The King of Comedy

Rating:
Summary: One of DeNiro's best roles
Review: This scathing comedy about fame, television and hangers on to both is one of the best film roles Robert DeNiro has taken on. It is easily his best comic role, as he plays a schlemiel that finds a way -- an illegal way -- to worm his way onto network television to give a 5-minute monologue on a late night talk show. What is most telling in this film are the final mintues that document his fame after he goes to jail for kidnapping a talk show host. Few films have so accurately, and cynically, portrayed the world wide news media thirst for fame as these 10 minutes. If your cable system does not get WGN-TV from Chicago, which regularly schedules this movie, you may never have seen it. If so, it is worth your time and trouble. This is a funny, bitter and cyncial look at how fame warps people's minds, including little people, famous people and the media outlets that contribute to creation of fame.

Rating:
Summary: "The King Of Comedy" Review
Review: I actually would rate this a 4 1/2 stars.

I bought this because I'm a big fan of Robert Deniro and I wanted it for my collection of his films. I was suprised on how good the movie was. It was actually a VERY good film. It's older, but it's still funny and I'm very pleased with my purchase. (Not just because Deniro is in it either.) haha

Rating:
Summary: The King Of Comedy
Review: It would be a fairly safe bet that if you fraternize in any show business circles, you will run across at least one fella like Rupert Pupkin. DeNiro gives a virtuoso performance in this bittersweet portrait of an untalented obnoxious soul who wants to get into show business in the worst way. And that's exactly the way he goes about it...; with surprising results. Although this effort is not for everyone, it is an extremely accurate account of the syndrome, carried to a semi-logical conclusion, a well conceived piece of work. It should be stated for the record that this piece might be considered a career high in dramatic performance for Jerry Lewis.

Rating:
Summary: Shamefully neglected film
Review: It's good to see more people getting into it now,even though it's so many years after the fact. While we're not talking the most realistic story on earth,King is still an incredibly enjoyable romp, with just enough quirkiness to keep it interesting. DeNiro is in super form, and Lewis gives what was probably the performance of his life. The supporting cast is also gread, and Bernhard got a chance show off her acting chops which, while limited, aren't horrible, and actually better than some so-called "stars" today. This is the kind of film you watch again, both to catch details you missed first time around, and just to enjoy the performance.

Rating:
Summary: A slice of american realism
Review: Martin Scorsese is one of the best film directors today. Robert Deniro has teamed up with Scorsese in over 5 movies: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Casino, and more. Scorsese's films are primarily realistic, meaning that the stories that he works on are reflections of some real social issues. Take Taxi Driver, where Travis Bickle played by Robert Deniro, an average american nobody, takes up guns and an assassination plot to kill a local political figure to attract some sort of attention to his miserable and useless self, only to later channel all his anger in making a positive action by ridding the community from a disgusting lowlife pimp and his croonies.

In The King Of Comedy, Scorsese offers us another slice of american realism. This time Travis Bickle...er, I mean Rupert Pupkin played again by Deniro, is our central character. Pupkin is another average american nobody who is so self-centered, too obnoxious, and worst of all, he thinks too much of himself. He wants to become the new king of comedy, a phenomenal comedian who will take america by storm. Pupkin begins harrassing Jerry Langford, a famous TV talk show host, played by Jerry Lewis, who is more like Johnny Carson or in today's terms, David Letterman. All that Rupert wants is a chance to be in a short stand up on Jerry's show, and all that Jerry wants is Rupert off his back. Unlike Taxi Driver's Bickle, Pupkin doesn't resort to violence, instead he kidnaps Jerry and demands to be on the live show. The results are hilarious.

The King of Comedy is a realistic but very quirky film with Robert Deniro delivering one of his most outstanding and underrated performances in his career.

The movie also stars Sandra Bernhard as Rupert's equally twisted and Jerry-crazed sister.

