The Fisher King

Last updated
The Fisher King
The Fisher King Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Written by Richard LaGravenese
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Roger Pratt
Edited by Lesley Walker
Music by George Fenton
Production
company
Hill/Obst Productions
Distributed by Tri-Star Pictures [1]
Release date
  • September 20, 1991 (1991-09-20)
Running time
137 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$24 million [2]
Box office$72.4 million [2]

The Fisher King is a 1991 American fantasy comedy drama film written by Richard LaGravenese and directed by Terry Gilliam. Starring Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges, with Mercedes Ruehl, Amanda Plummer and Michael Jeter in supporting roles, the film tells the story of a radio shock jock who tries to find redemption by helping a man whose life he inadvertently shattered. It explores "the intermingling of New York City's usually strictly separated social strata", [3] and has been described as "a modern-day Grail Quest that fused New York romantic comedy with timeless fantasy". [4]

Contents

The film was released in the United States by TriStar Pictures on September 20, 1991. It received generally favorable reviews from critics, and grossed $72 million on a $24 million budget. At the 64th Academy Awards, the film earned five nominations, including Best Actor for Williams and Best Original Screenplay for LaGravenese, with Ruehl winning Best Supporting Actress, making The Fisher King the only Oscar-winning film of Gilliam's career.

Plot

Jack Lucas, a narcissistic, misanthropic shock jock, becomes suicidal and sad when he learns that some of his insensitive on-air comments inadvertently prompted a mentally unstable regular caller, Edwin, to commit a mass murder–suicide at a Manhattan restaurant. Three years later, Jack is working for his girlfriend, Anne, in her video store, and is in a mostly drunken, depressed state, fearful of being recognized.

One night, while on a bender, he is moments from suicide. However, he is attacked and nearly set on fire by teenage punks who mistake him for a homeless person. He is rescued by Parry, a delusional homeless man who claims that his mission is to find the Holy Grail.

Parry tries to enlist Jack's help in getting the Grail, explaining that God charged the Fisher King with finding the Holy Grail, but incurred an incapacitating wound for his sin of pride. "A Fool asks the King why he suffers, and when the King says he is thirsty, the Fool gives him a cup of water to drink. The King realizes the cup is the Grail and asks, 'How did you find what my brightest and bravest could not?' The Fool said 'I don't know. I only knew that you were thirsty.'"

Jack is initially reluctant, but acquiesces after learning that he is partially responsible for Parry's current condition. Parry, whose real name is Henry Sagan, had been a teacher at Hunter College. After witnessing his wife's gruesome death at the same mass shooting that Jack had provoked, Henry had a psychotic break and became catatonic. When he awakened, he took on the persona of Parry and became obsessed with the legend of the Fisher King. With Parry as his shielding persona, mentions of reality panic him, and he is continually haunted by a terrifying, hallucinatory Red Knight, from a distorted memory of his wife's head exploding from a shotgun blast.

Jack seeks to redeem himself by helping Parry find love again. Lydia, a shy woman with whom Parry is smitten, is prodded to meet Parry to join Jack and Anne for dinner. Afterward, Parry walks Lydia home and declares his love for her. She reciprocates, but the brush with reality summons the Red Knight. Fleeing his vision and the memory of his wife's murder, he is ambushed by the same punks against whom he had defended Jack. Beaten and knifed mercilessly, Parry becomes catatonic again. Jack, feeling whole again after "saving" Parry, breaks up with Anne and begins to rebuild his career. However, he has a crisis of conscience during a sitcom pitch after snubbing a vagrant who had previously done a favor for him.

After finding out what happened to Parry, Jack dons Parry's clothing and infiltrates the Upper East Side castle of a famous architect and retrieves the "Grail", a trophy that Parry believes to be the real Grail. During the theft, Jack finds the architect unconscious from attempting suicide. He triggers the alarm while leaving, alerting authorities and saving the man's life.

When he brings the "Grail" to Parry, Parry regains consciousness and tells a silent Jack that he is ready to miss his wife. Lydia visits Parry in the hospital; she finds him awake and leading the patients of the ward in a rendition of the song, "How About You?", with Jack. Parry and Lydia embrace, and Jack reconciles with Anne, telling her that he loves her. She slaps him, but grabs and kisses him. That night, Jack and Parry lie naked in Central Park gazing at the clouds, as they view a fireworks display over New York.

