine.There are some really sweet scenes here, many of which involve Robin Williams. That beautiful story of the fisher king while looking up at the stars, how he imagines everyone waltzing in Grand Central Station because the woman he's secretly in love with is walking across the floor, and the way he tries to offset her awkwardness at the Chinese restaurant are all touching. We get little bits of his comedy too, like when his character can't help himself from picking up a discarded bottle off a trash heap while walking on his first date.The story takes a lot of twists and turns, and maybe a few too many, en route to what was probably an inevitable ending, but this is a good one. Now if only all radio talk show hosts who glibly said harmful things had to truly confront the consequences of their words.
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