Recommended

A

Rating:
Summary: One of Scorsese and DeNiro's Great Collaborations
Review: This film has something of a checkered history. It was originally filmed in 1981, but in the wake of the assassination of John Lennon and the attempts on Ronald Reagan and the Pope the release of the film was delayed until the spring of 1983. Despite generally rave reviews from the critics, the film died a quick death at the box office. This film is not so much a comedy but a commentary on our obsession with celebrity. Robert DeNiro plays Rupert Pupkin, a no-talent wannabe who wants to obtain fame without having to work for it. The vehicle, in his mind, to fame is through Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis), host of the nation's top talk show. Rupert badgers Langford at his office and even has the audacity to show up unannounced at his home. Unable to accept no for an answer, Rupert along with his equally obsessed cohort, Masha, (Sandra Bernhard)take the radical step of kidnapping Langford. My theory as to why this film failed at the box office is it contained too many truths about ourselves and our celebrity-obsessed culture. DeNiro plays a sociopath that in some degree is just as bad as Travis Bickle from "Taxi Driver". It goes without saying that DeNiro is at the top his game in the role. Not to be dismissed is Jerry Lewis' performance here as a man who carries the weight of celebrity very heavily. There are two scenes, I thought, where Lewis was partcularly good. One, a scene where he is alone in his apartment in the city after fending off fans. He doesn't say a word but the look on his face says alot. Secondly, the scene in which he confronts Rupert at his home in the country. The rage is so palpable that you get the feeling that Lewis may have faced this situation in real life many times before. On a note of trivia one of the production assistants to Jerry's show is played by one-time Charlie's Angel Shelley Hack. And look closely for members of the rock group, the Clash, in an unspoken cameo. Also, Robbie Robertson has assembled a good musical soundtrack for this film. Most effective is the use of Ray Charles', "Come Rain or Come Shine" over the film's opening credits.

Rating:
Summary: I was a Rupert Pupkin for the CIA
Review: Ya know, ever since he heard the name 'Rupert Pupkin' after watching this movie, my dad has been fixated on it. This fixation is dormant for the most part, but there comes those occasions where it comes to the forefront, and pops starts spouting off "Rupert Pupkin" this and "Rupert Pupkin" that, thinkin' it's the funniest freakin' name in the world:

"But what would RUPERT PUPKIN do?"

"Could it be... RUPERT PUPKIN?"

"Oh no, it's the attack of the RUPERT PUPKINS!"

And his favorite combo:
"I was a RUPERT PUPKIN for the CIA!"
(He loves to combine weird names with "...for the CIA" for some reason)

'Course, he's also intermittently fixated on the name 'Zagnorch', which he picked up from a co-worker while on the job many years back. I liked it so much I lifted it from him and made it my Amazon user name. And the rest, they say, is history...

...But I digress. I found Robert De Niro's portrayal of the delusional wannabe-star RUPERT PUPKIN both charming and a bit scary. His naivete and forcefulness reminded me of his portrayal of Travis Bickle from 'Taxi Driver', only not quite as scary and a fair sight more happy-go-lucky. And for once I was actually able to sit all the way through a movie starring Jerry Lewis in it! This is mainly due to the fact that he plays his role-- a late-night talk-show host who is hounded, stalked and ultimately kidnapped by RUPERT PUPKIN and an accomplice played by shrill comedienne Sandra Bernhard-- far more subdued and way less obnoxious than usual. Speakin' of Sandra Bernhard: I never knew she had a kickin' bod back in the day 'til she stripped down to her skivvies whilst seducing the kidnapped and bound talk show host. Now if only she weren't so obnoxious, I'd have found her truly sexy...

Also included with this platter are a few deleted scenes, including a five-minute-long piece featuring Lewis doing the opening monologue to his character's talk show. And judging from the gags and quips he laid out, he ain't got nothin' on Jay Leno, lemme tell ya. Also included is a half-hour retrospective on the movie, featuring interviews with director Martin Scorsese and co-star Sandra Bernhard. As I expected, they get a bit carried away talking about their experiences making 'The King of Comedy', and take things a bit too seriously. Ya know, pontificating on the "meaning" and "significance" of it all, as well as deconstructing Robert De Niro's role of RUPERT PUPKIN, and what it's all supposed to mean. Sheesh, whatever happened to a movie just being entertaining, huh? Which I found 'The King of Comedy' to be, although I wouldn't exactly consider it a 'keeper' for my video shelf. Definitely worth a rent, though.

Until next time...

RUPERT PUPKIN!

Er, I mean...

...'Late!

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Film Ever - "I wouldn't lie to you Rupe!"
Review: How often do you see a film for the first time in which you get so embarrased for the star you want to press stop every 15 minutes! Once you've made it past the first viewing, you're gunna really enjoy watching this one over and over again - it gets better everytime! I've never laughed so hard watching a movie in my entire life!! It's totally original and nothing can compare to it. Thank you for making this Marty and thank you Bobby for talking him into doing it!