THE KING OF COMEDY (1982) - Movie Review

Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Diahnne Abbott, Sandra Bernhard
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime
Writer: Paul D. Zimmerman
Runtime: 109 min
Rated: PG
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Oscar® Winner Robert De Niro gives a mesmerizing performance in Martin Scorsese’s timeless, darkly funny satire as Rupert Pupkin, a deranged comedian who will go to any length to gain the spotlight. Teaming with an equally imbalanced woman (Sandra Bernhard), Pupkin kidnaps his idol, jaded TV talk show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). The ransom? Pupkin gets one appearance on Langford’s show.

Review:

Martin Scorsese is probably most well known for his gangster dramas and "Taxi Driver", but I feel "The King of Comedy" is unfairly left out of the conversation when discussing the filmmaker's best and most influential films. The satirical dark comedy was largely ignored in the US, but received a Palme d'Or nomination at Cannes, as well as several BAFTA nominations and a win for Best Original Screenplay. And I say dark comedy, but it's honestly not meant to be funny, so don't go in expecting belly laughs.

Written by film critic Paul D. Zimmerman, the film explores the modern-day obession with celebrity worship and the dysfunctional media culture. It was way ahead of its time and completely misunderstood when it was released. Robert De Niro joins Scorsese in their fifth collaboration and plays the role of Rupert Pupkin, a young comedian wannabe who becomes increasingly obsessed with his idol, popular TV star Jerry Langford, played by real-life comedy icon Jerry Lewis, and begins stalking him in the hopes of getting his chance in the spotlight.

It's an intriguing depiction of a person whose fascination with a celebrity becomes an addictive disorder, and De Niro's manic performance takes us deep inside Pupkin's delusional world. In my humble opinion, it's De Niro's finest role, and he never got the recognition he deserved. The movie is not as showy as Scorsese's other films, taking a more grounded, gritty approach. Filmed entirely on location in New York, it features no quick camera movements or excessive zooms, no flashy imagery, and a lot of cinéma vérité elements. There are also moments that are taking place inside Pupkin's mind which are beautifully staged in a way that makes it clear they're fantasy, without overstating it.

Jerry Lewis essentially plays a fictional version of himself in an against-type performance. Here he's not the hilarious over-the-top comedian we know and love, but a bitter, jaded man who struggles with his celebrity and the damaging effect it has on his personal life. Lewis no doubt channels some of his own experiences and it's a jarring contrast to see him in a straight dramatic role, while De Niro plays the clown.

Another interesting character is Masha, played by actress/comedian/singer Sandra Bernhard. She's a stalker whose obsessive fantasies are even more disturbing, and while Pupkin can at time be sympathetic, she's downright terrifying. Bernhard brings the right kind of intensity to the role, and she can be quite scary.

The plot also involves a kidnapping, which is presented as the main point in every synopsis I've read, but it's actually something that happens near the film's third act. I do understand that the marketing machine needed to give the film a sensationalistic vibe, but it's a lot more than just a kidnapping story. The kidnapping itself and its aftermath lead into a subversive finale that is at once surreal, but also eerily true to life.

"The King of Comedy" eventually proved so influential in cinema that it was used as inspiration for films like "Foxcatcher" and "Joker". I believe the latter actually borrowed heavily from Scorsese's film. Overall, while it may not be everyone's cup of tea, and certainly less popular than "Goodfellas" or "The Departed", it is an overlooked masterpiece that rings even truer today than it did forty years ago.

SCORE: 10/10