Dish of the Day
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Today’s “Dish of the Day” has a brief review of mine that was inspired by a post in one of the film related Facebook chat rooms. This includes the Cinema Cafe group (all readers are encouraged to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/902349343110685).
The King of Comedy (1982)
The celebrity worshiping that the main character Rupert Pupkin (played earnestly by Robert De Niro) is engaged in with Jerry Langford (a seemingly effortless natural performance from Jerry Lewis) clashes with his desire, along with his even nuttier accomplice Masha (played to perfection by Sandra Bernhard) to infiltrate his home, and later, hold him hostage… in other words, do everything in his power to piss him off. One can certainly find dislikable fictional characters to be fascinating and worth watching. With Rupert, however, he's such an insatiably annoying caricature without a single interaction or backstory to give him the slightest complexity or clue as to why he behaves so selfishly and stupidly besides being untalented to boot. There are a few engaging fantasy sequences that Pupkin imagines that are admittedly inspired. Plus, the irony of Pupkin’s desire to have the fame Langford has but that the latter now finds so intrusive is noteworthy. Instead of an identifiable character arc, however, these stereotypes are on a loop recycling the same unpleasant personality traits until the entire charade reaches its neither here nor there, albeit tricked-out, conclusion. Celebrities vehemently upset with their fans’ insatiable interest in their personal life, especially in regards to those so called “autograph hounds,” will eagerly embrace the message here which is “leave us alone” (unless of course they’re promoting something like their latest movie or fashion sense). It seems crystal clear that the King of Comedy’s target audience are those rich and famous few who fantasise that the kind of idolisation represented by the degenerate Rupert Pupkin and Masha doesn't, or somehow shouldn’t, "go with the territory." For the rest of us, there’s scant insight, character revelation or meaningful resolution to appreciate. The King of Comedy is just like Rupert's final performance: facile, repetitive and void of the very thing it claims to be the king of. Written by one time movie critic (for Newsweek magazine) Paul D. Zimmerman; those who believe this film is accomplished at least won’t be credibly coming after me just for being one myself. Movie buffs might also consider Martin Scorsese to be a distinguished member of our critical community even though he directed this unremarkable, concept driven film.
All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.
Hope to see you tomorrow.
A.G.