list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Raging Bull on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Raging_Bull/28007/default.aspx Title: Raging Bull
Year: 1980
Director: Martin Scorsese
Plot: Martin Scorsese's brutal character study incisively portrays the true rise and fall and redemption of middleweight boxer Jake La Motta, a violent man in and out of the ring who thrives on his ability (and desire) to take a beating. Opening with the spectacle of the over-the-hill La Motta (Robert De Niro) practicing his 1960s night-club act, the film flashes back to 1940s New York, when Jake's career is on the rise. Despite pressure from the local mobsters, Jake trusts his brother Joey (Joe Pesci) to help him make it to a title bout against Sugar Ray Robinson the honest way; the Mob, however, will not cave in. Jake gets the title bout, and blonde teenage second wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarity), but success does nothing to exorcise his demons, even as he channels his rage into boxing. Alienating Vickie and Joey, and disastrously gaining weight, Jake has destroyed his personal and professional lives by the 1950s. After he hits bottom, however, Jake emerges with a gleam of self-awareness, as he sits rehearsing Marlon Brando's On the Waterfront speech in his dressing room mirror: "I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody." Working with a script adapted by Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader from La Motta's memoirs, Scorsese and De Niro sought to make an uncompromising portrait of an unlikable man and his ruthless profession. Eschewing uplifting Rocky-like boxing movie conventions, their Jake is relentlessly cruel and self-destructive; the only peace he can make is with himself. Michael Chapman's stark black-and-white photography creates a documentary/tabloid realism; the production famously shut down so that De Niro could gain 50-plus pounds. Raging Bull opened in late 1980 to raves for its artistry and revulsion for its protagonist; despite eight Oscar nominations, it underperformed at the box office, as audiences increasingly turned away from "difficult" films in the late '70s and early '80s. The Academy concurred, passing over Scorsese's work for Best Director and Picture in favor of Robert Redford and Ordinary People, although De Niro won a much-deserved Oscar, as did the film's editor, Thelma Schoonmaker. Oscar or no Oscar, Raging Bull has often been cited as the best American film of the 1980s. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 29
Number of Lists: 66
Number of blog posts: 8
Number of discussion threads: 13
SpoutRating: 4
]]>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:07:32 GMTRaging Bull1980Martin Scorsese<a href="/players/P___110533/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Martin Scorsese</a>'s brutal character study incisively portrays the true rise and fall and redemption of middleweight boxer Jake La Motta, a violent man in and out of the ring who thrives on his ability (and desire) to take a beating. Opening with the spectacle of the over-the-hill La Motta (<a href="/players/P____17593/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Robert De Niro</a>) practicing his 1960s night-club act, the film flashes back to 1940s New York, when Jake's career is on the rise. Despite pressure from the local mobsters, Jake trusts his brother Joey (<a href="/players/P____56237/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Joe Pesci</a>) to help him make it to a title bout against Sugar Ray Robinson the honest way; the Mob, however, will not cave in. Jake gets the title bout, and blonde teenage second wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarity), but success does nothing to exorcise his demons, even as he channels his rage into boxing. Alienating Vickie and Joey, and disastrously gaining weight, Jake has destroyed his personal and professional lives by the 1950s. After he hits bottom, however, Jake emerges with a gleam of self-awareness, as he sits rehearsing <a href="/players/P_____8070/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Marlon Brando</a>'s <a href=/films/25419/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>On the Waterfront</a> speech in his dressing room mirror: "I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody." Working with a script adapted by Mardik Martin and <a href="/players/P___110362/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Paul Schrader</a> from La Motta's memoirs, Scorsese and De Niro sought to make an uncompromising portrait of an unlikable man and his ruthless profession. Eschewing uplifting <a href=/films/29292/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Rocky</a>-like boxing movie conventions, their Jake is relentlessly cruel and self-destructive; the only peace he can make is with himself. <a href="/players/P____84709/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Michael Chapman</a>'s stark black-and-white photography creates a documentary/tabloid realism; the production famously shut down so that De Niro could gain 50-plus pounds. Raging Bull opened in late 1980 to raves for its artistry and revulsion for its protagonist; despite eight Oscar nominations, it underperformed at the box office, as audiences increasingly turned away from "difficult" films in the late '70s and early '80s. The Academy concurred, passing over Scorsese's work for Best Director and Picture in favor of <a href="/players/P___107758/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Robert Redford</a> and <a href=/films/25649/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Ordinary People</a>, although De Niro won a much-deserved Oscar, as did the film's editor, <a href="/players/P___110346/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Thelma Schoonmaker</a>. Oscar or no Oscar, Raging Bull has often been cited as the best American film of the 1980s. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide29Tag Target (>10)668134http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t52310wsj0b.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Raging_Bull/28007/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/annettelevy/archive/2009/6/19/42716.aspx Post By: AnnetteLevy
Post To: AnnetteLevy Blog
Post Date: 6/19/2009 3:40:15 AM
Body: Martin Scorsese directs with sureness and sensitivity in this powerful movie written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin. Robert De Niro gives an equally powerful performance, along with great performances by Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci. Worth seeing for just the talent involved.
