Raging Bull

Raging Bull is a film which boasts of a legacy and pedigree that few others can even close to. Directed by a certain Martin Scorsese, it is probably the greatest sports film ever,made by arguably the greatest director ever. It is a powerful testament of Scorsese's 'one man's descent into insanity' theme that has served him well over almost four decades of filmmaking.

The film is based on Jake La Motta, a middleweight world champion and his journey from a prizefighter to a man in shambles, unable to fight his own demons. A brutal and violent story ensues, from fights to expletive filled quarrels, fits of jealousy and even wife beating and ultimately his fall from grace.

This was the next instalment of Scorsese's highly successful collaboration with Robert De Niro after the pathbreaking 'Taxi Driver'. Suffering from a drug addiction, he decided to kick it and devote all his energy to making a modern masterpiece that lives on in cinematic annals as one of it's finest. The film itself is a journey where the development and unraveling of the characters which has been handled with aplomb, takes precedence over the story. Indeed, it is a joy to see the different layers that are exposed every now and then like when De Niro's wife calls somebody 'good-looking' and he smashes the somebody's face in a fit of pure jealousy.

With fights choreographed to flashing lightbulbs, sequences rich in detail and masterful performances from a stellar cast, this is one film where it all came together. De Niro is brilliant and so are Joe Pesci (another Scorsese regular) and Cathy Moriarty as his brother and wife respectively, who are forced to bear the brunt of his giant abused ego. As La Motta loses it outside, he loses it in the ring as well, losing his title to Sugar Ray Leonard, disillusioned, he moves to Miami and runs a night club. However, this momentary idyll is shattered when he is jailed for introducing underage girls to grown men. In his jail cell, he is a wreck, distraught and helpless. He pounds the walls and even cries out loud, making his transformation from alpha male to a pitiable figure complete.

When released, he becomes a stand up comic. The final scene is certainly amongst the most iconic in movie history. Robert De Niro's monologue from 'On The Waterfront' is almost as good as good as the original and once he gets up for his show, he shadowboxes and tells himself "I'm the boss" you cannot help but feel something not easily discernible. The screen fades out with a Biblical quote dedicated to Scorsese's film professor who he said taught him 'how to see'.

The film's legacy is surely assured, with almost every single critic failing to criticise what can only be termed as a tour de force. Indeed, it is a tragicomic experience to go through, with the prizefighter owning the ring and yet losing to himself. While 'Goodfellas' may stake a claim for the better film, there has hardly been a film which has come so close to tangible perfection.