When Todd Phillips’ Joker shook the world of comic book movies in 2019 (which is now starting to feel like a decade ago) two films kept being cited as influences: Taxi Driver (1976) and The King of Comedy (1983). Having already seen the violent Taxi Driver years ago I could see how that made sense and was curious to see how The King of Comedy also influenced the origin story of the Clown Prince of Crime. This week Amazon helped me fill in that cinematic blind spot, as I found yet another way to pass time indoors during this cold winter pandemic. Both Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy were directed by Martin Scorsese, star Robert De Niro as a loner living in New York City, and play with perceptions of reality. However, while Taxi Driver proved to be hit, The King of Comedy earned praises but not as much box-office success. Perhaps it is because it does not have as much violence as Taxi Driver or memorable lines, but I would venture it is because this movie was ahead of its time. Th...