Most artists are marked by certain references that they try to use as inspiration continuously in their work, such as basis on which to develop your style. In some cases, it is obvious beyond measure. For example, it happens to Todd Phillips in his most “serious” stage, that he cannot hide his devotion to Martin Scorsese.
‘Gun Game’ and ‘Joker’ are especially evident in that Scorsesian heritage. Which is not a defect per se, because it is difficult to escape the influence of one of the most important American filmmakers of history ‘Joker’ itself has virtues of its own, even if he can’t hide the great debt he owes to ‘The King of Comedy’.
It’s no laughing matter
Another of the director’s great collaborations with Robert De Niro, one of his fetish actors, is already to be seen on Disney +. It is a good opportunity not only to see the connections with the Joaquin Phoenix movie about the DC villain but also to enjoy a sharp and wonderful satire on ambition and show business.
De Niro plays Rupert Pupkin, a man obsessed with succeeding as a comedian and becoming famous. It is not enough for him to stick his head in the world, he has to be the king at all costs and as soon as possible. That is why he tries to approach Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis) by all means possible to put him on his program and have his big opportunity. When the invasion of privacy doesn’t pan out, Pupkin will take even more extreme measures.
It is, without a doubt, another one of those capital associations between Scorsese and De Niro, who take advantage of their talents in a more comical direction, albeit with quite a bad drool. You could even see some commercial viability in his amusing critique of both celebrity and celebrity obsession, but the reality is that it was one of his most notorious failures with only 2.5 million dollars raised at the time.
‘The king of comedy’: in a state of grace
It is undoubtedly tragic. De Niro is brilliant in this other side of the coin of the brilliant character of ‘Taxi Driver’, creating a character that is believable in his mediocrity even if we face one of the most charismatic actors that have ever existed. Scorsese gives her a fabulous wide sleeve to show off, creating a fabulous atmosphere of black comedy so tense it borders on terrifying.
Scorsese once again shows his incredible versatility and talent for playing different cinematographic sticks. Fortunately, he did have comedies that immediately connected with the public, such as ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, but it is still a pity that he did not appreciate an absolute gem like this at the time. We see one of those cases where actor and director meet both in absolute state of grace.