Cast

Production

During an appearance on an episode of The Directors, Gilliam said that he wanted to do the film because he was tired of big-budget special-effects films, such as his previous film, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , which went over budget and cost more than $45 million, nearly twice as much as The Fisher King's budget of $24 million. This was the first film that Gilliam directed in which he was not involved in writing the screenplay, as well as his first film to not feature any other members of Monty Python.

According to The Directors episode, Gilliam came up with the scene in which Robin Williams shadows Amanda Plummer through a large crowd performing a waltz in the middle of Grand Central Terminal because he felt that the scene that LaGravenese had written, in which a large group of people in a crowded subway listen to a homeless woman sing with a beautiful voice that fills the room, was not working. Initially, He hesitated about this because his original intentions were to shoot the script, and the waltz would make it "a Terry Gilliam film". The scene was shot in one night with a mix of professional extras and passengers alighting from the train.

Reception

Box office

The film did moderately well at the box office, [5] [6] with a gross of almost $42 million in the United States and Canada, [7] and an international gross of $30.5 million, [8] for a worldwide total of $72.4 million.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Fisher King has an approval rating of 85%, based on 66 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "An odd but affecting mixture of drama, comedy and fantasy, The Fisher King manages to balance moving performances from Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges with director Terry Gilliam's typically askew universe." [9] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100, based on nine critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [10] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "B+" on scale of A+ to F. [11]

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote that the film "sweeps you up on waves of humor, heartbreak and ravishing romance". [12]

John Simon of the National Review described The Fisher King as "one of the most nonsensical, pretentious, mawkishly cloying movies I ever had to wretch[sic] through". [13]

Following Robin Williams's death, a reappraisal of the film on RogerEbert.com said that "no Williams film can hit harder—or be so fully consoling in such heartbreaking circumstances—than The Fisher King", in which his character "gradually simmers to a boil of bristling insecurities, terror and agonizing internalized pain". [4]

Accolades

AwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Academy Awards Best Actor Robin Williams Nominated [14]
Best Supporting Actress Mercedes Ruehl Won
Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen Richard LaGravenese Nominated
Best Art Direction Art Direction: Mel Bourne;
Set Decoration: Cindy Carr 		Nominated
Best Original Score George Fenton Nominated
American Comedy Awards Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)Robin WilliamsNominated
Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureMercedes RuehlWon
Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Comedy Howard Feuer Won [15]
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actress Mercedes RuehlWon [16]
British Academy Film Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Amanda Plummer Nominated [17]
Best Original Screenplay Richard LaGraveneseNominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Director Terry Gilliam Nominated [18]
Best Supporting Actress Amanda PlummerNominated
Mercedes RuehlWon
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Association Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Actor Robin WilliamsNominated
Best Supporting Actress Amanda PlummerNominated
Mercedes RuehlWon
Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominated [19]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Jeff Bridges Nominated
Robin WilliamsWon
Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Mercedes RuehlWon
Best Director Terry GilliamNominated
Guldbagge Awards Best Foreign Film Nominated [20]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Best Film Runner-up [21]
Best Director Terry GilliamRunner-up
Best Supporting Actress Amanda PlummerRunner-up
Mercedes RuehlWon
Best Screenplay Richard LaGraveneseRunner-up
Saturn Awards Best Fantasy Film Nominated [22]
Best Actor Jeff BridgesNominated
Robin WilliamsNominated
Best Supporting Actress Mercedes RuehlWon
Best Director Terry GilliamNominated
Best Writing Richard LaGraveneseNominated
Best Costumes Beatrix Aruna PasztorNominated
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards People's Choice AwardTerry GilliamWon [23]
Turkish Film Critics Association Awards Best Foreign Film6th Place
Venice International Film Festival Golden Lion Terry GilliamNominated
Little Golden LionWon
Silver Lion Won [a]
Best Actress (Pasinetti Award)Mercedes RuehlWon
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen Richard LaGraveneseNominated [24]

Home media

Laserdisc

The film was released on VHS and LaserDisc by Columbia TriStar Home Video in 1992. [25] The first Laserdisc release was a fullscreen presentation, but showed more vertical information while cropping horizontally. The second release in 1997 presented the film in its 1.85:1 theatrical ratio. The Criterion Collection released their Laserdisc version in 1993 with several extras that have not surfaced on any other release, and a director-approved widescreen transfer in 1.66:1.

