Scorsese's Knock-Out!

Rating: 10/10 (5 May 2007)

Raging Bull is a story about the dark, gritty, lonely side of the 1940s & 50s boxing phenomenon as shown through the eyes of the champ Jake La Matta (Robert De Niro). Shot as a type of coming-of-age thrill as it opens with the future and dissolves into chronological flashbacks. We see the rise and fall of a superstar. Someone sailing on the tight ropes of fame only to let classically let it all go to his mind and body. He is cocky because of what he is. With each battle he grows less human. He's stronger physically, but emotionally, he's lost his sense of sight. Lost all ties to reality and more possessive as the days pass. As he gets a big head through his talents, he grows confident starting courting 15-year-old Viki Thailer (Cathy Moriarity). It starts out well, but it certainly turns sinister as Viki tries to talk to other people. He gets a paranoid persona and develops a rage in him. He starts questioning everything around him and doesn't trust anyone. The beginning of rage starts in the scene where Jake and his brother Joey La Motta (Joe Pesci) were in the middle of an argument at the kitchen table with their wives and baby present. The brothers told their wives to leave and take their children with them. As a form of dominance, Jake changes his attitude from than on.
There were many scenes in which Director Martin Scorsese portrayed a sullen atmosphere in the Black and White cinematic vision. The music, for one, was taken from the works of an Italian composer Pietro Mascagni. Gives the film a sad feeling and brings even more emotion to the actors on screen.
There was a scene in which a section of the film was in color. For this one scene, Scorsese paints a more laminated picture depicting a genial time in Jake's life. Seems a bit contrived to the real world. The black and white to me, has signified the character's true personality. What life really is. Not optimistic. Just is. Life is previewed in a strange light in the film. We're pulled to care for Jake throughout the film and than we care even more as the movie builds these layers surrounding the characters. A true definitive of what the boxing beast can do to anyone. One of my all time 5 favorites.