Awesome movie

Rating: 10/10 (2 March 2008)

Some of the comments regarding this film make me scratch my head until I'm scratching bone. This IS a classic movie. Make no mistake. De Niro didn't get an Oscar simply for putting on a lot of weight, his portrayal of Jake La Motta is spot on. De Niro acts the part out in perfect symmetry with La Motta's autobiography. Since when was it important to have characters to whom you can feel sympathy leading the film? Do you feel sympathy for Jeff Bridges in the Big Lebowski? He's a stoned waster doing nothing with his life, but that's a classic. And does every film need to have a message for us? I'd feel a bit offended if every film I payed good money to see attempted to preach some sort of fable down my throat just so I can leave and think I saw a good film. What do West Side Story and the Bourne films teach us? Don't fall in love with someone you shouldn't and don't get involved in illegal Government operations? Why thankyou for telling me. Maybe I'm spending more time challenging this movie's haters rather than bigging it up, but I hope that that reflects positively on the movie. It's worth defending against people who feel hard done by because the movie was too taxing for them. The boxing scenes are amazing in this film, better than any of the boxing scenes in the Rocky films - which are excellent movies as well. La Motta said De Niro could have gone on to become a pro boxer he was so good after training up. The black and white, in my opinion, lends itself perfectly to catching the brutal violence that is central to the movie, spit and blood flying everywhere, impressing on the viewer the visceral nature of boxing and Jake La Motta. He's no hero, but that's no reason not to make a film about him. Great film, great acting from everyone involved - Joe Pesci has some serious napoleon syndrome going on - and an overall entertaining experience.
And as for mfplajos's comments, you're an arrogant idiot. Great you have a BA, pat on the back for you. Do you mean to say we should take movie recommendations more seriously if they come from someone with letters after their name? I might just head off now and see what history professor thinks of the new Chipmunks film. He's bound to have something good to say.