The Fisher King

It was filmed by Terry Gilliam, so brace yourself for a not-so-typical way of storytelling. Sometimes, it feels more like a fantasy than the New York’s very bottom. But it still stays so realistic that my eyes were glued to the screen for those two hours, even despite the fact that in the beginning, I was thinking to myself: if it goes on like this, it’s barely worth two stars. But after a while, I got used to the storytelling style, I started to outright enjoy the story and I loved every single minute. Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams’ acting performances were so amazing that the movie wouldn’t be even half as good without them. (2014-08-15)

A hidden pearl overflowing with Gilliam’s playfulness and care. A nice story about friendship, love and hope, spiced with paranoia and human suffering. Williams is precisely cast and Jeff Bridges performs the role of a laid-back, cool guy who fell into a pile of manure, lost the reason to live and is trying to pull himself together. The line between the fairytale, fantasy world and reality is extremely thin again. Gilliam on best form. (2012-05-22)

Forgive me Terry for having ignored this gem of yours for so long. All the actors deserve praise, both in the main and the secondary roles, and the direction is Gilliam’s typical fantasy stylisation (it’s not as insane as Brazil, but there are a couple of scenes going in that direction). That said, I have one serious problem with Fisher King: in the last half hour I think the film loses some of its quality; it should have ended with the phone call, when Jack finds out what happened after that unforgettable dinner. That would have completely changed the tone, yes, but I would have been a lot more satisfied. I respect that the creators preferred the conclusion they resorted to, but the unpleasant aftertaste of disappointment is still there. (2009-09-01)

A wonderful story in a somewhat "different" :))) but at the same time sympathetic, strangely playful, and above all confident show by Terry Gilliam. Under the baton of any other director, The Fisher King would have followed the established traditions of drama combined with romantic elements, but in Gilliam's rendition it is a very original affair, though quite strange for some. And Robin Williams is absolutely amazing. (2010-09-27)

The inventive direction, a good script, and the Gilliam’s typical visuals clearly stand out. The camera is strikingly colorful, the sets are diverse, and there are plenty of visual and content tricks. However, the overall content didn't impress me as much. It was overly chaotic and too “out there” for my taste, making it difficult for me to enjoy or have the desire to rewatch the film. (2005-05-28)