]]>Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:40:15 GMTAnnetteLevyAnnetteLevy Blog6/19/2009 3:40:15 AMMartin Scorsese directs with sureness and sensitivity in this powerful movie written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin. Robert De Niro gives an equally powerful performance, along with great performances by Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci. Worth seeing for just the talent involved. http://www.spout.com/blogs/risselada/archive/2009/6/17/42687.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Risselada Blog
Post Date: 6/17/2009 2:01:55 PM
Body: This blog entry is part of my "movie recommendation site suggestions". Read more about that here. The Set-Up Another perfect recommendation from my movie recommendation sites. I was really looking forward to this one, and was not disappointed in the least. This movie is tight, and I don't just mean in the 90s slang way. It's just 72 minutes long and is essentially in real time. Just look at the clock in the opening and closing shots of the film to know that was intentional. The real time element and everything about the set and the characters make the atmosphere so palpable. The feeling of being in the shoes of so many transient people who feel like their big break is just one punch (or one something else) away. The boxing match itself is so exciting. On the audio commentary for the film Martin Scorsese talks about how the match is done so perfectly that he had to be consciously aware to try different methods of filming his fight scenes in Raging Bull because he could never match this movie by trying to copy it. I'm always interested in seeing all sides of a scenario that aren't normally seen. Particularly I'm interested in times when we take our attention off the stage in some kind of performance and look at the audience. We get so many different and colorful audience members that don't just add to the atmosphere, but I think are crucial to making the whole scene work. I can't express how delighted I was by the man watching in the audience who is also carrying a portable radio and is listening to a baseball game during the fight. The excitement and tension of the fight scene is so perfect because we get cuts to audience members like this at just the right moment to increase or ease the tension in just the right way. Everything is perfect right up to the end. I'm so delighted when the final line of a film is able to sum up everything the movie was about so perfectly. Rating: 10/10
]]>Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:01:55 GMTRisseladaRisselada Blog6/17/2009 2:01:55 PMThis blog entry is part of my "movie recommendation site suggestions". Read more about that here. The Set-Up Another perfect recommendation from my movie recommendation sites. I was really looking forward to this one, and was not disappointed in the least. This movie is tight, and I don't just mean in the 90s slang way. It's just 72 minutes long and is essentially in real time. Just look at the clock in the opening and closing shots of the film to know that was intentional. The real time element and everything about the set and the characters make the atmosphere so palpable. The feeling of being in the shoes of so many transient people who feel like their big break is just one punch (or one something else) away. The boxing match itself is so exciting. On the audio commentary for the film Martin Scorsese talks about how the match is done so perfectly that he had to be consciously aware to try different methods of filming his fight scenes in Raging Bull because he could never match this movie by trying to copy it. I'm always interested in seeing all sides of a scenario that aren't normally seen. Particularly I'm interested in times when we take our attention off the stage in some kind of performance and look at the audience. We get so many different and colorful audience members that don't just add to the atmosphere, but I think are crucial to making the whole scene work. I can't express how delighted I was by the man watching in the audience who is also carrying a portable radio and is listening to a baseball game during the fight. The excitement and tension of the fight scene is so perfect because we get cuts to audience members like this at just the right moment to increase or ease the tension in just the right way. Everything is perfect right up to the end. I'm so delighted when the final line of a film is able to sum up everything the movie was about so perfectly. Rating: 10/10 http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_Which_of_these_movies_about_boxing_is_your_favo/657/42506/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Windbreaker
