From the Collection: The Fisher King

Terry Gilliam’s Oscar-winning film The Fisher King has been given a 4k rerelease through the folks over at the Criterion Collection.

A fairy tale grounded in poignant reality, Terry Gilliam’s Manhattan-set The Fisher King features Jeff Bridges and Robin Williams in two of their greatest roles. Bridges plays a former radio shock jock reconstructing his life after a scandal, and Williams a homeless man on a quest for the Holy Grail—which he believes to be hidden somewhere on the Upper East Side. Unknowingly linked by their pasts, the two men aid each other on a fanciful journey toward their own humanity. This singular American odyssey features a witty script by Richard LaGravenese, evocative cinematography by Roger Pratt, and superb supporting performances by Amanda Plummer and an Oscar-winning Mercedes Ruehl, all harnessed by Gilliam into a compassionate, funny modern-day myth.

Here’s what the disc includes:

• New 4K digital restoration, approved by director Terry Gilliam, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Audio commentary featuring Gilliam
• Interviews with Gilliam, producer Lynda Obst, screenwriter Richard LaGravenese, and actors Jeff Bridges, Amanda Plummer, and Mercedes Ruehl
• Interviews with artists Keith Greco and Vincent Jefferds on the creation of the film’s Red Knight
• Interview from 2006 with actor Robin Williams
• Video essay featuring Bridges’s on-set photographs
• Footage from 1991 of Bridges training as a radio personality with acting coach Stephen W. Bridgewater
• Deleted scenes, with audio commentary by Gilliam
• Costume tests
• Trailers
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by critic Bilge Ebiri

Terry Gilliam is a hit-and-miss director for me. Some of his films I absolutely adore and some I find too confusing or just not very good. The Fisher King is an example of the former and easily one of Gilliam’s best directorial efforts. This is a wild and beautiful tale about love, friendship, and finding meaning in your life. Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges are tremendous and Mercedes Ruehl earned every bit of her Best Supporting Actress Oscar. For being Gilliam’s first film set in contemporary times, he was still able to take us on a magical, wonderous journey through the streets and alleys of New York City. New York has never looked like this in a film. Gilliam fills the city with vibrant and lavish sets while also showing us an aspect of New York we usually forget about. The Fisher King is a film full of color, personality, life, and love.

The 4k restoration is gorgeous and crisp. The discs are loaded with insightful interviews and other great material. The essay by Bilge Ebiri, one of the great writers of film working today, is a great read and the inside booklet actually unfolds into a really cool poster.

You can find The Fisher King on the Criterion Collection website or anywhere where they sell Criterion DVDs.

From the Collection is an analysis piece of non-new-release movies, whether seen on DVD, streaming, or in a theater, and includes a brief history of the film, a review of the film, and content about the experience of seeing the film and/or the contents of the film’s DVD.

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