The King of Comedy
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Movie Reviews of The King of Comedy
Movie Review: It's The Rupert Pupkin Show!
Summary: 5 Stars
Chances are that if Robert De Niro is in a movie, it's going to be good. (Especially the old classics.) This one is no exception and I can't believe it has taken me this long to finally see this amazing comedy. Finally out on DVD, "The King of Comedy" is a terrific film on all fronts.Directed by Martin Scorsese, "The King of Comedy" is about a man named Rupert Pupkin (De Niro); a man with dreams of stand-up comedy success and superstardom on his mind. He doesn't spend too much time in the real world; his made-up world is far more enjoyable to him. There is hardly a moment in where he isn't daydreaming some. Rupert knows that the one man who can make his dreams come true is talk-show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). Unfortunately, Langford wants absolutely nothing to do with Pupkin and sees him only as another star-crazed and psychotic fan. So, Rupert decides to do the next best thing that will guarantee him a spot on Jerry's show; he kidnaps him. Everything else just goes straight to hell after that with unpredictable twists and turns.
This was a very funny and well-done movie that should've gotten more recognition when it was first out. Although it may have never gotten the attention it deserved while in theatres, I feel it is more popular now than ever before. I've always heard people quote the movie but never knew of which movie they were talking about. Robert De Niro is amazing as ever and really has fun with his role. Jerry Lewis is also incredible as the bitter talk show host who just wants to be left alone by everybody. Sandra Bernhard also deserves mention because I thought she was hilarious in this as well.
I still can't believe this is a Martin Scorsese film. I know all the familiar camera angels and techniques are there, but this is so different from anything else he has ever done. He proves that his movies don't have to be violent and have to be full of profanities to be enjoyable. He captures the absurdity and outrageousness perfectly. Scorsese isn't just a terrific film maker, he is a unique storyteller as well.
The DVD is quite good as well. Not the best, but has some very neat features to it. I thought the transfer was really good, being that it is such an old movie. I thought the picture looked great, although it did have its moments where it could've looked better. However, the overall presentation was very impressive. There are a few special features such as a making-of-featurette, still gallery, and a theatrical trailer and TV spot. I wished there would've been more extras, but I was still satisfied for the most part.
"The King of Comedy" is a wildly entertaining film that had me laughing from start to finish. With a creative story and terrific acting, this is an amazing film that should be seen by all. A true Scorsese classic gem that I will never get tired of.
Movie Review: DVD transfer is terrible and there aren't many special features, but I can't bring myself to give this film less than 5 stars.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a marvelous film from Martin Scorsese. If it weren't such a classic, I would have docked a star off of my rating for the quality of the DVD. I was disappointed in the quality of the picture and sound on the DVD release. I usually don't mind if the print is a little dated, but "The King Of Comedy" needs to be remastered b/c the transfer here is just awful. Blurry (and yes, it's supposed to look like a blurry broadcast at times, but not ALL the time) and VERY GRAINY. And it's a shame too, because this is a fantastic film. There are 2 deleted scenes, both Jerry Lewis scenes, with the most valuable being a deleted monologue from Lewis. Other than that, there's an 18 minute "making-of" documentary which is ok, but doesn't delve into De Niro, the actor, as much as I'd hoped. That's all we've got here. However, I would still encourage anyone considering it to buy this item. I don't think you'll regret it if you have an appreciation for subtle and mature humor.
"Better to be king for a night than a schmuck for life." - - Rupert Pupkin is a wannabe comedian played magnificently by Robert De Niro in this often overlooked Martin Scorsese classic. If you are expecting the style of humor you would get in a modern classic like "Dumb and Dumber" then you should look elsewhere. There are some very funny laugh-out-loud moments in this picture, but much of the comedy is black and subtle. As almost any review of this film states, De Niro's character (Pupkin) is similar to the character he played in "Taxi Driver", Travis Bickle. Both characters are isolated and shunned by the world. Both characters are embarrassingly inept at achieving their goals. The 2 characters are both loners that are simply trying to get some sense of satisfaction in an otherwise distasteful life. In "The King Of Comedy" however, we aren't frequently presented with drama, and when we are, it's hilarious. So this is for people who enjoy a black comedy and subtle humor (maybe in other words, clean and mature adult humor). And if you love Scorsese and De Niro like I do, this was the film that they made together following "Raging Bull" and proceeding "Goodfellas" so this is right in Scorsese and De Niro's hay-day. Jerry Lewis notably stars in a supporting role and is fantastic as well. Even Sandra Bernhard is tolerable in this film. That's all thanks to Marty though. A classic. 5 stars.
