No Robin Williams film better captures what he was and what he could do

There always seemed to be two sides Robin Williamsat least when it came to the type of characters he played. There was the manic, crazy, energetic version who could launch into an impersonation at any moment, and the shy, sensitive introvert whose eyes betrayed deep loneliness and pain. Although he deviated from these two roles from time to time, Williams tended to stick to one or the other in his film roles. However, there was at least one film that gave him the opportunity to showcase the full range of his unique talents: The Fisher King.

What is “The Fisher King” about?

Jeff Bridges stars Jack Lucas, a New York shock jock whose life is thrown into disarray when an unstable caller commits a mass shooting based on an offhand comment. Lives with his girlfriend Anne (Mercedes Rühl), above the video store she runs, he goes to a party one evening and is attacked by two teenagers who mistake him for a homeless person. His life is saved by Parry (Williams). a delusional homeless man who believes he is a knight on the mythical quest for the Holy Grail. Jack discovers that Parry is actually Henry Sagan, a former college professor who had a psychotic break when his wife was killed by the same caller he accidentally provoked. He tries to make amends by helping Parry win Lydia's heart (Amanda Plummer), a shy introvert with whom he fell in love. Things seem to be going well until Parry sees the Red Knight, an imaginary enemy whose presence caused him to fall into a coma. Jack awakens Parry by finding the Grail hidden in a billionaire's mansion on the Upper East Side.

The Fisher King was led by Terry Gilliama Monty Python alum who launched his solo directing career with the eccentric Dark Ages comedy Jabberwocky. It was a change for the filmmaker who was known for creating highly imaginative worlds at great expense in films like… Time bandits, Brazil, And The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Still, contemporary New York City is portrayed with as much creativity as the science fiction and fantasy settings of his previous films. Gilliam has never been known for his subtlety (his penchant for exaggeration and bombast grew from his past as a comedian and cartoonist), and Williams fits his gonzo style perfectly. But what is the most surprising thing about it? The Fisher King is how much humanity there is in its fantastical elements, and that's where Williams really shines. In many ways The role of Parry revealed the anger and sadness that always lurked beneath the laughter that made him famous.

Parry's flights of fancy are fueled by trauma

When we first meet Parry, he is living out his fantasies of being a brave knight wearing makeshift armor and wielding a sword and shield found in the trash. He saves Jack and takes him to his basement houseand tells him stories about the Red Knight, imaginary flying fat fairies and his search for the Grail. Parry is obviously delusional, but in a way it's fun and somehow charming. As he drags his new companion around New York City, Jack grows fond of him and even tries to help him get back on his feet. In these scenes, Williams is given the opportunity to riff in a manner reminiscent of his performances in Ms. Doubtfire And Aladdin. Parry screams, makes funny voices, and takes improvisational flights of fancy that make it seem like he's doing a stand-up routine rather than interacting with another person.

But as Parry tries to rejoin society, his antics subside and Williams shows the calmer side that is seen in him Society of Dead Poets and his Oscar-winning work in Hunting for good will. When he's around Lydia, Parry is sweet, sensitive and honest, willing to open up for the first time since his wife's death. It becomes clear that his cockiness is not necessarily a result of his mental illness, but rather a means of avoiding confrontation with his trauma. This becomes clear when the Red Knight shows up after his first date with Lydia and remembers the night his life fell apart. The Red Knight is a metaphorical representation of Parry's grief, which becomes reality in his mind and is intended to prevent him from healing.

“The Fisher King” was the best thing Robin Williams could have done

After a successful stand-up career, Williams found fame as a television star, playing an eccentric alien on the sitcom Mork & Mindy (a spin-off from Happy daysin which he made his first memorable appearance as a character). This role cemented his comedic personality, and in his subsequent film career he tried to break out of this mold. Each film showcased a different facet of his talent: his first leading role in Popeye demonstrated his ability to create broad comedic caricatures; Good morning, Vietnam proved he could bring his hyperactive, improvisational humor to dramatic roles; awakening showed that he was just as good at being sad as he was at being happy; In The birdcage, he brought compassion and empathy to what could easily have been a common stereotype; and in both insomnia And One hour photohe transformed his friendly personality into something much more sinister.

What is extraordinary about it? The Fisher Kingfor which Williams received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, is that it somehow combines all facets of his talents into one role. Parry is both a broad cartoonist and a deeply empathetic, fully realized human being: he loves moments of comedic invention and moments of deep depression; He is angry and sad about the loss of his wife, but also full of hope and wonder. A role demanding so much could have easily collapsed in the hands of a weaker actor. In Williams' hands, it became career-defining.

The Fisher King is available to watch on Prime Video in the US

Watch on Prime Video