Raging Bull

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

The film Raging Bull was definitely not what I thought it was going to be. The film, as discussed in class, is referred to as a sports film because of the fact that there is an element of boxing. For me, that is exactly what the boxing was in this film, just an element… a part of a greater whole. The film showed so much more depth than just two men in a ring trying to blow each other’s brains out. The camera is focused on honing in on Jake LoMatta’s every move, breath, and expression that the film becomes somewhat of a character analysis on this very seemingly egotistical, masochistic, yet attention-grabbing character. To tie everything in, the movie is dissolved into such amazing black and white cinematography that changes the entire dynamic of what the film may have been if it was in color. Overall, a sports film is not the right way to comment on what Raging Bull is because ultimately it defies the obvious and taps into something better.

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content. 

An interesting article that I found about the film is written by Alexander Ulloa and Lola Landekic from artofthetitle.com. The article opens with a very artistic standpoint and image talking about the very essence of who Jake LoMatta’s character is and the atmosphere of a boxing ring. Gradually, Ulloa and Landekic dives into the opening sequence, the music in the film, comments from the director, and then finally ends the article with an interview with the title designer, Dan Perri. The interview was conducted by Ian Albinson, and really highlights some of the inside facts about how the title sequence came to life step by step. The article was as detailed as what ratios the film ad title sequence were shot in, as well as the progression of how the letters spelling “Raging Bull” changed throughout the process. Besides having the article attached at the end, the article was a short one, but I still felt like I learned a lot more than I knew about the film and the process that took place to make it happen.  

***Link to article used***

Ulloa, Alexander, and Lola Landekic. "Raging Bull." <i>Art of the Title</i>. N.p., 29 Sept.

2015. Web. 9 Feb. 2016. &lt;http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/raging-bull/&gt;.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.  

The article I found didn’t change the way that I thought about the film, but instead may have just confirmed a few things. While watching the film, I kept wondering how so many things came to be and the interview with the title designer really helped to put things into perspective about the actual process. There was talk of how the film was black and white and how they had got it to be that way etc. There was one interesting point that came up in the article about the music not necessarily fitting the film in all of its aspects, and I didn’t know if I was the only one during the screening who recognized this. I didn’t feel that all of the music played fit every moment, especially in times where scenes were intense, but the music seemed calmer than the moment. The music was a definite contrast to the intensity of the entire film, but I feel like that was a stylistic choice made, and it was fascinating to come to that conclusion, and read about my exact thoughts.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film.

All in all, I would have to say that Raging Bull is a film that I never thought I’d end up liking because I am against so many of the ideas and beliefs presented within it. On the other hand, the film had a very raw and unkempt truth to it. For most of my life, I’ve seen Robert DeNiro much older, portraying very different roles than in Raging Bull. I felt like I was going back in time, and it was simply stunning. The entire film screening exuded an immense power that charges through the body that I could not shake even after it ended. I applaud the cinematography Scorsese brought forth here because this was an outstanding film, not only for the process behind its making, or some of the performances of the actors, but because of the work it has done outside of that and in the world. I am so glad that this film was on the list for this semester. Touching on a powerful scene, Sugar Ray might not have been able to knock Lo Matta down, but Robert DeNiro definitely knocked me down and blew me away. I will recommend this film from this day on.

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.