The
King Of Comedy
Though
The king of Comedy
isn’t one of the most famous Scorsese’s films, it is
still one of the finest achievement both in directing and acting.
Robert
de Niro, in his fourth collaboration with Scorsese, plays Rupert
Pupkin, an hopeful, but talentless comedian, who thinks of his
meeting with Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis) as his “break”.
Though Langford turns down his request, Rupert comes to think he has
an appointment with Jerry, up to a point where he can’t
distinguish the truth from his own fantasy. To finally return to reality, bitter, angry, wanting more than ever to gain recognition.
Contrary
to what one could think due to its title, The
king of Comedy isn’t a comedy.
The film is filled with suppressed anger, restrained violence and
characters trying to find a way to achieve their dream. Though Rupert
is a monomaniac, annoying and totally lousy, he is really moving, for
his total inability to mix with people, a bit like a more pacifist
Travis.
If
De Niro’s performance is terribly effective, it is supported by
Jerry Lewis’s one, whose role suits him incredibly well. Every
detail is noticeable; the way he talks, the way he walks, waves, and,
mostly, the looks he gives. I remember particularly the moment when
he finds out Rupert has entered his house, and how he listens to his
explanations, with a mixture of anger and incredulity, giving him
just the right amount of consternation in his look.
The
ending of the film is a debate subject ; is it really happening ? Is it
just another Pupkin’s fantasy ? Or does it really matter? Not
for Pupkin anywhere, because he, at least, has reached his goal.
The
king of comedy,
1983,
Directed
by Martin Scorsese
A.P.
