Review of The King of Comedy (1982) by Gabriel R — 26 May 2009

As a character study, this movie is impressive. Robert Deniro is maginficently manic as Rupert Pupkin, a squirrelish man who believes that his break as a stand-up comedian comes from being on a Late-Night variety show and will do anything, including kidnapping the host, to get on it.

He is so intense, yet pathetic. The ending works on a couple levels, and really is open to interpretation. This is done in a satisfying way, not a frustrating way like most of these kinds of endings. The problem is that all of the characters are unlikeable.

Rupert Pupkin makes me uncomfortable, and everyone else is just rotten and despicable. There is no one to root for, besides the most pathetic character in the movie.