The King of Comedy

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Wayne K Few director/actor partnerships have been more beloved and important than that of Scorsese & DeNiro. It’s a working relationship that’s spanned more than half a century, given us some of the most acclaimed movies ever made, and will likely continue until both decided to retire. Naturally, some of these projects are more famous than others, and one that doesn’t seem to get mentioned very often is The King Of Comedy. It may be set in New York, but its not violent or even very controversial, and performed dismally when it came out, so its probably seen as more of an anomaly in their collective filmography than anything else. That’s a shame, because the film itself is a brilliant satire on celebrity worship, the price of fame and what people are willing to do to obtain it. DeNiro takes on possibly his most verbose role ever as a fast-talking, winnable comedian with big aspirations, and Jerry Lewis is the perfect counterpoint as the gruff and cynical but down to earth TV star that DeNiro idolises. The story works so well because neither are portrayed as being strictly in the wrong. Pupkin is peppy and enthusiastic, but he’s also obsessive, callous and willing to use the most unsavoury methods to get what he wants. Langford is rich, talented and successful, but he’s also disillusioned and burned out by the pressures of fame. We see him brushing off people in the street who ask for autographs and private messages, which might paint his as bitter and unkind, but when you consider that this is his life now and he can do nothing to avoid it short of staying at home all day, you understand where he’s coming from. Sandra Bernhard makes the most of her role as a crazy woman with an unrequited love for Langford who’s as unpredictable as she is abrasive. It’s a movie that straddles the line between fantasy and reality, sometimes making the division clear and at other times blurring it completely. It lacks the reputation of the likes of Raging Bull, Taxi Driver or Goodfellas, but it’s still an important component in a filmmaking machine that might be nearing the end of its run, but will be remembered long after its done. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/28/24 Full Review Rosana B Coringa é frequentemente citado por Phillips como inspirado em O Rei da Comédia e no filme Taxi Driver. Quando dois loucos se reúnem, pode ser perigoso, kkk, que obra maravilhosa, que execução estupenda, tão atual, envelheceu bem e estilosamente real, os stalkers em ação, com desvios psicológicos severos, pouco senso de realidade, uma obra divertidamente trágica… Robert De Niro e Sandra Bernhard, perfeitos… "É melhor ser rei por uma noite do que idiota por toda a vida." Maravilhoso... Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/04/24 Full Review Sams K Worth a watch, we're talking about another De Niro/Scorsese collaboration, so just watch it. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/23/24 Full Review r96 s A bit long-winded, but undoubtedly a very good movie. 'The King of Comedy' has a sturdy Robert De Niro lead performance, as well as solid support from Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard. I enjoyed seeing the split from what actually happens and how De Niro's Rupert Pupkin views things via his dreams; especially with how merged they become by the end. Absolutely zero surprise to now learn that Todd Phillips and Scott Silver used this and 'Taxi Driver' as inspiration when writing 'Joker'. Quite cool though! Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review KB B Yeah this was so stupid. I like De Niro but this garbage was way beneath his talent. Don't bother. 89 percent...Hmmmmmm Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/18/24 Full Review Cees T Like it says on the poster: It's no laughing matter. 1/10 - Terrible editing, pace, comedy, acting, drama, lighting, and music. Watch Quick Change instead for more likable kidnappers, and Anchorman to redeem mustached presenters. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/03/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The King of Comedy

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