My dear Martin Scorsese, once again you prove in here why are you one of my favourites.

In The King of Comedy we follow Rupert Pupkin an obsessive fan of the very well known Jerry Langston a tv host and comedian that has a famous tv show. Rupert's daily life is all around Langston. He dreams about becoming one day like him. His goal is to be admired as a great comedian and he wants Langston to help him to get there.

The study of the character is amazing in here. Rupert is a lonely man, deep inside he is very sad, although he shows to be a very secure and happy man to everybody else. That's what makes this film into a fantastic masterpiece! Trying to understand certain behaviours of the human mind is not easy and nowadays the "celebrity obsession" is still present in our culture and there are people that are capable of doing anything for a moment of fame. But this is not in fact the main theme of this film. Deeper questions are related with it.

Without spoiling much there's one particular scene almost at the end of the film, Rupert's act at the tv talk show, that pretty sums up the whole film. Martin Scorsese was not only trying to show how the world of fame works but also, and most of all, what leads a man to a desperate situation. Troubled childhood and bad experiences in life may change some of the weakest minds and lead them into craziness.

When I was younger I used to watch a lot of Jerry Lewis films, both of my parents are big fans of him. His films are hilarious (I need to rewatch some of them btw). But the thing that most intrigued me was the fact that I already knew that Jerry Lewis would have a serious role in this film and not his usual comical tone that I already had seen. I was very curious about seeing this other side of him and I can say that he was great!
Some comedic actors turn out to be pretty great in dramatic roles. Jerry Lewis plays the arrogant scumbag that is tired of the spotlight. He is used to deal with a lot of guys like Rupert every day and treats his fans with disregard and he can't tolerate them.
Sandra Bernhard gives also a great psychotic performance as Masha, Rupert's friend that is also obsessed with Langston.

Martin Scorsese did a clever choice by choosing one of the most claimed comedy actors to play the role of a cynical comedy entertainer. But the guy who really shines in this film is Mr. Robert De Niro, what a magnificient performance! He perfectly portrays a person that is mentally unstable. Rupert lives in total isolation, he fantasizes all the time with situations at are real in his brain, he made himself believe in the lies that he created in his head.

No doubt, The King of Comedy is another masterpiece done by one of the finest man in the business.

**De Niro as yet another deluded psycho**

De Niro is Rupert Pitkin, a comedian who seeks to be as famous as his hero, Jerry Lewis. Pupkin could be Travis Bickle's equally disturbed brother - both of them living in New York and both of them losing their minds in unison.

After much rejection, the crazed Pupkin decides to kidnap his hero and hold him for ransom until a studio gives him a big break. Jerry Lewis is impressive as the total bastard that Pupkin so admires.

A disturbing movie that is more relevant nowadays than ever since the advent of the Big Brother tv show which places national attention on people with no talent.

- Ian Beale

Robert De Niro is great in this enjoyable comedy about the aspiring comedian "Pupkin" who is prepared to go to great lengths to get his moment in the sun. To that end he doorsteps acclaimed chat-show host "Jerry" (the entirely convincing Jerry Lewis) and, not exactly lacking in self-confidence, convinces him to listen to his material. Anything for a peaceable life thinks the star and agrees clearly just to be rid of the man. "Pupkin", though, isn't so easily deterred and what ensues now are a rather darkly comedic series of escapades as the little man determines to get that spotlight - even if he has to turn to lying, housebreaking - even kidnapping. The writing here is taut and entertaining; the characters - especially that of the rather pompous "Jerry" are well crafted by the actors who really seem to be enjoying their roles. Martin Scorsese manages to skilfully keep this on the right side of what could easily have become far-fetched farce. It's the ultimate speculate to accumulate film poking fun at the whole television "opportunity" system, and with the odd sight of an almost unrecognisable Ed Herlihy it all adds up to a fun film to watch and I challenge anyone not have a laugh here.

Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY was the lowest-grossing major studio film of 1982. It isn't difficult to see why: It's loaded with uncomfortable situations; there is no obvious protagonist; no sympathetic characters (the one that could potentially get our sympathy turns out to be a thief); and everyone is grating and/or unpleasant (even Tony Randall plays 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 as a demanding prick). This lack of popularity was the audience's loss, as Paul Zimmerman graced Scorsese with a screenplay which was just as prescient on the topic of fame as Paddy Chayefsky's NETWORK (1976) was on the future of television. In a day and age where television reality shows and online video platforms allow talent-bereft fame-seekers to offer their wares to an anesthetized public, De Niro's Rupert Pupkin displays an uncanny ambition just by leaving his mother's basement, much less his willingness to use crime as a means to his end.