The Fisher King (1991)
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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