Depraved & Redeemed, Love Carnal & Eternal

Rating: 10/10 (12 September 2010)

The movie starts with Jake LaMotta ogling Vicki at the pool in the heavenly sunshine while at the same time pleading with his brother Joey to look out for Jake's high moral standards. The movie ends with Jake asking his estranged brother's forgiveness in the dark recesses of a parking garage. I, like many viewers found Jake's carnal nature amusing the first time I watched this movie. However, on second viewing, isn't what makes the movie great is that it is also about Jake being manipulated by his brother Joey who tries to control Jake by setting Jake up with his wife Vicki and sells out Jake's high moral intentions by asking Jake to throw a fight? To me this movie is not just about love carnal, but Jake accepting his role in his depravity and asking and accepting forgiveness from whom might be considered the enemy of his moral standard. Jake finds eternal love. He's a contender!