Reviewed by Nostra from My Film Views
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 Scorsese. 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 Scorsese 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.
Scorsese 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 Scorsese’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.
Thanks again for this Nostra. Such a good movie, and glad you rate it so highly. Dark movie this one, in a really good way 🙂
Happy to join in Tyson!
I’ve never seen this movie either, but now my curiosity is piqued. Man, this blogathon has been an enlightening experience.
Put this one at the top of your to-see list, Smash. It’s top-notch.
Have to completely agree with Gary, check it out as soon as you can.
I have honestly never heard of this movie. How did I miss that a Scorcese-De Niro collaboration exists? I’ll never know.
I do know I need to check it out at some point. 😉
Make it sooner than later, James. It’s worth it. 🙂
It took me a while to find out as well, hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Here’s to hoping. 😉
Classic movie, and Rupert Pupkin is surely one of the best names in film history.
Not a name you will forget quickly 🙂
Good look at this one Nostra. It’s another that’s been too long since I’ve seen it. I’ll need to revisit this one. I remember really enjoying it. As you mention, it was unexpected but that’s what I liked about it.
Thanks so much Mark, great movie revisiting and I am sure I will do so in the future.
I’ve never seen this one either! Will most definitely have to check it out now. Nicely done.
Thank you V!
Nice review. I watched this years and years ago and I think I was a little too young for a lot of its more complex themes regarding celebrity and obsession to quite land. Will have to dust off the DVD and check it out again!
Thanks Dave! It surely is worth rewatching!
I think this may be De Niro’s greatest performance. Just perfection all across the board. He was so creepy, but somehow endearing at the same time. You have to be one heck of an actor to pull off a character like that. De Niro is one of the greatest actors of cinema, but he so frequently plays aggressive and volatile characters that at times many of his performances become redundant – but Rubert Pupkin requires a more gentle approach while simultaneously tinkering on the edge of insanity, and this gives De Niro a chance to show more range. This is definitely my favorite De Niro performance, and probably my favorite De Niro film after “Cape Fear”. Scorsese & De Niro are quite a tandem.
Your favourite DeNiro film is Cape Fear Gary? That’s quite a backing. Many people didn’t take to Scorsese and DeNiro’s Cape Fear but I was also a big fan. DeNiro’s Max Cady is one of my favourite performances of his and even then, some criticised him for being too over the top. Bah! What do they know anyway? … 😉
I do think De Niro’s Max Cady was a bit over-the-top, but not too much to be distracting; actually if you think about it, De Niro’s performance was only over-the-top in the first act when he was stalking Sam around the city, and he was being over-the-top intentionally. But once Cady was settled down into the story, you saw how freaky and disturbing this guy really was.
But regardless whether or not one thinks De Niro’s performance was a bit over-the-top, the suspense of “Cape Fear” was immense; you never knew where Cady was going to pop-up next. It was relentless, gritty, and never shied away from making the audience uncomfortable, which is a rare task for mainstream American films.
I don’t see how anyone who likes a good thriller didn’t love this movie. It’s not only my favorite De Niro film, but one of my favorite films of all-time.
That scene always sticks in my mind where he went to the airport and asked the clerk what flight Sam was on, and she wasn’t allowed to tell him, but then he earned her sympathy when he told her he was just in an accident and probably going to lose his home. lol. He was so convincing and empathetic. And people think De Niro was over-the-top in that role; maybe they need to watch that scene again.
Well said! Let’s not forget that southern accent of his that just rings in your ears. I can still hear it as I type this…
“I don’t hate him at all.”
Another line that stuck with me. One that was partially hilarious, but disturbing at the same time.
“…in fact, I pray for him”.
LOL
It was way ahead of its time this movie. It has never been more relevant than in today’s modern obsession with celebrity.
Worth the rating!
Fine point Dirk! Fine point!
Yeah, it is a movie that really is still very relevant as the obsession has grown to a much bigger scale.
Solid review. One of Scorsese’s finest films and it’s grown really relevant in today’s world.
Thank you, have to agree it is one of Scorcese’s best and a movie not enough people have seen.
De Niro’s performance is great. But what makes the whole movie work is Jerry Lewis’ performance. Without Lewis’ saneness DeNiro’s insanity would not be as powerful as it is. A great movie.
Yeah, I should have said something about his performance as well, he plays the role straight and believable and makes De Niro’s performance the more convincing.
I have never even heard of this one. It sounds really interesting.
It really is Abbi, hope you will enjoy it.
I remember being blown away with how dark this movie goes; it’s one of De Niro’s finest hours and as memorable a deluded sociopath as Travis Bickle. Very strong work here Nostra.
Thank you!
I avoided this for years because I knew what it was about, but finally saw it and glad I did. Not what it sounds like (obviously) but really good actting. And a great script!
You avoided it? I can imagine it…I did that for other movies but when you finally watch them they usually turn out differently from what you expected.
Nice review. 🙂 Been a long time since I’ve seen this but I remember it being a pleasant surprise.
One of my all time favourite movies, acting and directing is so great here.