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 6/2/2009 6:06:58 PM
Body: I *love* The Set-Up. Love it - glad you enjoyed it, Rizzo. I just barely hit the vote button for Rocky. But they're similar in that they're both great dramas that happen to involve boxers. [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. I just saw The Set-Up and I think it's my new favorite boxing movie! It's probably the shortest one too. Which of these is your favorite boxing movie? Sorry if I left your favorite out, but I didn't want the list to be TOO long. Please leave comments! Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Body and SoulChampionCinderella ManFat CityGentleman JimMillion Dollar BabyRaging BullRockyThe Set-UpSomebody Up There Likes MeWhen We Were Kings [/quote]
]]>Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:06:58 GMTWindbreakerMovie Polls6/2/2009 6:06:58 PMI *love* The Set-Up. Love it - glad you enjoyed it, Rizzo. I just barely hit the vote button for Rocky. But they're similar in that they're both great dramas that happen to involve boxers. [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. I just saw The Set-Up and I think it's my new favorite boxing movie! It's probably the shortest one too. Which of these is your favorite boxing movie? Sorry if I left your favorite out, but I didn't want the list to be TOO long. Please leave comments! Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Body and SoulChampionCinderella ManFat CityGentleman JimMillion Dollar BabyRaging BullRockyThe Set-UpSomebody Up There Likes MeWhen We Were Kings [/quote] http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Which_of_these_movies_about_boxing_is_your_favorit/657/42502/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 6/2/2009 1:31:08 PM
Body: Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. I just saw The Set-Up and I think it's my new favorite boxing movie! It's probably the shortest one too. Which of these is your favorite boxing movie? Sorry if I left your favorite out, but I didn't want the list to be TOO long. Please leave comments! Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Body and SoulChampionCinderella ManFat CityGentleman JimMillion Dollar BabyRaging BullRockyThe Set-UpSomebody Up There Likes MeWhen We Were Kings
]]>Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:31:08 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls6/2/2009 1:31:08 PMPlease reference this thread for the rules of this group. I just saw The Set-Up and I think it's my new favorite boxing movie! It's probably the shortest one too. Which of these is your favorite boxing movie? Sorry if I left your favorite out, but I didn't want the list to be TOO long. Please leave comments! Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Body and SoulChampionCinderella ManFat CityGentleman JimMillion Dollar BabyRaging BullRockyThe Set-UpSomebody Up There Likes MeWhen We Were Kings http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_Martin_Scorsese_directin/657/39163/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Macabre_FilmNut
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 1/6/2009 4:38:42 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. So it was announced a while ago that Martin Scorsese will again be directing Robert De Niro in an upcomming movie called I Heard You Paint Houses. While the potential release is still a long way off lets talk about your favorite of these filmmakers' previous collaborations. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Cape FearCasinoGoodfellasThe King of ComedyMean StreetsNew York, New YorkRaging BullTaxi Driver [/quote] Wow, this is a tuff one for me.I am huge fan of Scorsese and De Niro.I remember seeing Cape Fear at the theaters when I was a kid and liked very much. Raging bull was another good one, but not a favorite. Huge fan of mob movie and books. Casino was good but it didnt do nothing for me. I remember reading a book entitled Murder Machine which was about a serial killing hit squad among the time Goodfellas was supposed to take place. This crew in the book was alot like Pesci's character, but more sinister. I loved Mean Streets and it was pretty much what Scorsese saw as a child grewing up in the mean streets of New york. I remember him saying in an interview that he had alot of associates tied into the mob and the only reason he didnt get involved was something to do with health issues, so this was tribuate so to say to his heritage and what he saw. All in all I would have to go with cult favorite, Taxi Driver. I really liked the grittyness of it. Alot of people say it was just an orgy of violence, but to alot of people it was one of the greatest films of our time.
