The Fisher King

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, Mercedes Ruehl, David Hyde Pierce, Harry Shearer, Amanda Plummer, Michael Jeter
Directed by: Terry Gilliam
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
1991

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A radio DJ (Jeff Bridges) succeeds because of his shock jock rhetoric, but sees his life and career crumble when a man inspired by his actions commits a mass killing. Later, he meets a mentally ill homeless man (Robin Williams) who unexpectedly changes the course of his life.

Review:
Tim: I've always struggled a bit with director Terry Gilliam. His films are fantasies, whimsical, defy expectations. Yet, they often feel like they fail to live up to their potential. This isn't always the case- Brazil is excellent and Monty Python and the Holy Grail is iconic. However, a lot of his other films miss the mark. That being said, The Fisher King is a success, a good movie. I have to admit, I likely enjoyed this movie less than most. I struggled a bit with my own rating- is it a "good" movie, or "really, really good"? (.5 might not seem like much, but I occasionally agonize over these choices). It's sometimes hard to rate movies.

Regardless of that struggle, this film is a success and it should be celebrated. It's... a very Terry Gilliam movie. It presents a story very unlike most movies. It's quirky, dark, odd, challenging to the audience. It's a film that feels like it never quite plays by the rules. It feels unique. These are all absolute strengths. However, I also feel like the movie overstays its welcome a bit. There's certainly zero reason for this film to clock in at 2 hours and 17 minutes! That's too long for this film. Gilliam allows a bit too much bloat into his movie. There's character development aplenty, but there's too many scenes that could have been focused and tightened. The narrative isn't always as strong as it needed to be. It'll meander and simmer, and then, a bit too late, Gilliam grabs it all together and moves things forward. This doesn't just happen once or twice, but multiple times throughout the film. I think it ultimately sinks the movie a bit below where it otherwise should have been. That's really where most of my complaints come in.

The cast, on the other hand, is fantastic. Gilliam spends the lengthy time of the film giving his actors the opportunity to deliver absolutely impressive, memorable performances. The cast is wonderful. It starts with Jeff Bridges, giving the kind of performance that feels beyond what you'd expect from him, despite his track record of delivering strong performances. He's a broken, struggling, lost man. To see the initial bravado at the beginning of the film, being on top of the world, to the fallen, complicated man throughout most of the film. It's a fantastic performance, even if it didn't garner as much acclaim as others. One of those others is Robin Williams, delivering a supporting performance the likes of which no one but him could have ever delivered. His performance is manic, over-the-top, yet grounded. It's hilarious and sad, off-the-wall and full of fear. Williams was a great actor and that talent is on display here. He works exceeding well opposite Bridges. They make a terrific duo. Williams was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Lead Actor. While I would have thought he'd be Supporting, this is still a well-deserved nomination.

Mercedes Ruehl might be overshadowed some by the two men giving such great performances at the top of the billing. However, it would be a mistake to overlook her supporting performance. Ruehl is mesmerizing in this film. It feels like she dug down deep inside her to capture something authentic and true that so many women have felt in their lives. She might be pushed into the shadows, but she exists in her own right. She's "supporting", but delivers a leading-quality performance. I felt so badly for her character. She's not given enough credit, love, or respect, which she absolutely deserves. It's a subtly tragic performance that is impossible to shake off. Ruehl seems so effortless in her portrayal of this character. She shows so many different sides to her- it's not just a depressing performance, it's one occasionally filled with hope, with laughter. Ruehl was award the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for this terrific performance.

Outside of the main cast, Amanda Plummer is absolutely memorable in her unhinged performance. She was perfectly chosen to bring this character to life. Michael Jeter is fantastic in an unbounded, free performance that truly sticks with you. I also enjoyed seeing David Hyde Pierce, although his role is limited.

Say what you want about Gilliam, but he allows his cast to give universally excellent performances. The story itself has real depth to it. Gilliam works hard to balance the dramatic, the comedic, and the fantastic. This is indeed a fantasy, a story that embraces that thin line between sanity and madness. It shows us how sanity can sometimes be madness, and at times, the only way to save your life is to lose your head. I'm not sure Gilliam quite lands the plane with all of this- the movie isn't quite able to deliver that knockout punch that makes you sit on the edge of your seat and take notice. It could have been achieved with better editing. That being said, it should be noted that the film won 1 Academy Award (Ruehl's) and was nominated for Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay (truly deserved), Best Art Direction-Set Direction, and Best Original Score.

Taking this all in, I admit I still have my doubts about my rating. I recognize I could change it, but acclaim doesn't equal quality (in all cases). I think this is a good movie. It's memorable for those who have seen it. But, it's not quite as effective as it could have been. Gilliam needs to either show restraint, or go all in, all out. He doesn't quite do either here. So, The Fisher King is a good movie. It's worth seeing, it's memorable. However, the flaws felt too visible to me.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Patch Adams, Starman