Review: The Fisher King

The quest for the Holy Grail has been depicted on screen in many instances. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Excalibur, and Terry Gilliam’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail have all dealt with the hunt for Jesus’ drinking cup—the symbol of God’s divine grace. The Fisher King, yet another film from director Terry Gilliam, is a quaint and unique tale about how humanity and salvation can come from the most unlikely of sources. Underneath The Fisher King’s quirky artistry, its redemptive aspects, and its Christian symbolism, the film combines to make an eccentrically enjoyable motion picture.

Jack Lukas (Jeff Bridges) is one of those rude, shock disc jockeys that insults and belittles every caller and listener and still somehow sees his ratings climb. With his radio show being a success and with television offers streaming in, Jack’s career looks to be on the upswing. Subsequently, just after signing on to no longer be just a voice, but now also a face, Jack’s quest for stardom takes an unexpected dive. Apparently, one of the radio station’s troubled, frequent callers took Jack’s comments a little too seriously, and went on a shotgun shooting rampage inside a stylish, high-class restaurant—killing seven before turning the gun on himself. Now, with Jack Lukas at fault in the media’s eyes, his future in show business doesn’t look too promising.

Fast forward three years later, and we find the once self-centered deejay to be drunken and distraught. After placing the blame of the seven deaths on his own conscience, Jack thinks of himself as one of the lowlifes—one of “the bungled and botched.” He resorts to drinking his worries away, wandering alone on the streets at night, and even attempting suicide. However, just before Jack is beaten to death, he is saved by Parry (Robin Williams), a homeless man who thinks he is a knight in search of the Holy Grail. Parry is your stereotypical, crazy bum; he mumbles to tiny, fat, floating fairies; he runs from visions of Red Knights, and he thinks that the Holy Grail is sitting on a bookshelf in a Fifth Avenue mansion. Parry also believes Jack to be “The One” – the chosen one from God to retrieve the Holy Grail – and even though he may not be “The One”, there may be some sense behind Parry’s lunacy.

Once Jack discovers that Parry, the homeless mess, was formerly Henry Sagan, the college professor and husband to a lovely woman who was suddenly shot to death by – you guessed it – a crazed and troubled listener of "The Jack Lukas Show," and Jack feels that he owes Parry more than a helping hand. In the process, Jack not only hopes to help Parry, but he also hopes to find his own Grail and rid himself of his lasting guilt.

Article Author: Brandon Valentine

Brandon Valentine is a film critic from Hershey, PA. Aside from possessing the last name “Valentine” and living in “the Sweetest Place on Earth,” Brandon was also born on Valentine’s Day. That’s right, a Valentine born on Valentine’s Day. …

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