The King of Comedy

(Martin Scorsese/1982/USA) 

I personally think this is Robert De Niro’s finest performance and Martin Scorsese is on fire with another NYC based tale of madcap characters. This time the madness is in the attraction of celebrities and fans that live up to the unabbreviated version of the word – fanatic. The film examines what today would be called stalking and centres on De Niro’s character Rupert Pupkin who is fixated on TV show host Jerry Langford. Pupkin sees Langford as a conduit for his aspirations as a comedian if he can get a slot on his show. The fact that his idea of himself as a comedian is a complete fantasy and exists only in his head doesn’t deter him. De Niro plays the part brilliantly with a gradual shift from mannerly enthusiasm to actual mania but at all times good natured, jovial and relentlessly optimistic. It’s a phenomenal performance and the film itself cleverly flips a mirror at the media in general when Pupkin gains the notoriety and success he craves through exposure from an outlandish and warped criminal act. It stands out in Scorsese’s filmography due to the style also which is more traditional than his usual auteur trademarks. There’s very little point of view shots or camera tracking after actors to introduce scenes and other characters. As a result it’s the dramatic action and actors themselves which provide the dynamic of the film and both De Niro and Bernhardt knock it out of the park. It’s colourful and gaudy too, almost a visual snark at the cult of celebrity and influence of media on people’s lives.

(4/5)