Tuesday, November 05, 2019
The King of Comedy
- Commentary: O.K. This movie is just fun for me. When I want to be jolted back into a realistic perspective about the follies of U.S. media this film is my go-to. Robert de Niro is simply superb in a role so unlike most of his other roles, whether they be serious or comedic. His renown in reality isn't beside the point, it is the point. Jerry Lewis is luscious and hilariously serious. Sarah Bernhard is perfectly cast. It's as though everyone involved in this film just got it. And gave it.
Side Note: Aside from the fact that this movie, in itself, is an inside/outside joke, full, as well, of inside/outside jokes, one of the broadest of these jokes is that many, many participants in this movie reprise their own performance personalities.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Robert De Niro Rupert Pupkin Jerry Lewis Jerry Langford Sandra Bernhard Masha Diahnne Abbott Rita Keene Shelley Hack Cathy Long Margo Winkler Receptionist Kim Chan Jonno Frederick De Cordova Bert Thomas
Also, just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up about this film. As well, while in Cannes for the festival that played this film, Roger Ebert interviewed Jerry Lewis. There isn't much, directly, about Lewis' appearance in the film, but a lot about the celebrity issues this film raises.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: comedy1, martin-scorsese, satire1
