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 him money and

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.