Raging Blogger

Rating: 8/10 (16 September 2015)

Directed by: Martin Scorcese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Jo Pesci, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana. Budget: $18. Million Gross: $10 Million in box office, at the time Martin feared for a future in film making.
Summary: A Martin Scorsese boxing classic, that unlike other 'classic' chin hitting, floor bouncing boxing films, this one shows you the whole twelve rounds of fame, the price of one man's journey through the four corners of a ring to stardom. But always asking, is it worth it? and at what cost?
In the corner of a small dressing room sits a large figure of a man, with a thick nose (like its been broken countless times) stumpy body, smart suit, cigar in hand, drink on the dressing table. He begins to speak with a thick New York accent, you question in your mind, is this Robert De Niro as he looks like a broken large gangster from New York with a face that seemingly represents the staring actor of this film, but again so different. Who you are in fact looking at, is the character by the name of Jake La Motta (Played by De Niro), it is Jakes story we as audience follow throughout this film. At this point, Jake as described above is a washed out, "bin had" broken man, who has resorted to comedy in small town bars reminiscing of a past life, fighting (quite literally) for fame and glory within the world of glass jawed, iron fisted, feet skipping boxing legends.
Scorsese is well known for his use of violence and gritty story telling nature. Allow me to expand: within Raging bull Scorsese has masterfully incorporated the use of a black and white cinematic film style. As an aesthetic (which was a bold step for a director to take within modern film) this use of (for lack of a better word) 'lack' of colour allows the audience to divulge, empathise and 'feel' the struggle and story of Jakes life as a rising boxing champion. Furthermore, when filming the opening credits, Scorsese was convinced something was missing. We see Jake in the ring warming up whilst the theme tune plays, jabbing, stepping, dodging, ducking but there was no gritty nature of this pre match ritual. Therefore, Scorsese felt by removing all colour you will invite the audience to focus on this ritual, as a pose to the colour of the gloves, the ring, what time of day it is etc. Moreover, the 'lack' of colour really focuses attention to the impact of each punch, and was a way that Scorsese could really draw attention to the blood being drawn from the faces of each competitor, during the earth shattering jabs being made.
I have watched numerous boxing films, and as you would all probably agree the novelty has clearly started to wear off. But Raging Bull is by far superior to all your 'classics' like 'Rocky' etc. Robert De Niro provides arguably one of his best performances within a film, and that is a big statement. De Niro's performance takes you on a journey through despair, fame, heart break, isolation and loneliness. You will follow a man who struggles to distance himself from life within the ring, and outside of the ring. We see Jake push his family away, quite literally, constantly battling with paranoia as he believes his wife 'Vickie la Motta' is having an affair (a young Cathy Moriarty) with every man she comes into contact with. And the breaking point, is when he accuses his brother Joey (played by the fantastic Jo Pesci) of having an affair with Vickie (who also is a married man), and from this he cannot contain the balance and attacks Vickie. This moment is the turning point of the movie, we see Jake remember what is important in his life, and slowly you are led to believe maybe there is hope for Jake, maybe he can find away to 'hang up the gloves' and live a happy life.
Like the title suggests, this film demands masculinity, violence, misogyny and desperation. And all of this you are given, as from the moment go you are forced to understand a mans desire to achieve. But throughout you see the 'Bull' of Jakes nature, in both his boxing but also his personal life. Vickie (just like in a lot of Scorcese's classics) is perceived as the virgin or the whore, there can be no in between, and Jake will always find this out to late, the Love is what is important, not the lifestyle.
I found this film to have a very enthralling storyline, and is a fantastic insight to the life of a sportsman but also to the life beyond the fortune, fame and strain of the ring. Furthermore, you are given the perspective and feeling of what family life is like for an Italian American family within New York during the early years of world war 2, and what things like boxing, comedy and clubs were like. However, the jump between years as they pass within Jakes life are sometimes unclear and sporadic. Also, it is clearly a key part of the story the relationship between Jake and Sugar Ray as this drives Jake further into his 'bull' like nature, and I think this wasn't emphasised enough.
Not all films have happy endings, I guess this could be a metaphor for both life and this particular story. Greed, fame and fortune can take over even the best of us. Sure enough Jake cannot, is not able to notice what he has, had, needs, and therefore you are left with a man who had it all, but lost it. A man who really went the full twelve rounds.
Ratings:
IMDb: 8.3/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 98% MovieMAster: 7.8/10