by Michael Lyons
In our current world, filled with fandom that ranges from obsessed to "toxic," it's fascinating to watch 1983's The King of Comedy, forty years later.
Director Martin Scorcese's dark comedy is not just ahead of its time; it's almost scarily prophetic. A box-office disappointment that has faded from memory for many over the past four decades, this original, skewed, tragic movie is so worthy of a re-visit.
The King of Comedy centers on Rupert Pupkin (Robert DeNiro), an amateur - very amateur - comedian who is obsessed with talk show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis), a Johnny Carson-like, legendary TV icon, who has hosted his show for many years.
Rupert desperately wants to appear on Langford's show and perform his stand-up routine, so much so that he works with his friend Masha (Sandra Bernhard), who is equally obsessed with Langford. They hatch a plan to kidnap the talk show host, and as part of the ransom agreement, Rupert wants to be the headlining act on Langford's show.
DeNiro is perfect in a role much different than any he had done before, almost a "gentler" version of Travis Bickle from one of his other Scorcese collaborations, Taxi Driver. He creates Rupert as the ultimate fanboy, seemingly safe one minute and unknowingly dangerous the next.
As a nice, added touch, he still lives in his parent's basement, where he records his stand-up act and even has a recreation of The Jerry Langford show set, where he pretends to be a guest.
Jerry Lewis is, interestingly, the "straight man" to DeNiro's off-kilter performance. This is a role audiences aren't used to seeing Lewis in, and he does a great job at playing the simmering slow burn that eventually boils over.
Then, there is Sandra Bernhard, in her major debut, as a fierce force of nature, as she crafts Macha into a unique, unhinged character.
This is also a much different outing for director Scorcese. His sweeping, kinetic camera work is nowhere to be found. And in its place is a very straightforward, grounded direction, which makes The King of Comedy more realistic, and chilling at times.
While it didn't ignite the box office, The King of Comedy has been very influential for several filmmakers, including Todd Phillips, who has credited the film as an inspiration for 2019's Joker (which featured DeNiro in a supporting role).
Released on February 18, 1983, The King of Comedy speaks to how being a fan, and trying to live out your fantasies, can quickly consume your life. It resonates, even more today, as social media has turned so many into celebrities and has brought celebrities that much closer to their fans.
As critic Roger Ebert perfectly stated, The King of Comedy is "...frustrating to watch, unpleasant to remember, and in its own way, quite effective."
Looking for more articles and podcasts about movies and TV? Head over to my website, Words From Lyons !
My book, Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance is currently available at Amazon with signed and personalized copies available at Words From Lyons
No comments:
Post a Comment