San Francisco International Film Festival: The Fisher King May 4, 2007

Quests for grails, both literal and metaphorical, often crop up in Terry Gilliam’s work, and The Fisher King, a wonderfully eccentric, deeply moving and visually stunning film, is perhaps his most fully realized interpretation of the theme. When a radio shock-jock named Jack Lucas (Jeff Bridges) discovers that his rants against yuppies have found a horrible form of fruition, he becomes suicidal. On the verge of taking his life, he meets a madman named Parry who is seeking the Holy Grail and who just might have the key to Jack’s redemption. Robin Williams, in an Oscar-nominated performance, draws on a deep well of invention to play Parry. Never losing sight of the mythical import of the story, he finds the humor and pathos in the character and abiding romantic nature that cannot be extinguished. As screenwriter Richard LaGravenese commented, "[Williams’] ability to go off on the thousand creative tangents infused Parry with an electrically charged sense of awe, as if he had a nonstop fireworks display going on inside his head. And when he stops to take off the fool’s mask, it breaks your heart." The film is also blessed with excellent supporting performances, including Amanda Plummer and Mercedes Ruehl (who won an Oscar for her work). The stellar acting is matched by LaGravenese's bold script and Gilliam’s astonishing visual stylings, where malevolent Red Knights appear in the middle of Manhattan and Grand Central Station becomes a magnificent dance palace. Full of gravity and whimsy, and mindful of the fact that every human life has its mythic qualities, The Fisher King is true movie magic.

—Rod Armstrong

Total running time 165 min.

Official Website: http://fest07.sffs.org/films/film_details.php?id=42