]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:38:42 GMTMacabre_FilmNutMovie Polls1/6/2009 4:38:42 PM[quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. So it was announced a while ago that Martin Scorsese will again be directing Robert De Niro in an upcomming movie called I Heard You Paint Houses. While the potential release is still a long way off lets talk about your favorite of these filmmakers' previous collaborations. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Cape FearCasinoGoodfellasThe King of ComedyMean StreetsNew York, New YorkRaging BullTaxi Driver [/quote] Wow, this is a tuff one for me.I am huge fan of Scorsese and De Niro.I remember seeing Cape Fear at the theaters when I was a kid and liked very much. Raging bull was another good one, but not a favorite. Huge fan of mob movie and books. Casino was good but it didnt do nothing for me. I remember reading a book entitled Murder Machine which was about a serial killing hit squad among the time Goodfellas was supposed to take place. This crew in the book was alot like Pesci's character, but more sinister. I loved Mean Streets and it was pretty much what Scorsese saw as a child grewing up in the mean streets of New york. I remember him saying in an interview that he had alot of associates tied into the mob and the only reason he didnt get involved was something to do with health issues, so this was tribuate so to say to his heritage and what he saw. All in all I would have to go with cult favorite, Taxi Driver. I really liked the grittyness of it. Alot of people say it was just an orgy of violence, but to alot of people it was one of the greatest films of our time. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_Martin_Scorsese_directin/657/39161/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: pippin06
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 1/6/2009 4:25:11 PM
Body: I've got a number of Scorsese flicks coming up on the ole Netflix queue and, as such, have only seen two of the listed entries (sadly), which are Casino and Raging Bull. And, without doubt, Raging Bull was the superior of the two, even if it was about boxing, which is not my favorite sport. But Sharon Stone's not my favorite anything, and Casino just wasn't all that great. I'm looking forward to hitting a lot of these candidates very soon, tho. Taxi Driver and GoodFellas are AFI movies.
]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:25:11 GMTpippin06Movie Polls1/6/2009 4:25:11 PMI've got a number of Scorsese flicks coming up on the ole Netflix queue and, as such, have only seen two of the listed entries (sadly), which are Casino and Raging Bull. And, without doubt, Raging Bull was the superior of the two, even if it was about boxing, which is not my favorite sport. But Sharon Stone's not my favorite anything, and Casino just wasn't all that great. I'm looking forward to hitting a lot of these candidates very soon, tho. Taxi Driver and GoodFellas are AFI movies. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/What_is_your_favorite_Martin_Scorsese_directing/657/39152/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 1/6/2009 2:27:44 PM
Body: Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. So it was announced a while ago that Martin Scorsese will again be directing Robert De Niro in an upcomming movie called I Heard You Paint Houses. While the potential release is still a long way off lets talk about your favorite of these filmmakers' previous collaborations. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Cape FearCasinoGoodfellasThe King of ComedyMean StreetsNew York, New YorkRaging BullTaxi Driver
]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:27:44 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls1/6/2009 2:27:44 PMPlease reference this thread for the rules of this group. So it was announced a while ago that Martin Scorsese will again be directing Robert De Niro in an upcomming movie called I Heard You Paint Houses. While the potential release is still a long way off lets talk about your favorite of these filmmakers' previous collaborations. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Cape FearCasinoGoodfellasThe King of ComedyMean StreetsNew York, New YorkRaging BullTaxi Driver http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/archive/2008/8/31/34585.aspx Post By: pippin06
Post To: Reel Thoughts
Post Date: 8/31/2008 12:17:56 PM