Movie Review: One of Scorsese and DeNiro's Great Collaborations
Summary: 5 Stars
This film has something of a checkered history. It was originally filmed in 1981, but in the wake of the assassination of John Lennon and the attempts on Ronald Reagan and the Pope the release of the film was delayed until the spring of 1983. Despite generally rave reviews from the critics, the film died a quick death at the box office. This film is not so much a comedy but a commentary on our obsession with celebrity. Robert DeNiro plays Rupert Pupkin, a no-talent wannabe who wants to obtain fame without having to work for it. The vehicle, in his mind, to fame is through Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis), host of the nation's top talk show. Rupert badgers Langford at his office and even has the audacity to show up unannounced at his home. Unable to accept no for an answer, Rupert along with his equally obsessed cohort, Masha, (Sandra Bernhard)take the radical step of kidnapping Langford. My theory as to why this film failed at the box office is it contained too many truths about ourselves and our celebrity-obsessed culture. DeNiro plays a sociopath that in some degree is just as bad as Travis Bickle from "Taxi Driver". It goes without saying that DeNiro is at the top his game in the role. Not to be dismissed is Jerry Lewis' performance here as a man who carries the weight of celebrity very heavily. There are two scenes, I thought, where Lewis was partcularly good. One, a scene where he is alone in his apartment in the city after fending off fans. He doesn't say a word but the look on his face says alot. Secondly, the scene in which he confronts Rupert at his home in the country. The rage is so palpable that you get the feeling that Lewis may have faced this situation in real life many times before. On a note of trivia one of the production assistants to Jerry's show is played by one-time Charlie's Angel Shelley Hack. And look closely for members of the rock group, the Clash, in an unspoken cameo. Also, Robbie Robertson has assembled a good musical soundtrack for this film. Most effective is the use of Ray Charles', "Come Rain or Come Shine" over the film's opening credits.Movie Review: A slice of american realism
Summary: 5 Stars
Martin Scorsese is one of the best film directors today. Robert Deniro has teamed up with Scorsese in over 5 movies: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Casino, and more. Scorsese's films are primarily realistic, meaning that the stories that he works on are reflections of some real social issues. Take Taxi Driver, where Travis Bickle played by Robert Deniro, an average american nobody, takes up guns and an assassination plot to kill a local political figure to attract some sort of attention to his miserable and useless self, only to later channel all his anger in making a positive action by ridding the community from a disgusting lowlife pimp and his croonies.
In The King Of Comedy, Scorsese offers us another slice of american realism. This time Travis Bickle...er, I mean Rupert Pupkin played again by Deniro, is our central character. Pupkin is another average american nobody who is so self-centered, too obnoxious, and worst of all, he thinks too much of himself. He wants to become the new king of comedy, a phenomenal comedian who will take america by storm. Pupkin begins harrassing Jerry Langford, a famous TV talk show host, played by Jerry Lewis, who is more like Johnny Carson or in today's terms, David Letterman. All that Rupert wants is a chance to be in a short stand up on Jerry's show, and all that Jerry wants is Rupert off his back. Unlike Taxi Driver's Bickle, Pupkin doesn't resort to violence, instead he kidnaps Jerry and demands to be on the live show. The results are hilarious.
The King of Comedy is a realistic but very quirky film with Robert Deniro delivering one of his most outstanding and underrated performances in his career.
The movie also stars Sandra Bernhard as Rupert's equally twisted and Jerry-crazed sister.
Recommended
A
Movie Review: De Niro's Finest Hour!
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone who has been a professional actor, studied acting, or even taking a third rate high school acting class knows that comedy is much more difficult than drama. If you do not know anything at all about acting, consider that when watching Robert De Niro do his thing in this little seen 1983 gem.
De Niro stars at Rupert Pupkin. A would be stand-up comedian who lives in his mother's basement. Rupert is a big fan of a popular late night comedy show, that has a reputation of being a breading ground for up and coming comedians. He manages to slip into the car of the host of the show late one night and mentions to him that he is a comic. When he is repeatedly rejected by the shows producers, he decides that the only way for him to become famous is to kidnap the host and promise to return him only if he is given a chance to showcase his comedy chops live on the air.
The premise may be a bit contrived, but it has been copied many times in recent years. The heart and soul of the movie is De Niro's performance. He manages to bring a sweet kind of compassion to this lovable loser. Rupert is not a great comic, but he is not a horrible one either. The result of his late night appearance gives the film a very satisfying and hilarious conclusion.
In addition to De Niro, Sandra Bernhard and Jerry Lewis also do wonderful work here. That is right, I said Sandra Bernhard and Jerry Lewis. And they are not actors who just happen to share the same names as the people above. The greatest American director does it again.