Raging Bull Movie Analysis

Boxing is a sport of blood, anger, and aggression that often reflects the participant’s emotions and personality. In Raging Bull, not only was Jake LaMotta an Italian man who practiced boxing, but he also tackled life outside the ring with the same ferocity. The movie describes, former middleweight champion Jake LaMotta and his struggles to find his place in life outside the ring. LaMotta is constantly being ruled by his emotions whether it is fear, rage, or jealously and in general can’t seem to find peace in his personal life. This screen write does an outstanding job at illlustrating an important life message, which is that success does not bring happiness as LaMotta cannot ignore his inner turmoil no matter how many times he wins. What this movie also offers is one of the most multifaceted characters in film, which is not only battling against enemies in the ring,but most importantly against himself as he attempts to take control of his life. It is for these reasons that many, including myself, see the film as one of the best pictures ever filmed.

To begin with, Raging Bull is a film adaptation of the life of the former Middleweight Champion boxer Jake LaMotta and was based on the memoir written by Jake LaMotta titled Raging Bull: My Story. Overall, the film went on to be nominated for eight academy awards, winning two for best actor and best film editing. This is not surprising as the film offers a critical examination of the nature of human behavior and the tragedy that evolves from it. Raging Bull begins with an older Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro) practicing a comedy routine for an upcoming performance. Though the beginning of the film starts at a much later date we are quickly flashed back to 1941 where Jake is fighting...

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...e public sphere does not coincide with the person behind closed doors.

In conclusion, although Raging Bull is essentially the autobiography of an Italian American the film does not come off as any more Italian then American. There are Italian-American themes such as the mafia and boxing, which many Italian-Americans took part in, yet they are mere pieces of the puzzle. The story is focused on Jake as an individual, which is understandable seeing that the real Jake LaMotta took part in the making of the film. It shows the inner struggle that plagued LaMotta for a significant portion of his life and the major affects it has on not only his relationships but also his phychological well-being. LaMotta’s story throws out the clichés that come with a boxing movie and uses boxing as a backdrop to the real story, the rise and fall of one man. Jake LaMotta the Raging Bull.