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The Fisher King - ‘91
Posted on 3/26/26 at 7:47 am
Posted on 3/26/26 at 7:47 am
Finally got around to knocking this one out lol. It’s on Criterion.
Unwieldy narrative. Back third takes forever! Affectedly quirky (Terry Gilliam), and not in a pleasing way. I preferred his work w 12 Monkeys 5 years later.
Great ensemble cast. Michael Jeter is a revelation. Still, too much of a Robin Williams showcase. Bridges somewhat balances out, but didn’t love the approach. Felt like Allen Iverson w the 76ers. Also, waayy too much Amanda Plummer. She’s fine, but the wayward love story is pretty rough. Incidentally, script was penned by a young Richard Lagravanese.
Mercedes Ruehl very on-point in a supporting role. She is excellent here.
Some interesting elements, but overall uneven and objectively kind of a mess. Clearly, Gilliam infatuated w Cervantes’ Don Quixote, so some derivative elements here.
I do appreciate the usage of Snap’s The Power repeatedly. That song also showed up in Hudson Hawk the same year.
Unwieldy narrative. Back third takes forever! Affectedly quirky (Terry Gilliam), and not in a pleasing way. I preferred his work w 12 Monkeys 5 years later.
Great ensemble cast. Michael Jeter is a revelation. Still, too much of a Robin Williams showcase. Bridges somewhat balances out, but didn’t love the approach. Felt like Allen Iverson w the 76ers. Also, waayy too much Amanda Plummer. She’s fine, but the wayward love story is pretty rough. Incidentally, script was penned by a young Richard Lagravanese.
Mercedes Ruehl very on-point in a supporting role. She is excellent here.
Some interesting elements, but overall uneven and objectively kind of a mess. Clearly, Gilliam infatuated w Cervantes’ Don Quixote, so some derivative elements here.
I do appreciate the usage of Snap’s The Power repeatedly. That song also showed up in Hudson Hawk the same year.
This post was edited on 3/26/26 at 7:51 am
5
Posted on 3/26/26 at 8:49 am to Raoul Stimulato
quote:The movie is actually a reference to The Fisher King from Arthurian legend. It's about someone who finds divine grace as a means of mending his destroyed life and lands, symbolized by sexual impotence brought on by injury.
Clearly, Gilliam infatuated w Cervantes’ Don Quixote
Jeff Bridges is basically a Percival figure who is desperately trying to find a way to heal the King and redeem himself in the process. The love angle with Amanda Plummer is thematically essential to the story.
I think it's a fantastic film but I'm a sucker for all things Gilliam.
Posted on 3/26/26 at 8:54 am to Raoul Stimulato
Posted on 3/26/26 at 9:21 am to Raoul Stimulato
I had to watch it for a contemporary novel class in HS and it was a slog then.
It just doesn’t have the feel of other Gilliam works like Time Bandits, Brazil, or Twelve Monkeys, which came out before or after it.
And yes Michael Jeter was good. It was something he could sink his teeth into rather than being Mr Noodle on Sesame Street to pay the bills.
It just doesn’t have the feel of other Gilliam works like Time Bandits, Brazil, or Twelve Monkeys, which came out before or after it.
And yes Michael Jeter was good. It was something he could sink his teeth into rather than being Mr Noodle on Sesame Street to pay the bills.
Posted on 3/26/26 at 9:25 am to blueboy
quote:
The movie is actually a reference to The Fisher King from Arthurian legend. It's about someone who finds divine grace as a means of mending his destroyed life and lands, symbolized by sexual impotence brought on by injury.
Hence why my contemporary novel class had to watch the film. The Arthurian legend combined with a number of literary devices such as “red knighting” made it something good as a classroom exercise even if it wasn’t fun to watch.
If that class were held today, I bet the Rick and Morty episode on the story train would be used as an example for similar reasons since Dan Harmon is a big believer in the Joseph Campbell “hero’s journey” story circle.
Posted on 3/26/26 at 1:57 pm to blueboy
For sure, I respect that. People seem to really like it.
Posted on 3/26/26 at 2:53 pm to Raoul Stimulato
IMHO this is a GREAT movie. Funny, dramatic, emotional, and all four leads are superb. Add in the Terry Gilliam touch and it's a winner.
Posted on 3/26/26 at 7:20 pm to blueboy
I thought that Jeff Bridges was great in this, as well as a host of supporting actors. And for people saying that this was not a typical T. Gilliam movie, I think the exact opposite is true. This is the quintessential T. Gilliam movie, at the height of his powers with a big budget and unrestrained by the studios.
Posted on 3/26/26 at 8:26 pm to nealnan8
I did like the shock dj character.
Howard Stern. Also, evoked Eric Bogosian from Oliver Stone’s Talk Radio
Howard Stern. Also, evoked Eric Bogosian from Oliver Stone’s Talk Radio
Posted on 3/26/26 at 9:53 pm to Raoul Stimulato
It's worth noting that Jeff Bridges had cool-arse hair in this one.
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