At one time, it seemed like Heath Ledger’s scintillating performance as The Joker inThe Dark Knightwas the pinnacle for the character. Still vividly etched into our memories, it felt like his version couldn’t be equaled or bettered; even more so because of the accompanying tragedy of it being his last role. But in 2018, Todd Phillips gave usJoker, with Joaquin Phoenix providing an exceptional and unique portrayal of Arkham’s most infamous patient.
This time, fans were treated toa disturbing jauntinto the backstory of the character, one steeped in the tumult of his unhinged mind and how it became that way, though mired in so much tragedy that we actually found ourselves sympathizing with a psychotic killer.
Arthur Fleck’s tale is not for the feint of heart, but as monstrously brilliant and original as the film was, it still retained an edge of familiarity. Reviewers everywhere couldn’t help but notice how similar certain elements ofJokerwere to the classic Martin Scorsese film,The King of Comedy. While the two don’t truly connect in terms of being set in the same universe, there are certainly enough parallels between them to warrant a comparison. Here’s the scoop on why the two films are so often mentioned together.
WhyJokerwas Such a Great Film
As a filmmaker, Todd Phillips has only been around mainstream movies since the turn of the century. While the immaculate talents of Joaquin Phoenix had been widely known for a long time, the only thing most audiences knew about Phillips was that he was great at making very funny, albeit pretty immature, comedy films likeThe Hangovermovies. So when he was entrusted with directing a standalone origin story for one of the most iconic DC characters in history, many fans were understandably skeptical.
Related:Ridley Scott Criticizes Joker’s Violence But Celebrates Joaquin Phoenix’s Performance
Yet between Phoenix’s astounding performance and Phillips' phenomenal job behind the camera as the film’s writer, director, and producer,Jokerbecame a revelation, with widespread acclaim quickly following. It was a film that defied all expectations and came at you in a manner befittingthe character’s twisted reputation. A deep dive into mental illness that flawlessly tied in wider themes like the darker side of anti-capitalism rhetoric, isolation, and marginalization,Jokerwas nothing short of a cinematic triumph.
With Phoenix finally winning a well-deserved Academy Award for the role (he’d been nominated for one on three previous occasions), the film garnered 11 Oscar nominations in total. It was a movie with a relatively simple concept, though one that evolved into complex layers with amastery that made it almost Shakespeareanby its end. It featured the character as a sad, mentally troubled, and tragically abused man named Arthur Fleck. This is where the depraved story starts, though as it goes on, the similarities betweenJokerand a certain Martin Scorsese film become undeniable.
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HowJokerRelates to The King of Comedy
The King of Comedy
Arthur’s troubled mind, the abuse he suffers at the hands of society, and his personal troubles coalesce inJoker.The disintegration of his mental stateinto a full-blown psychotic collapse was chilling, though perfectly in keeping with the reputation of the character who was known to have committed unspeakable acts throughout his tenure as Batman’s greatest enemy.
The film also provides him with the backstory of being an aspiring comedian whose delusional fantasies often center around a late night talk show. The host of that talk show was played by Robert De Niro, making it almost impossible not to see the parallels betweenJokerand the Martin Scorsese film,The King of Comedy,since De Niro acted in that film too — as the twisted comedian.
Although it bombed commercially,TheKing ofComedyhas been reappraised, and is now generally consideredanother Scorsese masterpiece. In it, De Niro’s character, Rupert Pupkin, was also an aspiring comedian trying to launch his career. Just like Arthur, Rupert has a delusional and unhealthy obsession with a late night talk show and its host. The pair also share similarities in their distorted senses of reality.
Related:Why The Batman 2 and Joker 2 Will Put the DCEU Above the MCU
InJoker, there are a few moments where it’s made clear that Arthur either experiences complex delusions, or such immersive fantasies that he completely disconnects from reality at times. In his more innocuous moments, he imagines himself as a member of the audience during his favorite late night talk show, hosted by Franklin Murray (De Niro). He also memorably concocts a reality where he begins dating his neighbor, played by Zazie Beetz. For a time, it seems like she’s actually a bright light in his dark world, only for the film to later reveal that their time together was all in Arthur’s head, and she actually views him as a creepy and weird person instead.
