Raging Bull

Raging Bull is an incredible film. Its use of sound and editing really drive it forward. This is particularly evident in the fight scenes between Jake LaMotta and his rival Sugar Ray Robinson. In these scenes, sounds, like the punches and camera flashes, are amplified. This is to show the intensity and drama of it, but also how it feels and sounds to LaMotta himself. The camera flashes are especially disorienting, meant to represent what he’s experiencing mid-fight. They also shoot these scenes in a way that throws the audience in the ring itself, making them feel like a part of the fight as well as a spectator. We see this with shots from LaMotta’s perspective looking at Sugar Ray about to punch him in the face. Also with the editing, the interspersion of long takes with short, rapid cuts showcases the violence and tension of the fights. The long takes of Sugar Ray or LaMotta standing, hands up, ready to punch, act as little moments of introspection for the audience before they start hitting each other again and the extreme, hasty cuts resume. 

Not only the use of sound is important, but the lack thereof. In Martin Scorsese’s interview with Jim Leach, The Art of Scorsese, he talks about the importance of silence and what a big difference it makes. In these fight scenes often the main sound is actually silence. The sounds from the audience and the commentator can sometimes be heard faintly in the background, but the silence drowns it out. This again, is meant to show LaMotta in the moment. Everything else almost melts away as he focuses on the fight at hand. This use of silence as a main sound is unique and unlike most films we see today. Scorsese comments that “audiences in America unfortunately expect sound from first frame to last frame and I think they expect music, too” (37). The sound and music in a film often queues the audience how to feel, but Scorsese does almost the opposite of this. He takes out the sound, making the audience have to think on their own what to make of it. 

The film is a deep character study that makes the audience in turn reflect on their own selves. Scorsese talks about the importance he feels in telling stories of the real world that people can relate to. Gone are the light and fun musicals of the Classic Hollywood era. People didn’t want any more fluffy movies, but began to want to see films of what was happening in the world around them. 

The film is dark and gritty. I’ve noticed that a common theme in some of Scorsese’s films that I’ve seen is toxic masculinity and the unimportance of women. In Raging Bull, LaMotta is extremely insecure and takes this out on Vickie. He hyperfixates on the idea that she is cheating on him, even though she continually denies it and he has no evidence to prove otherwise. He takes it so far as to accuse his own brother, which leads to pretty much the end of their relationship. It’s upsetting and frustrating to watch LaMotta treat Vickie so terribly, but at the same time I think that’s the point. Scorsese does a really good job of making the audience uncomfortable. LaMotta views his whole life as a fight, and it ultimately leads to him ruining all his relationships and career itself.