Neither funny enough to be an effective black comedy nor scary enough to capitalise on its thriller/horror elements.
The King of Comedy (1982)
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Synopsis: Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY is a brutally funny depiction of the dangers of celebrity fandom. Robert De Niro plays the ridiculously inept Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring comic who idolizes talk-show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). Still living at home with his mother, Rupert spends... Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY is a brutally funny depiction of the dangers of celebrity fandom. Robert De Niro plays the ridiculously inept Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring comic who idolizes talk-show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). Still living at home with his mother, Rupert spends his days trying to arrange a meeting with his hero. When he isn't doing that, he's at home talking to cardboard cutouts in his makeshift television studio. After Rupert convinces Rita (Diahnne Abbot), a pretty bartender, that Langford has invited them to his house outside the city, the reality of the situation makes itself painfully apparent upon arriving at the star's front door. Trouble is, Rupert's too delusional to take the hint. He eventually hatches a plan with an equally obsessed fan, Masha (a scene-stealing Sandra Bernhard), to kidnap Langford in exchange for a chance to let him deliver his routine on the air. De Niro and Lewis deliver scorching performances that are at once tragic and hysterical, making for an unsettling yet highly stimulating viewing experience. Paul D. Zimmerman's script takes the time to truly crawl inside the mind of a lunatic, exposing celebrity worship as the ludicrous problem that it is. THE KING OF COMEDY stands firmly as one of Scorsese's most terrifying films. [More]
Genre: Comedies
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, Diahnne Abbott, Tony Randall
Producer: Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter: Paul D. Zimmerman
Composer: Robbie Robertson
DVD Info
Release:
Jun 6, 2006
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case - Sensormatic
- Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
- Single Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
- Stereo 2.0 - English
- Mono - English, French, Spanish
- Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
- Behind the Scenes
- Deleted Scenes
- Featurettes - A SHOT AT THE TOP
- Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer
- 2. TV Spot
Text/Galleries:
- Stills/Photos
Reviews
Worlds away from the bravura flash of other DeNiro-Scorsese collaborations, this underrated, claustrophobic, chilling satire is particularly prescient of today's celebrity-fixated society. A modern classic.
The uncenteredness of the film is irritating, though it's irritating in an ambitious, risk-taking way.
To be sure, Robert De Niro turns in another virtuoso performance for Martin Scorsese, just as in their four previous efforts. But once again -- and even more so -- they come up with a character that it's hard to spend time with.
Fascinating drama with DeNiro as psycho, talk show wannabe, and Jerry Lewis giving great performance.
Much understood by critics in 1983, this is one of the most incisive (and scary) movies about the desperate desire to achieve fame in American society, increasingly dominated by shallow pop culture; De Niro, Jerry Lewis and Sandra Bernhard are terrific
One of the most disturbing, thought-provoking and funniest films of the 1980s. This underappreciated Scorsese great is more relevant today than ever.
This bizarre work is one of Martin Scorsese's greatest and most underrated films.
Takes an equally harsh look at the dark side of comedy, society’s value of success driving people to desperate acts, and the press’ bloodthirsty desire to sensationalize.
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