Review of The King of Comedy (1982) by Ryan H — 12 Sep 2011

Completely captured me from beginning to end. Rupert Pupkin is absolutely insane. So is Masha. They are obsessed with Jerry Langford. Pupkin actually believes that he could be as great as Langford one day, perhaps even better.

At first we think he just has a wild imagination about his idol, but it gets clear as the film goes on how delusional he is. You definitely get the feeling around the time that he says that Jerry wants to speak to him directly, then insists over and over again that he's expecting him, that Pupkin is really crazy over the man to the point that he doesn't really listen to anything anyone says, but the first scene that made me fully understand was when he shows up at his house.

He knows the butler's name, he knows he's out golfing, and he even brings a date with him! It's completely uncomfortable. There are many times that I was just freaked out over what Pupkin would do next.

This is what makes it so effective. We know at one point Pupkin is going to go crazy and we are just waiting for that moment. What's he going to do? It plays the dark comedy aspect perfectly. I wanted to laugh, but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to, plus it just felt creepy to laugh.

Exactly what a dark comedy should do. For example, when Jerry is walking up to his apartment after the car ride and Pupkin keeps calling his name; I was aggravated with him just as much as Jerry. The ending is thrilling.

Once he and Masha capture Jerry we are completely afraid. What are they going to do? Obviously the gun isn't loaded, which makes Scorsese a brilliant director. He keeps the suspense while taking away the bullets.

I guess we're just wondering what the situation is going to be like with Pupkin and if he's going to get what he wants. The very end is interesting. We get a few scenes of delusion with Pupkin.

He tells jokes to a wall of people and hears them laughing. He has an interview with Liza Minelli and Jerry. He has a dinner with Jerry where Jerry begs him to do the show for six weeks. This all comes back in the end with 1) the laughing of the audience in the show.

The cop hated his material, and I know I didn't find it funny. It was sad because it was about his terrible upbringing by his alcoholic parents and bullies. 2) his fame after everything happens. I don't believe for a second that he writes an autobiography and they make a film about it while he gets his own show.

The man is a lunatic. Of course, in society it wouldn't surprise me if this were to happen. In this sense, it's kind of like the ending to Taxi Driver. Do people see him as a hero? Sit through Scorsese's intense dark satirical comedy and then you tell me.