Review of The King of Comedy (1982) by Niam D — 14 Jan 2008

Everyone knows De Niro has a gift for becoming the character he's playing, and for the dramatic and intense characters that's impressive, but the feeling that you're watching De Niro still looms.

.. but as Rupert Pupkin, a tragically comedic figure, De Niro is almost nowhere to be seen. Aside from a couple of angles and a couple of smiles, he is knee deep in the disturbed, pathetic, upsetting, hilarious life of Rupert Pupkin.

It's a complete curve ball of a follow-up to Raging Bull for him and Scorsese, but it works a treat.