Review of The King of Comedy (1982) by Jack S — 16 Aug 2008

A wonderful companion piece to Scorcesse's follow-up After Hours. Both films have an unnerving, frenetic pace, but King of Comedy has an even darker, more unbearable tone of desperation. This is most clearly evidenced from the scene in which De Niro's Rupert Pupkin drops off his audition tape, a scene almost too painful to watch. Things end well enough (or do they?), but the build up is so uncomfortable - largely due to De Niro's amazing performance - that it's all quite harrowing.

It is only the Bernhard storyline (a most unwelcome addition) that keeps King of Comedy on the lower echelons of Scorsese's filmography (apart from Boxcar Bertha, that ain't sayin' much). It just gets too silly.