Reply to a review of the movie Raging Bull

Raging Bull

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	prankstaguy@ wrote:
	To call Raging Bull a film about boxing is an insult. This is a massively powerful and influential character study about the insecurities of men and how they can destroy them. Scorsese didnt know a thing about boxing when he made the film, saying that to him it was like a physical game of chess. Nobody would ever know that when watching the glorious boxing sequences. The scenes were all filmed to have a different effect. Whatever the effects intended, they all pack a mighty punch. The film is shot in black and white to carry the right mood for the time period in which it is set. This is a film that relies partially on shock value to get its message across, but only partially. The shock is used to contribute to the artistic value rather than to disgust or offend. The character of Jake La Motta (played flawlessly by Robert De Niro) is filled with paranoia and rage that, at various moments in the film, reaches its boiling point. Scorsese presents these moments in an often shocking manner that works beautifully. The storyline follows the legendary heavyweight La Motta and his perhaps well-deserved mental and physical downfall. Although, as an audience, we find it hard to pity La Motta, we can certainly be fascinated by him. And Robert De Niro provides the most captivating performance of his career to make this happen. Joe Pesci is equally impressive as La Mottas brother who is small in stature and big on foul language. The way the brothers relate to each other is immensely interesting. In perhaps the most famous scene in the film, Jake La Motta pressures his brother to punch him with all his strength in the face. His brother refuses, failing to see the point in such a thing. Eventually Jake convinces him, and there is an abrupt scene in which the brothers hit each other repeatedly while throwing whatever insults come to their minds. The scene is amazingly effective at portraying De Niros character. In a scene that lasts under fifteen minutes, we learn everything there is to learn about this man. He wants to prove something but he doesnt know what. He doesnt know how to show people he loves them so he becomes angry with them. And all of his psychological complexities build up until he unleashes them in the boxing ring. Eventually his problems become too big to release only in the boxing ring, and he brings violence into his home. He becomes overwhelmed with a suspicion that his trophy wife is cheating on him with his brother and he beats them both viciously. Jake lets himself go, and becomes a pitifully overweight owner of a sleazy bar. His wife divorces him and his brother avoids him, and he is left a pathetic wreck who we almost begin to feel sympathy for. For the second half of the film, method actor Robert De Niro put on sixty pounds so that the impact of La Mottas downfall would be complete. The most incredible thing about Raging Bull is that a sports film could be told with such originality, such creativity, and such scale. De Niro and Scorsese at the top of their games are what make this film such a smashing success.. (10/10)
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