The Fisher King

Terry Gilliam, the ex-Monty Python comic genius whose last two films--Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen-- were extraordinary visual extravaganzas, opts for a somewhat smaller scale in this bizarre buddy movie. Jeff Bridges stars as Jack Lucas, a disc jockey whose life takes a serious plunge after a late night caller he brushes off goes out and massacres everyone in a yuppie bar. A few years later, Jack is barely eking by as the part-time employee/lover at a video store run by a feisty no-illusions woman (Mercedes Ruehl). On the verge of suicide, Jack meets Parry (Robin Williams), a former professor-turned-street visionary whose wife was killed in the yuppie bar slaughter. Parry is obsessed with delusions that he is being chased by the evil Red Knight and that he must recover the lost Holy Grail. While Jack has more than reasonable doubts concerning Parry's mission, he aids Parry in the hopes that in curing him, Jack might find his own redemption. It's a marvelous premise which works quite well--up until the last half-hour when, as far as I'm concerned, a totally non-Gilliam-like happy ending is tacked on. Nevertheless, Williams (who garnered an Oscar nomination) is a joy to watch. Other nominations went to Ruehl for Supporting Actress and Richard LaGravenese's original screenplay. Recommended. (R. Pitman) [Blu-ray/DVD Review—June 16, 2015—Criterion, 138 min., R, DVD: 2 discs, $29.95; Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and first on Blu-ray, 1991's The Fisher King features a fine transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras include audio commentary with director Terry Gilliam, deleted scenes with commentary by Gilliam (13 min.), 'The Tale of The Fisher King' featurettes (60 min. total), the production segments 'The Tale of the Red Knight' (23 min.), 'Jeff and Jack' (20 min.), 'Robin's Tale' (20 min.), and 'Jeff's Tale' (12 min.), and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Bilge Ebiri. Bottom line: Gilliam's contemporary fantasy makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]