The Fisher King (1991) Terry Gilliam   Written by Richard LaGravenese, The Fisher King updates the Grail Legend to 1990's Manhattan. Jeff Bridges plays a washed up radio "shock jock" named Jack Lucas, who becomes involved with a demented homeless man named Parry (Robin Williams). Each, in his own way, is like the afflicted king of legend, yet each is also like the fool who brings about the king's redemption. Only someone of director Terry Gilliam's imagination could have executed LaGravenese's script in such a convincing way. Parry's hallucinations of the sinister Red Knight who continuously pursues him are rendered in a searingly surreal fashion, aided by the photographic wizardry of cinematographer Roger Pratt (Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets). The Oscar-nominated score by George Fenton reconciles the film's splintered realities, blending an urban, Gershwin-like sound with furious choral writing and heroic brass fanfares. Part medieval romance part urban drama, The Fisher King proves that there is still much in the Arthurian myths which is relevant to our time. —Paul Andrew MacLean

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