Review of The King of Comedy (1982) by Matt M — 10 May 2013

A psychopathic wannabe comic who idolises a talk-show host comes up with a plan to appear on his show. In favour of other more popular titles, this is an often underlooked Scorsese film. But it's hard to understand why, with De Niro in tip top shape portraying the obsessive loser lead character and Jerry Lewis who, after a lifetime of screwball comedies, is surprisingly good in his dramatic role.

Furthermore, the film is gripping, alternating between tension and uncomfortable comedy that in the end is resolved and wrapped up in a very satisfactory way and adds social comment weight to the film in relation to mass media television and one side of the creepy and frightening world which it spans.