I’m just a human being, with all of the foibles and all of the traps the show, the pressure, the groupies, the autograph hounds the crew, the incompetence, those behind the scenes you think are your friends. You’re not sure if you’ll be there tomorrow because of their incompetence. There are wonderful pressures that make every day, a glowing, radiant day in your life. It’s terrific.
For a reason The King of Comedy is considered a timeless film. Our obsession with famous people is more absurd and scarier now than it was before. It doesn’t matter if we condemn or adore the famous people, we are simply obsessed with them and this film addresses this issue in the best way possible. It is such a shame that people weren’t ready for this masterpiece in 1980s, so a certain… uhmm.. CBM is now considered groundbreaking for tackling the similar themes using the similar narrative.
The opening credits scene of this film is one of the best opening scenes I have ever seen in a film, it manages to capture so many recurring themes of the film in a single shot. Two hands pushing against the window of a limousine symbolises fame as a form of imprisonment, and our main character Rupert perversely looks inside the window with such curiousity and admiration as if he is looking at the person he aspires to be like on the TV screen. But is having a life like that famous person even worth it??? well this is a question this film constantly puts up throughout the runtime but never simply answers it, instead it provides many insights through our main characters for viewers to create their own answers to it.
Rupert and Jerry are nothing but two sides of the same coin. Rupert is willing to give anything to have a life like Jerry but Jerry himself isn’t very pleased with his own lifestyle. The thing is which is common in both of their lifestyles is the lack of fulfillment. Rupert doesn’t have anyone to talk, to laugh with or to share his pain with. Jerry is also as lonely as Rupert but the fame and money is the reason he is able to survive atleast even though he pretty much despises the fame because of its downsides, but Rupert doesn’t have them as well, so he has created this shallow sense of fulfillment because of which he hallucinates to have them and because of this shallow sense of fulfillment he has developed this bitter attitude towards everyone as he considers others inferior to him. Both the characters are broken but in a different manner.
Thelma Schoonmaker and Martin Scorsese really invented movie pacing, innit?
There’s not a lot of use of music in King of Comedy, there’s little to no voilence, yet the film doesn’t feel boring for a single second. The filmmaking on display is simply awe inspiring.
Anyone can write thesis on the rawness and charm Robert De Niro oozes on screen so I’ll not even bother writing any pedantic sentences about his highly nuanced riveting performance. I specifically want to talk about Sandra Bernhard as Masha, the character which in many ways is a mirror image of Rupert, I feel she was simply magnificent in her character, she didn’t overdo or underdo a single thing. This performance deserves way more hype.
All in all, The King of Comedy is an exceptional piece of art that will only get more hauntingly relevant with zeitgeist of every era. It is literally an essential watch for everyone!
Chaitanya Tuteja is someone who enjoys sharing his thoughts on books, movies, and shows. Based in India, he appreciates exploring different stories and offering honest reflections. When not reflecting on his favorite media, Chaitanya enjoys discovering new ideas and embracing life’s simple moments.