Body: What's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here: http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25756.aspx Raging Bull is on the following AFI lists: The Original Top 100 (#24)100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies (#51)The Revised Top 100 (#4)10 Top 10's (#1 Sports) Netflix helped me out with Raging Bull, which I've wanted to see for a long time, or at least as long as my interest in Marty Scorsese has been piqued. I've seen some of his films but only a few, comparatively speaking, and since this is considered one of his finest, I was feeling the yearn - even though it's a boxing movie. I'm going to qualify again that I'm not a huge fan of sports movies, at least not boxing movies, because I'm just not a fan of boxing. It's a violent, bloody sport that seems utterly pointless to me. I am of the female persuasion, and since female fans of the sport are definitely a minority, this should come as no shock. So, I didn't really love this film, because it was particularly violent and bloody, as Marty never compromises. I'm going to talk more from the perspective of the filmmaking, as that's where the money is in this picture. That's what I really loved and why my rating indicates that I loved this picture, even if I don't love its subject. Raging Bull was the nickname of prizefighter Jake LaMotta (Robert DeNiro), who wrote an autobiography of sorts on which the screenplay is based. The film follows his career from up-and-comer middleweight champion in the 40s to his post-career appearances as a nightclub/lounge comedy act in the 60s, yet the movie is really a character study of the man in general. He is self-destructive, filled with rage and passion, and can only seem to address his woes through violence. Yet, the man himself is painfully aware of his own tendencies and seems powerless to curb them, causing more anger and fits of rage, and a vicious cycle that eventually destroys his marriage to his second wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarty) and permanently damages his relationship with his former manager and brother Joey (Joe Pesci). The film depicts LaMotta's fights inside and outside of the ring, including his yearn to be champion while simultaneously battling the demands of the mob, who have backed him financially and try to set him up to take a dive at the midstages of his career as well as his constant suspicions of his wife's cheating tendencies (though he married her after adulterously wooing her). I can see why people think Raging Bull is a bona fide classic, and I can sort of see why the film shuttled up 20 spots on the Revised Greatest list. I'll start with Marty's sublime direction. Gosh, that guy's got style. Scorsese really knows how to solidify and amplify emotion and mood through visual artistry, and this may be one of his best films to demonstrate that skill. He uses slow motion, smoke, sweat, silhouettes, and other techniques to add a realism to this picture that's unparalleled even today and especially for 1980. His choice to film the movie in black and white created a documentary feel to it, but I also loved the "home movie" scenes, when the cinematography took on that grainy, semi-sepia tone that characterizes old reel-to-reel films. Also, no one - and I mean, no one - can match Marty on use of music to enhance the tonal atmosphere of his films. I can't think of one director who does it better. He's such a music lover, his knowledge is so great, and his tastes are so spot-on, that soundtracks and scores to his films are often otherwordly in how good they are. I loved the instrumental score, which was comprised largely of old 40s standards without the vocal tracks, but I also loved the soundtrack, picking period songs that seemed to drive plot as much as enhance it. Marty was robbed for the Oscar for this film by Bob Redford - did you know that losing for this film is what caused his bad-luck losing streak? Well, thankfully there's The Departed to have snapped him out of it. Now let's talk about Bobby. Gosh, that guy's a good actor. This performance is simply divine, and Bobby's what kept me watching even though this is a boxing movie with a lot of boxing in it. His performance ran the gamut of emotions from tender to fitful to tears of frustration to sensual to blood-vessel popping mad. He managed to portray nuances and give this man so much texture, it's no wonder he actually won the Oscar for this flick. Let's face it, Bobby can act his way through anything, but this film and this performance was mesmerizing. And, frankly, I was just as impressed with Joe Pesci. I thought the Joey character was equally refined in its emotional range and purity through Pesci's performance. These two are simply great fun to watch together, so it's no wonder they kept cropping up in films together (thanks largely to Marty). I didn't see any flaws with the filmmaking aspect of this