InThe King of Comedy,Rupert suffers from similar disconnections from reality. An aspiring comic, Rupert constantly labors under the belief that he is on the verge of his big break. The object ofhis unhealthy obsessionis a talk show host named Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). Rupert attempts to book a spot as a guest on Jerry’s show many times, but is rebuffed on each occasion. To compensate for reality, Rupert often indulges in increasingly elaborate fantasies where he and Jerry are friends, or even colleagues at times.
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Other Similarities Between the Films
The straightforward comparisons between Arthur and Rupert make for some stark parallels. However, they don’t end there. Other similarities that often make the characters seem like they’re connected relate to their mothers. InJoker,Arthur lives with and cares for his mother.
Although they’re initially depicted as a close pair, in a dark twist, it’s later revealed that she struggles with her own delusions. WhileBatman technically shows up, his father plays a bigger role, since Arthur’s mother notably creates a fantasy in which she and Thomas Wayne were lovers. In reality, Arthur finds out that she was committed to an institution and had allowed her boyfriends to horrifically abuse Arthur as a child.
InThe King of Comedy,Rupert also lives with his mother and has a fractious relationship with her. She shows up in his comedy material, and he even makes dark jokes about her actually being dead for nine years. The chilling part is that his mother always appears off-camera, and given Rupert’s propensity for delusions, it’s never clear if she actually is still alive or if Rupert is simply imagining the fights they have.
Related:10 Movies to Watch if You Love Joker
Both characters have a seriously dark edge to their relationships with their mothers. While Rupert’s subsists in the ambiguity of whether his mother is even real, Arthur ups the ante when he ends up murdering his own mother after learning the truth about her.
If that isn’t bad enough, both characters have climaxes to their films that feature appearances on the shows they obsess about. While Rupert kidnaps Jerry and uses this event to force his way onto the show, Arthur is invited onto the Franklin Murray show after he bombs at an open mic performance and goes viral for it. However, when he shows up in Joker make-up and is mocked by Murray, he shockinglymurders him in cold bloodwhile filming the show.
Thematic Similarities
The obvious similarities betweenJokerandThe King of Comedyaren’t the only ones. Robert De Niro appears in both films, albeit as the talk show host in one, and the person obsessed with the talk show host in the other. There’s also the fact that both Rupert and Arthur become a sensation because of their antics.
Rupert becomes a hit after his appearance on the Jerry Langford show, and despite being arrested after it, we later learn that he lands a book deal as a result. He therefore achieves his dream of fame.
With Arthur, his crimes, coupled with growing anger and frustration among working class people, inspire massive “Eat the Rich” styled riots and anarchy in the city. Through his distinctive make-up, he becomes a symbol of chaos, thereby achieving his goal of no longer feeling invisible as many protesters dress up in clown masks in honor of him.
Where the Two Films Depart
Despite all of these stark similarities between the films, the characters do depart. In a broader sense, Todd Phillips' take onJokerwas reminiscent of an ode to Scorsese in general, and not just a rehashing ofThe King of Comedy. This is evident in the dark and gritty way he chose to characterize Arthur’s journey as a harrowing descent into psychosis. In that sense, there are often parallels between Arthur Fleck and other Robert De Niro characters from early Scorsese films, such as those like his derangement inTaxi Driveror his unhinged anger inRaging Bull.
While Todd Phillips has mostly been praised for his work withJoker,he’s also come under criticism for appearing to blatantly borrow from the Scorsese playbook. However, given what an amazing job he did withJoker,it’s probably safer to say that he drew inspiration from the older filmmaker, rather than ripping him off. In fact, Robert De Niro himself has basically acknowledged as much during aninterview with Indie Wire:
“There’s a connection, obviously, with the whole thing. But it’s not as a direct connection as the character I’m playing being Rupert many years later as a host.”
With a high anticipated sequel in the works that boasts the tantalizing prospect of a Harley Quinn played by Lady Gaga, fans are excited to see what direction Phillips will take the character in next.
