Raging Bull
1. Raging Bull 1980
Written by Martin Scorsese
Based on the autobiography of Jake Lamotta
Screenplay by Paul Schrader
Starring Robert Deniro and Joe Pesci
Cinematography by Micheal Chapman
Was nominated for eight academy awards and won two for best actor and best editing
2. Raging bull is a film by Martin Scorsese that follows the life and dealings of middle weight boxer Jake LaMotta played by Robert Deniro. LaMotta spends his career fighting both inside and outside the ring. He is trying to get a middle weight champion belt all the while battling his demons and lashing out at his wife and brother damaging his relationships at home.
3. The way in which Raging Bull relates to my text is Martin Scorsese’s use of actors in the film. Robert Deniro was the main star of the film as he was the main character and a big actor at the time. He had starred in many films by Scorsese as well as the critically acclaimed Godfather part 2. The other actors in the film are much more low profile; Joe Pesci was small time actor who had only appeared in a low budget crime film called The Death Collector. Two of the other cast members, both Cathy Moriarty and Frank Vincent also had worked with Pesci on The Death Collector. When I think about the film I feel that it is a character piece because of how it is primarily billed with just Robert DeNiro on the posters. They did not hire any other big time actors to step in his spotlight or take attention away from him and his work in the movie.
4. Raging Bull although made in 1980 has the feel and look of old movies from the 1940s. The film jumps between the 40s and 60s to tell the story of Jake LaMotta but the black and white cinematography to the film gives itself a very old time feeling. This film stood out among films from the time period because of its use of black and white and focus on story and dialogue. Almost all movies were in color and the studios rarely released pictures in black and white. Raging bull also differs from movies like Rocky because it uses expert cinematography as well as a script that elevates the subject of boxing into a metaphor for the characters life.
5. The two articles I chose to write about related to Raging Bull are the article Raging Bull by Roger Ebert and the paper Words made flesh: Language in Raging Bull by Gail Carnicelli and Thomas Hemmeter. In Roger Ebert’s article he focuses on the theme that runs through all of Scorsese’s prior films. The dealings of a male character with the women in his life. These men perceive women as falling into one of two rigid categories, whores or Madonna’s. There is no compromise or grey area between these two and these causes the characters to become obsessive, jealous and violent when the women do not fit into their designated categories. The second article is a scholarly article which talks about how Scorsese does not allow his character Jake LaMotta explain himself through dialogue but through cause and effect of his actions as the story unfolds. They make a case that Scorsese often shows characters that have difficulty explaining themselves through mere dialogue alone. Jake LaMotta is similar to Travis Bickle of Taxi Driver and the members of The Band in the Last Waltz in that they find other means to convey their feelings and emotions whether it be a violent gun fight or music as a means of self expression in the Last Waltz.
6. I view the Raging Bull movie as a character driven film, I find it to be an exhilarating bio picture but at the same time it is a deep metaphor for the manner in which boxers like LeMotta live and struggle. I have never been a fan of boxing movies so I was surprised by how much I loved Scorsese’s take on boxing and the beauty in the cinematography really allows outside spectators to find an appreciation for a violent world of physical sports. The script was extremely well written showing an unstable family life with the brother and wife trying to hold Jake together but keep his rage at bay. The monologue at the end from On the waterfront to me was both a homage to the classic film which also involves boxing but the monologue felt especially poignant because of how Jake and his brother ended their relationship in the film. I would declare that Martin Scorsese’s film Raging Bull made me enjoy boxing for a brief moment and just for that momentum accomplishment not to mention every other aspect of the film, I deem it exemplary.
Bibliography
Ebert, Roger. "Raging Bull :: Rogerebert.com :: Reviews." Rogerebert.com. Web. 09 Apr. 2012. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19800101/REVIEWS/1010328/1023
Hemmeter, Gail Carnecilli and Hemmeter, Thomas. "The Word Made Flesh: Language in Raging Bull." Literature Film Quarterly 14.2 (1986): 101-05. Print.
CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM
1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.
2) (x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.
3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.
4) ( x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.
5) (x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.
6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.
7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.
8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.
Name______Matthew Larue_______________________ Date________4/9/12___________________
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