film. Every technical piece was filmed and added with care and artistry. The art direction: in the scene when Jake is reciting the "On the Waterfront" Brando speech, which is supposed to take place in 1964, I saw a period Kleenex box and just thought, "wow." Marty directed that for people like me who notice things like that - impressive. The sound was magnificent, particularly in the more visually stylized fights. The costuming was also really good: evidence: Cathy Moriarty's various outfits. Everything was just really good. It was just hard for me to love a boxing movie. It's violent and visceral and hard to watch, and Marty never softpedals. Yet, the filmmaking here is unparalleled. Now, did it deserve to jump 20 spots to #4? Is it really the fourth greatest film of all time? I find that hard to say. I'm finding it hard to rate this movie. It's kind of a masterpiece, but I wasn't perfectly entertained. Yet, I see no flaws to this picture other than my own bias against violent boxing films. I think I'll do what I did with The Departed: rate it a 9.5. Is that fair, since the 0.5 is probably more closely connected to my own bias? Would I have been one of those Oscar voters that thought Ordinary People should get Best Picture because Raging Bull was too violent and profane? No, I don't think so (I haven't seen Ordinary People, but I don't think so). I also still have to be entertained - and I was engaged, just not really entertained. I had more time to notice all of the filmmaking techniques because I wasn't as entertained. This is a long-winded explanation for me saying I'm being as fair as I can be in rating this film, and maybe it deserves to be top 10 on the greatest list but not #4. Yet, Raging Bull does not pass the test. I'm glad I watched it, but I couldn't watch it again. I think we all know why. Still, it's one of the most perfect character studies in the history of film. Very Citizen Kane-esque actually. So, maybe it does deserve to be #4. What do I know? Forget about it.
]]>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:17:56 GMTpippin06Reel Thoughts8/31/2008 12:17:56 PMWhat's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here: http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25756.aspx Raging Bull is on the following AFI lists: The Original Top 100 (#24)100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies (#51)The Revised Top 100 (#4)10 Top 10's (#1 Sports) Netflix helped me out with Raging Bull, which I've wanted to see for a long time, or at least as long as my interest in Marty Scorsese has been piqued. I've seen some of his films but only a few, comparatively speaking, and since this is considered one of his finest, I was feeling the yearn - even though it's a boxing movie. I'm going to qualify again that I'm not a huge fan of sports movies, at least not boxing movies, because I'm just not a fan of boxing. It's a violent, bloody sport that seems utterly pointless to me. I am of the female persuasion, and since female fans of the sport are definitely a minority, this should come as no shock. So, I didn't really love this film, because it was particularly violent and bloody, as Marty never compromises. I'm going to talk more from the perspective of the filmmaking, as that's where the money is in this picture. That's what I really loved and why my rating indicates that I loved this picture, even if I don't love its subject. Raging Bull was the nickname of prizefighter Jake LaMotta (Robert DeNiro), who wrote an autobiography of sorts on which the screenplay is based. The film follows his career from up-and-comer middleweight champion in the 40s to his post-career appearances as a nightclub/lounge comedy act in the 60s, yet the movie is really a character study of the man in general. He is self-destructive, filled with rage and passion, and can only seem to address his woes through violence. Yet, the man himself is painfully aware of his own tendencies and seems powerless to curb them, causing more anger and fits of rage, and a vicious cycle that eventually destroys his marriage to his second wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarty) and permanently damages his relationship with his former manager and brother Joey (Joe Pesci). The film depicts LaMotta's fights inside and outside of the ring, including his yearn to be champion while simultaneously battling the demands of the mob, who have backed him financially and try to set him up to take a dive at the midstages of his career as well as his constant suspicions of his wife's cheating tendencies (though he married her after adulterously wooing her). I can see why people think Raging Bull is a bona fide