The Fisher King(Movie Review) Essay, Research Paper
Jack, a cynical Manhattan disc jockey plunges into a
suicidal depression when one of his outrageous comments
inspires a crazed listener to shoot seven people in a
fashionable nightspot. Redemption comes in the form of a
derelict, ex-history professor named Parry whose wife was one
of those killed by the sniper. Parry heads a gang of loony
homeless people in the search for what he believes to be the
Holy Grail. Jack helps Parry in his quest and in the process
finds what he had been looking for, too.
Hero?s Journey
The movies main two characters Jack and Parry go
through the hero?s journey of departure, fulfillment, and
return. Parry brought Jack in to his subconscious world of red
knights and midget people, and freewill. The two men departed
in to the real world in search of their identity and to save their
sanity. Parry?s fulfillment was when he was in the hospital
after having been beat up. He went in to a non-responsive
coma of sorrow. Jack, then went and stole the Holy grail that
Parry had continuously asked him to retrieve and brought it to
Parry which helped him concur the dark, pain and sorrow that
lay with in him from the tragic death of his wife. He returned
from his journey a new free spirited man.
Parry?s journey relates a lot to the myth ? The Briar
Roses?. Parry is in a deep sleep and can only be woken when
the Holy Grail is retrieved and given to him. Kind of like how
the sleeping beauty can only be woken from her sleep by a
kiss. While in his deep sleep he is concurring his depressing
and sorrow of the death of his wife. As did the sleeping beauty
mature in to a women.
Jacks journey takes the path of ?Peer Gyant? with the
theme of the lose of ones self. After the shooting, Jack blamed
himself for the shooting and felt responsible for the death of
the seven people. Jack no longer knew who he was, and what
he stood for and that is how Parry helped him. Parry, lets Jack
see the life he lead as a bum. As Peer Gyant was obsessed with
sleeping with all women to full fill the emptiness in side, Jack
kept doing things for Parry such as giving
trying to set him up with a girl he loved, hopping it would cure
his guilt and emptiness in side. After Jack gave the Holy Grail
to Parry he felt a sense of peace and control. Also, as did Peer
gyant leaving behind the girl that loved him, Jack left his
girlfriend Anne, because he needed time to think and sort out
his life. Anne waits for Jack and he eventually realizes how
much he loves and needs her.
Parry was a physical hero when he saved Jack from being
beaten to death by the two punk kids in the ally. But he was
also a psychological hero because he helped Jack to keep his
sanity. He took Jack in to the park at night and taught him to
relax by laying naked and watching the stars.
Jack was a psychological hero because he helped to free
the pain in Parry. He helped to get the girl that Parry had
fallen in love with, to notice and taken interest in Parry. He
stole the holy grail so that Parry would no longer have to face
the red knight who tortured Parry. He also, helped Parry
socially get out of his scared in closed world and become
somewhat human again when he set up Parry with Lydia.
The society being reflected is one of hate and destruction.
There are people killing other people, poverty has risen, and
there is disrespect for the less fortunate. At one point in the
movie Jack met and helped another bum who was a friend of
Parry?s. Later on in the movie when it looks like he has his life
of fame back and he is once again on the radio, he sees this
man in trouble and he turns his back on him like he does not
know who he is. In the beginning of the movie Jack values
money, and fame, and alcohol. Later in the movie he learns to
value friends, relationships, love, and life. He learns to love
gain when he gets back together with Anne, and Parry teaches
him to appreciate friends.
All the issues in the film were resolved. Jack returned to
radio after a time of trying to find out who he was , which he
succeeded in doing with the help of Parry. Parry finally put to
rest his past darkness and sorrow and found someone to
share his life with. I thougth it was a good movie and give it 3
stars.