With a title like The King of Comedy I had some expectations about this movie. The biggest one was that this was a comedy movie starring Robert de Niro which was directed by Martin Scorcese. With my lack of investigation about a movie before seeing it (which basically comes down to looking a poster and an IMDB score) it turned out that my assumption was incorrect. It’s more Taxi Driver than Taxi.
With this movie Scorcese looks at the obsession of becoming a celebrity. Rubert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) has a big dream of making it. He’s a grown man, but still lives at home with his mother. He has transformed the basement in his personal TV show and has a plan to get his 15 minutes of fame. That plan turns out to be a unique one.
I have seen Robert de Niro in a lot of movies, but his role here has to be one of his best. Initially he comes across as a very sympathetic character, but as the movie progresses he turns out to be an obsessed man who only has one goal in mind and because of that has lost all sense of reality and no longer understands rejection. He sells himself as a great comedian, but you as a viewer you don’t get to see him perform, which makes you wonder. Scorcese seems to know this and in a very memorable scene your curiosity and patience are rewarded. This movie isn’t mentioned a lot when it comes to Scorcese’s best work, but it ranks high on my list. King of Comedy might not offer what has been advertised on the package, but in this case that isn’t a bad thing at all.
Excellent review my friend of one of Scorsese/De Niro’s most underrated collaborations.
Thanks! It was a very pleasant surprise watching it.
This is one of my favorite Scorceses films. It’s also a very disturbing film. The opening credit scene when Jerry Lewis is in the limo and Sandra Bernheart’s hand is on the window and then the action freezes while the credits role. The scene sets up the rest of the film perfectly. The hand is frozen there, leaving you on edge and focused on it.
Like you I originally saw this film unaware of its story, and the experience was better for it.
Good review.
Yeah, I loved that moment!
Definitely best to watch this without knowing much about its story.
A sadly little known though surprising gem. With some of De Niro’s best, multi layered work. Treading the narrow line of sad desperation and creepiness with a master’s touch.
Right up there with Hofffman and ‘Midnight Cowboy’. For displaying the actor’s ability to get an audience to empathize with a far less than charming character.
Yeah, this should be getting more praise indeed, agree with you!
Nice review. This is one of Martin Scorsese’s best movies in my opinion and I would put it in his top 5. Like you said it’s very much like Taxi Driver. I saw a rerelease of the film recently and got to see Scorsese, De Niro, and Lewis all together.
I think I would do that as well, really liked it!
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Although this opinion goes against the grain, The King of Comedy and After Hours are my two favorite Scorsese movies. I think De Niro’s performance in this is exceptional..beating some of his more well known turns in the likes of Casino, Goodfellas etc.
I will have to rewatch After Hours since I don’t remember much of that movie…
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