Rage that Drives the man

Rating: 10/10 (26 March 2009)

I love films that not only survive over the years but that seem to adapt and change over time. It's really me changing as viewer but the film is so organic, if done right, that it has the appearance of a life of its own.
Having now gotten past the story, on this my 20th or so viewing, I've noticed the overarching thematic achievements. First is Scorsese's ability to capture the authentic energy of NYC. Not only that, but the energy of a certain era and ethos. It's not romanticized like it is in Goodfellas, at least not as much, and it's mimicked perfectly by Scorsese's cinematic energy: fast cuts in hectic places, slow motion where our eyes would linger or where memories would take form, and of course bottled, intense, volcanic acting.
LaMotta's rage is the subject of the film. It's what drives him to excel at his sport and it's what leads to the dissolution of every important relationship in his life. His rage is the gravitational center of his character. He's a bulldozer, not very complex beyond a layer or two, but that's the point -- he was an animal. A jealous, ambitious, self-righteous, bilious man who could never reconcile his family with his career and who never realized his misgivings until after the fact. Any lesser actor might not have been able to drive the film forward like DeNiro does, or to find that perfect blend of rage and tragedy after realization.