Finally. After setting my own personal record and holding onto Raging Bull for a solid month, I have hereby seen it.
I really, really wanted to like this film. I did. But frankly? No love is lost on my part for this film.
Possible Spoilers
The first hour is shots of fights, both in the ring and outside with Jake La Motta's (De Nero) first wife and La Motta awk-lusting and seducing/being seduced by a fifteen year old blonde girl, Vickie. Spliced throughout are artsy shots of New York. We then get a lovely montage (in color) of the life and fights of Jake, cleverly bringing us up to speed with three years of their lives. (Jake and his brother both get married/have babies, and yes, Jake marries his child-bride.) . At one point, the bros and wives go out, and Jake gets introduced as the celebrity in the crowd's midst and 'a Raging Bull' hence, the films name.Jake gets paranoid and angry, in part about making weight for his next fight and because he is so aggressive he is denied shots at the title. He also thinks his wife is cheating on him.
Awk-Fifteen year old
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eL5GnEcFjivo/TchFwbhCOAI/AAAAAAAAAxw/bmNAqXMUgr0/s1600/vicki.jpg
The second half of the movie, he basically is playing by the rules (so to speak) but going nuts and getting more and more paranoid. I feel like anti-psychotic meds would have gone a long way for this guy. Also, I doubt the repeated blows to the head helped.
There is an interesting underlying plot commentary on the Italian lifestyle in the 40s and 50s as well as the rigging and attempted rigging of fights/sports.
End of Spoilers
Over all though, not my favorite. I'm not sure if I liked this better or worse than Casablanca. I'm going to go see Titanic out in theaters with my friend Kate on the 15th of April, as I am a total sucker for anniversaries and significant dates. That is most likely the next the AFI film I will be watching.
Next in the Netflix Queue is Winter's Bone, which I hope to get in time to take with me to DC so Lily and I can watch Jennifer Lawrence before we finally see Hunger Games!!!!!!!!!!!
After this though, I am putting a hold on my account, as if the last month or so is any indication, there is no way I will have time to watch anytime soon. Yay one month from Finals!