classic, and I can sort of see why the film shuttled up 20 spots on the Revised Greatest list. I'll start with Marty's sublime direction. Gosh, that guy's got style. Scorsese really knows how to solidify and amplify emotion and mood through visual artistry, and this may be one of his best films to demonstrate that skill. He uses slow motion, smoke, sweat, silhouettes, and other techniques to add a realism to this picture that's unparalleled even today and especially for 1980. His choice to film the movie in black and white created a documentary feel to it, but I also loved the "home movie" scenes, when the cinematography took on that grainy, semi-sepia tone that characterizes old reel-to-reel films. Also, no one - and I mean, no one - can match Marty on use of music to enhance the tonal atmosphere of his films. I can't think of one director who does it better. He's such a music lover, his knowledge is so great, and his tastes are so spot-on, that soundtracks and scores to his films are often otherwordly in how good they are. I loved the instrumental score, which was comprised largely of old 40s standards without the vocal tracks, but I also loved the soundtrack, picking period songs that seemed to drive plot as much as enhance it. Marty was robbed for the Oscar for this film by Bob Redford - did you know that losing for this film is what caused his bad-luck losing streak? Well, thankfully there's The Departed to have snapped him out of it. Now let's talk about Bobby. Gosh, that guy's a good actor. This performance is simply divine, and Bobby's what kept me watching even though this is a boxing movie with a lot of boxing in it. His performance ran the gamut of emotions from tender to fitful to tears of frustration to sensual to blood-vessel popping mad. He managed to portray nuances and give this man so much texture, it's no wonder he actually won the Oscar for this flick. Let's face it, Bobby can act his way through anything, but this film and this performance was mesmerizing. And, frankly, I was just as impressed with Joe Pesci. I thought the Joey character was equally refined in its emotional range and purity through Pesci's performance. These two are simply great fun to watch together, so it's no wonder they kept cropping up in films together (thanks largely to Marty). I didn't see any flaws with the filmmaking aspect of this film. Every technical piece was filmed and added with care and artistry. The art direction: in the scene when Jake is reciting the "On the Waterfront" Brando speech, which is supposed to take place in 1964, I saw a period Kleenex box and just thought, "wow." Marty directed that for people like me who notice things like that - impressive. The sound was magnificent, particularly in the more visually stylized fights. The costuming was also really good: evidence: Cathy Moriarty's various outfits. Everything was just really good. It was just hard for me to love a boxing movie. It's violent and visceral and hard to watch, and Marty never softpedals. Yet, the filmmaking here is unparalleled. Now, did it deserve to jump 20 spots to #4? Is it really the fourth greatest film of all time? I find that hard to say. I'm finding it hard to rate this movie. It's kind of a masterpiece, but I wasn't perfectly entertained. Yet, I see no flaws to this picture other than my own bias against violent boxing films. I think I'll do what I did with The Departed: rate it a 9.5. Is that fair, since the 0.5 is probably more closely connected to my own bias? Would I have been one of those Oscar voters that thought Ordinary People should get Best Picture because Raging Bull was too violent and profane? No, I don't think so (I haven't seen Ordinary People, but I don't think so). I also still have to be entertained - and I was engaged, just not really entertained. I had more time to notice all of the filmmaking techniques because I wasn't as entertained. This is a long-winded explanation for me saying I'm being as fair as I can be in rating this film, and maybe it deserves to be top 10 on the greatest list but not #4. Yet, Raging Bull does not pass the test. I'm glad I watched it, but I couldn't watch it again. I think we all know why. Still, it's one of the most perfect character studies in the history of film. Very Citizen Kane-esque actually. So, maybe it does deserve to be #4. What do I know? Forget about it. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Games/Re_Before_and_After/598/32137/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: tadiv
Post To: Movie Games
Post Date: 7/4/2008 4:43:14 PM
Body: Raging Bull (1980)Bull Durham (1988) [quote user="Dr_Gor"] Raging Bull Durham...[/quote] Of course!
