The King of Comedy

⭐10/10

I watched this movie a few days ago and cannot stop thinking about it. I think it is an absolute masterpiece and works on so many levels. It's kinda hard to discuss without spoiling, and so while I'll try not to spoil anything, I will warn that it feels like any discussion of character or themes seems to give the game away a bit. Might be best to go in completely blind if you're interested in this movie and want the full experience. 

This is a Scorcese/ De Niro combo and that is a duo simply made for one another. I (like everyone) have been super impressed with mostly everything De Niro has done, but I think this is his most impressive performance yet. His potryal as this oddball mega fan is unlike anything you have ever seen. And people have tried! But there are so many layers to this wild dude, because he's not just a complete incompetent weirdo, but he really does have a smidgen of talent that you can tell he's been clinging to. This is a character that repeatedly surprises you by just how crazy he is and also just how normal he is. 

This is kinda like a horror movie from the perspective of the monster. This movie is so hard to watch because you're never sure what he will do next, how bad the secondhand embarrassment will feel. The consequences in reality are mostly low, but you can't help but be on the edge of your seat for most of it. I guess, because it's Scorcese, you are always nervous someone is gonna commit a heinous act of violence, but even still, the thought of De Niro bombing his comedy routine feels so much more consequential. It sorta even reminded me of the tension present in so many Office episodes with Michael Scott. 

I think this movie also really works as a discussion of fame, and what it takes, and our desire to get there. Honestly, the scary thing about this movie is that I saw a lot of myself in Rupert Pupkin, a man of middling talent who thinks he deserves to skip the line, and would be adored if just given the chance. I think a lot of people probably feel similarly to some degree (hence why we are inundated with new content creators and twitch steamers) and so this movie has a quality of being disturbing for sorta revealing your silliest desires and putting them on a screen. It often hurt to watch, and I think it's because it feels too real despite appearing so silly. 

Aside from all of this, I just think the writing is phenomenal all around, and you get these wonderful performances by the entire cast. This movie is hilarious, disturbing, anxiety inducing, and thought provoking, and then ends with an absolutely perfect final scene. It's the perfect movie and it came to me at a perfect time. Totally recommend to pretty much anyone. Scorcese really is such a unique talent.