Raging Bull: a review
As the title of this post suggests, I recently watched a classic from the 1980s called Raging Bull, a movie based on boxing champion Jake La Motta.
It is not your typical sports movie, however. Unlike so many other movies based on sport, this movie does not detail the rise of a boxing legend. Instead Jake is already a legend when the film begins, and although boxing is an important aspect of this movie, it is not the predominant feature. Instead, we are presented with a haunting picture of the man. His triumphs in the boxing ring are juxtaposed with the decline in everything else in his life, from his relationship with his wife Vickie to his relationship with his brother Joey. For much of the movie, you feel a barely suppressed rage inside Jake, and this is often released in most horrific manners, inflicting severe physical and psychological wounds on those he is supposed to love.
The fight scenes are brutal in their realism. They are choreographed to an excruciating level of detail, and the fighters know what they are doing. If these scenes were shown as standalone clips, you could swear that they are from an actual boxing match. Indeed, Robert De Niro spent a very long time training for his role as Jake La Motta, and won 2 matches of 3 that he participated in. It is somewhat ironic that in the latter stages of the film, the only times we feel happy about Jake's situation is when he is savagely pummelling his opponent, or is being unmercifully beaten himself. His personal life is dark and frightful, and the man himself is not someone you would normally want to sympathise with, if you could help it. As one film critic said, this is not a feel-good movie. It does not have a happy ending. The brief moments of joy you may feel watching the movie are quickly eclipsed by events that have taken a turn for the worse. From start to finish, this movie is more about a decline in Jake's life, rather than an improvement.
Along with his gruff exterior, we are also shown glimpses of Jake's softer self, when he laments the loss of a key boxing match, for example, or when he is floored by tears for various reasons (which I will not spoil for you). Robert De Niro does a truly excellent performance as Jake La Motta. With every enraged outburst we fear for those around him and with every cry of frustration we feel outraged at the injustice laid upon him. He is, of course, aided by a masterful director in Martin Scorsese and a wonderful support cast with Joe Pesci as Joey La Motta and Cathy Moriarty as his wife.
Anyway, it's late and I really should be off to bed now. There is so much more to be said about this film, but I hope what I've written makes sense and conveys how much I admire this film, for it is a masterpiece. It's also in black and white, but trust me you will hardly notice the lack of colour as the story unfolds. If you can get your hands on it somehow, I strongly recommend that you watch it. You won't regret it, I promise.
It is not your typical sports movie, however. Unlike so many other movies based on sport, this movie does not detail the rise of a boxing legend. Instead Jake is already a legend when the film begins, and although boxing is an important aspect of this movie, it is not the predominant feature. Instead, we are presented with a haunting picture of the man. His triumphs in the boxing ring are juxtaposed with the decline in everything else in his life, from his relationship with his wife Vickie to his relationship with his brother Joey. For much of the movie, you feel a barely suppressed rage inside Jake, and this is often released in most horrific manners, inflicting severe physical and psychological wounds on those he is supposed to love.
The fight scenes are brutal in their realism. They are choreographed to an excruciating level of detail, and the fighters know what they are doing. If these scenes were shown as standalone clips, you could swear that they are from an actual boxing match. Indeed, Robert De Niro spent a very long time training for his role as Jake La Motta, and won 2 matches of 3 that he participated in. It is somewhat ironic that in the latter stages of the film, the only times we feel happy about Jake's situation is when he is savagely pummelling his opponent, or is being unmercifully beaten himself. His personal life is dark and frightful, and the man himself is not someone you would normally want to sympathise with, if you could help it. As one film critic said, this is not a feel-good movie. It does not have a happy ending. The brief moments of joy you may feel watching the movie are quickly eclipsed by events that have taken a turn for the worse. From start to finish, this movie is more about a decline in Jake's life, rather than an improvement.
Along with his gruff exterior, we are also shown glimpses of Jake's softer self, when he laments the loss of a key boxing match, for example, or when he is floored by tears for various reasons (which I will not spoil for you). Robert De Niro does a truly excellent performance as Jake La Motta. With every enraged outburst we fear for those around him and with every cry of frustration we feel outraged at the injustice laid upon him. He is, of course, aided by a masterful director in Martin Scorsese and a wonderful support cast with Joe Pesci as Joey La Motta and Cathy Moriarty as his wife.
Anyway, it's late and I really should be off to bed now. There is so much more to be said about this film, but I hope what I've written makes sense and conveys how much I admire this film, for it is a masterpiece. It's also in black and white, but trust me you will hardly notice the lack of colour as the story unfolds. If you can get your hands on it somehow, I strongly recommend that you watch it. You won't regret it, I promise.
ranted by Wayland at
12/17/2005 01:30:00 pm
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