The King of Comedy
1983
****½
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Diahnne Abbott, Sandra Bernhard, Shelley Hack, Tony Randall, Ed Herlihy
Robert De Niro gives a wonderfully exuberant and creepy performance as Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring comedian who dreams of his big break. This delusional funny man begins to stalk the host of a popular talk show until the man agrees to give him what he wants. Martin Scorsese's terrific dark comedy deals with our obsession with fame and celebrity. In this day and age when there are people who are famous for being famous and fans who feel like they own the celebrities, the film seems even more topical now than when it came out. The story is funny, touching, and occasionally very uncomfortable viewing. By the end, this feels like a companion piece to Scorsese's Taxi Driver. These two films heavily influenced Todd Phillips' Joker.
