Review of The King of Comedy (1982) by Tanya K — 25 May 2009

Scorsese focuses on the mediocrity of television, and how it has numbed audiences into being entertained with shows and performances that aren't bad, per se, but simply unexceptional. He even films this movie mimicking the style of TV shows which are usually inoffensive, unobtrusive and too brightly lit with straightforward, unexciting camera angles.

De Niro delivers what is arguably one of his best performances as Rupert Pupkin (even his name sounds pathetic), a comedian of average talents, desperate for fame. Suffering from severe insecurity, Pupkin is convinced that 15-minutes of fame will change his life.

.. and the irony here is they do. We've all known characters like Pupkin and our hearts yell at him to stop as he flusters away in self-induced humiliations, losing the little dignity he has left. De Niro's delivery of his dialogue is awkward and painfully hilarious, as time and time again our eyes open wide with surprise and we wonder, 'Did he just say that?!' Also touched upon is the danger fame brings through obsessive fans like Masha, a truly frightening character.

Scorsese delivers a character study with a difficult blend of comedy and horror, and compassion and antipathy in a film that will keep the viewer enthralled from start to finish. Watching Rupert is like watching a train wreck - completely mesmerizing.