DVD and Blu-ray

The film was released on DVD in 1999 by Columbia TriStar Home Video, using the same master as the 1997 Laserdisc release, with only the theatrical trailer as a special feature. [26] In 2011, Image Entertainment released the film on Blu-ray, utilizing a new high-definition master in the 1.85:1 theatrical ratio, with Dolby Digital Tru-HD 5.1 surround, with no special features. [26]

On June 23, 2015, The Criterion Collection re-released the film on Blu-ray and DVD, featuring a brand new 2K transfer and DTS-HD 5.1 surround sound mix. [27]

On April 11, 2023, Criterion again released the film on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, featuring a brand new 4K restoration approved by Terry Gilliam.

See also

Notes

Related Research Articles

<i>Monty Python and the Holy Grail</i> 1975 British comedy film

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 British comedy film based on the Arthurian legend, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy group and directed by Gilliam and Jones in their feature directorial debuts. It was conceived during the hiatus between the third and fourth series of their BBC Television series Monty Python's Flying Circus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Gilliam</span> American-British filmmaker (born 1940)

Terrence Vance Gilliam is an American-British filmmaker, comedian, collage animator, and actor. He gained stardom as a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe alongside John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman. Together they collaborated on the sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) and the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983). In 1988, they received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. In 2009, Gilliam received the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin Williams</span> American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Robin McLaurin Williams was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and comedies alike, Williams is regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time. He received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, five Grammy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Williams was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Bridges</span> American actor (born 1949)

Jeffrey Leon Bridges is an American actor. He is known for his leading man roles in film and television. In a career spanning over seven decades, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for three BAFTA Awards and two Emmy Awards. In 2019, he was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

<i>Brazil</i> (1985 film) 1985 film by Terry Gilliam

Brazil is a 1985 dystopian science-fiction black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam and written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard. The film stars Jonathan Pryce and features Robert De Niro, Kim Greist, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, and Ian Holm.

<i>Time Bandits</i> 1981 British fantasy film by Terry Gilliam

Time Bandits is a 1981 British fantasy adventure film co-written, produced, and directed by Terry Gilliam. It stars David Rappaport, Sean Connery, John Cleese, Shelley Duvall, Ralph Richardson, Katherine Helmond, Ian Holm, Michael Palin, Peter Vaughan and David Warner. The film tells the story of a young boy taken on an adventure through time with a band of thieves who plunder treasure from various points in history.

<i>The Adventures of Baron Munchausen</i> 1988 film by Terry Gilliam

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a 1988 fantasy adventure film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, starring John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman, Jonathan Pryce and Valentina Cortese. An international co-production of the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany, the film is based on the tall tales of the 18th-century German nobleman, Baron Munchausen, and his wartime exploits against the Ottoman Empire.

<i>Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves</i> 1991 film

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American action adventure film based on the English folk tale of Robin Hood and loosely set in the 12th century. Directed by Kevin Reynolds and written by Pen Densham and John Watson, the film stars Kevin Costner as Robin Hood, Morgan Freeman as Azeem, Christian Slater as Will Scarlett, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Marian, and Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

<i>Mrs. Doubtfire</i> 1993 American comedy film by Chris Columbus

Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy film directed by Chris Columbus, written by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, based on the 1987 novel, Madame Doubtfire, by Anne Fine. The film was produced by Mark Radcliffe, Marsha Garces Williams and her then-husband Robin Williams, who also starred in the lead role. The film co-stars Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, and Robert Prosky. It follows a recently divorced actor who disguises himself as an elderly female housekeeper to be able to interact with his children.

<i>Hook</i> (film) 1991 film by Steven Spielberg

Hook is a 1991 American fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by James V. Hart and Malia Scotch Marmo. It stars Robin Williams as Peter Banning / Peter Pan, Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook, Julia Roberts as Tinker Bell, Bob Hoskins as Mr. Smee, Maggie Smith as Granny Wendy and Charlie Korsmo as Jack Banning. It serves as a sequel in a modern day setting to J. M. Barrie's 1911 novel Peter and Wendy, focusing on an adult Peter Pan who has forgotten his childhood due to his high-powered lifestyle. In his new life, he is known as Peter Banning, a successful but career-minded lawyer with a wife and two children. However, when his old archenemy, Captain Hook, kidnaps his children, he returns to Neverland to save them. Along the journey, he reclaims the memories of his past and develops full emotional maturity.

<i>Robin Hood: Men in Tights</i> 1993 film by Mel Brooks

Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a 1993 adventure comedy film and a parody of the Robin Hood story. The film was produced and directed by Mel Brooks, co-written by Brooks, Evan Chandler, and J. David Shapiro based on a story by Chandler and Shapiro, and stars Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, and Dave Chappelle in his film debut. It includes frequent comedic references to previous Robin Hood films, particularly Prince of Thieves, and the 1938 Errol Flynn adaptation The Adventures of Robin Hood. Brooks himself had previously created the short-lived sitcom When Things Were Rotten in the mid-1970s, which also spoofed the Robin Hood legend.

