The King of Comedy

This film about the cult of celebrity in America strikes me as a uniquely intelligent ironic masterpiece – though, witty as it is, it isn’t a comedy, despite what the title and the casting of Jerry Lewis might lead you to expect.

It would be difficult to describe Martin Scorsese's fine new film, The King of Comedy, as an absolute joy. It's very funny, and it ends on a high note that was, for me, both a total surprise and completely satisfying. Yet it's also bristly, sometimes manic to the edge of lunacy and, along the way, terrifying.

The King of Comedy, which Film Forum is presenting in a new 4K restoration for a week-long run, brilliantly keeps viewers unmoored, the result of its consistently off-kilter tone. Though filled with sight gags and corny jokes, the movie is also darkened by genuine menace.

Though The King of Comedy seems less substantial than past De Niro-Scorsese collaborations, it's a funny, stinging film in which there's much to enjoy. Miss Abbott, Mr. De Niro, Mr. Lewis and the unforgettably alarming Sandra Bernhard (as a fan even crazier than Rupert, and one who looks like an enraged ostrich) deliver fine performances, and the film's satirical edge can indeed be cutting.

You feel for the first time that Scorsese is trying to distance himself from his characters—that he finds them grotesque. The uncenteredness of the film is irritating, though it's irritating in an ambitious, risk-taking way. You'd better see for yourself.

The King of Comedy is a royal disappointment. To be sure, Robert De Niro turns in another virtuoso performance for Martin Scorsese, just as in their four previous efforts. But once again – and even more so – they come up with a character that it’s hard to spend time with. Even worse, the characters – in fact, all the characters – stand for nothing.

King of Comedy aggravates the problem it's supposed to illuminate. Far from clarifying the nature of a creepy social pathology, the movie assumes an attitude of smug, unjustified superiority toward every character in sight and the cockeyed spectacle of pop culture in general.

scorceses finest outing!robert deniro is just amazing he really lived the part of beign an real king of acting!

cool movie loved it awesome acting and badass writing overall the main actor is my favorite

The King of Comedy is a very good. The story was amazing. Martin Scorsese is a increadble dircetor "Taxi Driver " was very good. Robert De Niero was amazing as Rupert Pupkin.

The King Of Comedy is an alright movie. I know that Joker took a lot of inspirational from this but I honestly prefer Joker over this.

Poor writing and energetic performances fail to shine here. Under Scorceses fevered direction, he seems determined to trap the awkwardness written on the page, which never seems to breathe in the performances in an authentic way. In this regard it is a bizarrely watchable car accident of a movie constantly trying to hard to convince us of how far Pupkin and co are willing to take his delusional concepts without delivering the emotional goods to take us there. Entertaining stalker movies aren't exactly easy to execute but see being John malchovich for a superior example of how to pull something like this off. I also like misery and fatal attraction for a more horrifying take on the sociopathy this film attempts to portray.