]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:43:14 GMTtadivMovie Games7/4/2008 4:43:14 PMRaging Bull (1980)Bull Durham (1988) [quote user="Dr_Gor"] Raging Bull Durham...[/quote] Of course! http://www.spout.com/blogs/shaunhuston/archive/2008/6/19/31401.aspx Post By: ShaunHuston
Post To: ShaunHuston filmblog
Post Date: 6/19/2008 1:01:19 AM
Body: The sports Top 10 is a difficult list to assess. How many truly good sports movies are there, and I ask this as a sports fan? Raging Bull (1980) is arguably the greatest film of the 1980s, and Rocky (1976) was a little labor of love, far from the semi-joke blockbuster that it is often remembered as in light of its sequels. They likely deserve their places at the top of the list, especially Raging Bull. As to the rest of the films, I have a lot of affection for Breaking Away (1979) and really, it's a lovely little film that I'd put higher on the list. I also like Hoosiers (1986) and Bull Durham (1988), but they both have obvious flaws (as Anne-Marie noted, the basketball film falls short in its depiction of the on-the-court action; the final is especially poorly paced and shot and edited in an oblique way. I've always thought that Bull Durham's final act stretched on a little too long, needlessly deferring Annie and Crash's final settling in together). For the remainder, well, I don't have much good or much bad to say about any of them; I can see why each ended up on the list, with the possible exception of Jerry Maguire (1996), which seems a stretch as a sports film even by the AFI's definition (“a genre of films with protagonists who play athletics or other games of competition” - I don't see how either of the leads meet this standard). However, I would struggle to find a replacement. Tin Cup (1996)? Cross-apply Field of Dreams (1989) from the fantasy list? How about Downhill Racer (1969) or Slap Shot (1977)? (And I'll just admit right now that I have nothing to say about football films as I don't care or know much about the game). I dunno. I think that this genre is doubly cursed for being both a genre and about sports, two aspects of American life that are seen as culturally “lesser” in many circles. So, as a result, you get films that are either goofy comedies or fairly predictable dramas. The best films on the AFI Top 10 do better than that, but only Raging Bull, I think, can be considered great cinema. Link to introduction. Originally posted on:Short-Circuit Signs
]]>Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:01:19 GMTShaunHustonShaunHuston filmblog6/19/2008 1:01:19 AMThe sports Top 10 is a difficult list to assess. How many truly good sports movies are there, and I ask this as a sports fan? Raging Bull (1980) is arguably the greatest film of the 1980s, and Rocky (1976) was a little labor of love, far from the semi-joke blockbuster that it is often remembered as in light of its sequels. They likely deserve their places at the top of the list, especially Raging Bull. As to the rest of the films, I have a lot of affection for Breaking Away (1979) and really, it's a lovely little film that I'd put higher on the list. I also like Hoosiers (1986) and Bull Durham (1988), but they both have obvious flaws (as Anne-Marie noted, the basketball film falls short in its depiction of the on-the-court action; the final is especially poorly paced and shot and edited in an oblique way. I've always thought that Bull Durham's final act stretched on a little too long, needlessly deferring Annie and Crash's final settling in together). For the remainder, well, I don't have much good or much bad to say about any of them; I can see why each ended up on the list, with the possible exception of Jerry Maguire (1996), which seems a stretch as a sports film even by the AFI's definition (“a genre of films with protagonists who play athletics or other games of competition” - I don't see how either of the leads meet this standard). However, I would struggle to find a replacement. Tin Cup (1996)? Cross-apply Field of Dreams (1989) from the fantasy list? How about Downhill Racer (1969) or Slap Shot (1977)? (And I'll just admit right now that I have nothing to say about football films as I don't care or know much about the game). I dunno. I think that this genre is doubly cursed for being both a genre and about sports, two aspects of American life that are seen as culturally “lesser” in many circles. So, as a result, you get films that are either goofy comedies or fairly predictable dramas. The best films on the AFI Top 10 do better than that, but only Raging Bull, I think, can be considered great cinema. Link to introduction. Originally posted on:Short-Circuit Signs http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspxlove
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