<i>Jabberwocky</i> (film) 1977 British film by Terry Gilliam

Jabberwocky is a 1977 British fantasy comedy film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam. Jabberwocky stars Michael Palin as Dennis, a cooper's apprentice, who is forced through clumsy, often slapstick misfortunes to hunt a terrible dragon after the death of his father. The film's title is taken from the nonsense poem "Jabberwocky" from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass (1871).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes Ruehl</span> American actress (born 1948)

Mercedes J. Ruehl is an American screen, stage, and television actress. She is the recipient of several accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, two Obie Awards, and two Outer Critics Circle Awards.

The 12th Boston Society of Film Critics Awards honored the best filmmaking of 1991.

The 17th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards were announced on 14 December 1991 and given on 21 January 1992.

<i>Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</i> (film) 1998 film by Terry Gilliam

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American black comedy adventure film based on Hunter S. Thompson's novel of the same name. It was co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam and stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro as Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively. The film details the duo's journey through Las Vegas as their initial journalistic intentions devolve into an exploration of the city under the influence of psychoactive substances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard LaGravenese</span> American screenwriter and film director (born 1959)

Richard LaGravenese is an American screenwriter and film director, known for The Fisher King, The Bridges of Madison County, and Behind the Candelabra.

<i>Cadillac Man</i> 1990 US comedy film by Roger Donaldson

Cadillac Man is a 1990 American black comedy film directed by Roger Donaldson, starring Robin Williams and Tim Robbins.

The 48th annual Venice International Film Festival was held on 3 to 14 September 1991.

Tony Mark is an American film producer, director and screenwriter. He has worked with Kathryn Bigelow and Robert Rodriguez.

References

  1. ↑ Dutka, Elaine (March 8, 1991). "'The Fisher King' Pushed Back for the Oscars". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 "The Fisher King (1991) – financial information". The Numbers .
  3. ↑ Koresky, Michael (June 24, 2015). "Michael's Turn: Michael Jeter in The Fisher King". The Criterion Collection.
  4. 1 2 Schwartz, Niles (15 August 2014). "Retrieving the Grail: Robin Williams and "The Fisher King" | Features | Roger Ebert". RogerEbert.com .
  5. ↑ Fox, David J. (1991-10-29). "Weekend Box Office 'House Party 2' Takes Top Spot". The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  6. ↑ Fox, David J. (1991-10-31). "Terminator 2 About to Hit $200-Million Mark : Movies: While fall releases are in box-office slump, the summer smash climbs to 13th on all-time domestic ticket sales list". The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  7. ↑ "The Fisher King > Overview". AllMovie.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
  8. ↑ Evan Frook, John (June 26, 1992). "Col TriStar tide rising overseas". Daily Variety . p. 1.
  9. ↑ "The Fisher King Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  10. ↑ The Fisher King at Metacritic OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  11. ↑ "Cinemascore". Archived from the original on 2018-12-20.
  12. ↑ Travers, Peter (September 20, 1991). "The Fisher King". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  13. ↑ Simon, John (2005). John Simon on Film: Criticism 1982–2001. Applause Books. p. 308.
  14. ↑ "The 64th Academy Awards (1992) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  15. ↑ "1992 Artios Awards". Casting Society of America . Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  16. ↑ "BSFC Winners: 1990s". Boston Society of Film Critics. July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  17. ↑ "BAFTA Awards: Film in 1992". British Academy Film Awards . Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  18. ↑ "1988-2013 Award Winner Archives". Chicago Film Critics Association. January 1, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  19. ↑ "The Fisher King". Golden Globe Awards . Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Archive – Guldbagge". Guldbagge Awards . Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  21. ↑ "The Annual 17th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards". Los Angeles Film Critics Association . Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Past Saturn Awards". Saturn Awards. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  23. ↑ "TFCA Past Award Winners". Toronto Film Critics Association. May 29, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Awards Winners". Writers Guild of America Awards. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  25. ↑ Hunt, Dennis (January 24, 1992). "Price of Laser Recorders Limits Market : Affordable compact disc units may be just a few years away, but don't expect a budget laser disc machine soon". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  26. 1 2 "The Fisher King - Releases". AllMovie . Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  27. ↑ "The Fisher King". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.