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People often either forget this movie or say that it's Martin Scorsese's weakest movie. This is not deserved. The movie is difficult, and that is not a bad thing at all. It's about how disgusting people can become. And it's funny if you let it be funny. This film is about Rupert Pupkin, a man who wants to become famous no matter what, and will do anything to anyone to reach his goal. He stalks and kidnaps Jerry Langford, a TV comedy star to ransom him for an appearance on his show. He is a madman and detached from reality, but it's astonishing what he can get away with. Robert De Niro's role is decidedly different than in other films he has been in, but only on the surface. Rupert Pupkin is nerdy and affable, yet on the inside the character is completely repugnant, manipulative, and insane. De Niro doesn't shine alone, however, and his co-stars Sandra Bernhard, who plays a crazed fan-girl named Masha, and Jerry Lewis, who rather bravely takes the self-parodying Langford role. Langford's vulnerability to his own fans is unsettling, as it doesn't seem too far from real-life celebrity stalking. Masha's dialog is similar to thousands of female fans on the internet today. For anyone who is famous, this is the ultimate horror movie.Read full review
For his eighth feature film Martin Scorsese tones down the virtuoso and dazzling filmmaking trickeries of “Raging Bull” for an offbeat satire about the vulnerabilities of celebrity fandom. Underrated and ahead of its time, “The King of Comedy” is a remarkable film and a must-own for anyone’s Scorsese collection. Robert De Niro is unplugged and darkly hilarious as the ludicrously incompetent Rupert Pupkin, an ambitious comedian who worships late-light legend Jerry Langford (a tremendous Jerry Lewis). Living with his unseen mother (played by Scorsese’s real-life mother Catherine), Rupert would do everything and anything in his unhinged mind to arrange a meeting with his idol. While he is not achieving that, he’s talking to celebrity cutouts in his homemade television studio. Once Rupert persuades Rita (a fabulous Diahnne Abbott), a beautiful bartender, that Langford has invited them to his country house, the circumstances are going to take a turn for the worst. Still, Rupert will never take no for an answer. He teams with a madcap fan, Masha (a scene-stealing Sandra Bernhard), for a plan to kidnap Langford and force him to let Rupert perform his routine on the show. “The King of Comedy” is without doubt a change of mood and style for Scorsese and De Niro. Instead of relying on his technical skills to tell a story, Scorsese depends on his actors to give us a surefire movie. De Niro may be portraying a bumbling comic, inside he is still the unstable and psychopathic protagonist as Travis Bickle and Jake La Motta. Okay, maybe his character in “Mean Streets” isn’t that dangerous but you got my point. In his last great performance, Lewis is given the chance to play an older, but sadder comedy legend dealing with the pressures of fame and rabid fans. Although Lewis is considered one of the funniest men in show business, this film is a reminder that he can be a great actor without pulling faces. After watching it again I thought to myself, “How did we go from hard-working talented people like Carson and Lewis to the likes of Jersey Shore and Honey Boo-Boo flooding our airwaves?” We may never know, but “The King of Comedy” gleefully exposes the darker side of show business and how celebrity obsession is still relevant in our modern society today. “Let me show you a picture of my Pride and Joy.”Read full review
Extremely boring movie. Robert Dinero forced to to the same living in fantasy land/over-zealous fan routine over and over for an hour and 45 minutes. The only plot movement occurs in the last 15 minutes. I had to force myself to finish watching this movie. King of Comedy is Martin Scorcese at his worst.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a movie that didn't do that well at the box office, but is a classic and an absolute must have, esp if you like dry humor. The movie is loaded with laff out loud moments and you will want to watch it again and again. Glad I finally got this one!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Well written script and intense interpretations from highly qualified actors
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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