Synopsis for
Raging Bull (1980)

Comments by actor / writer Roy C Peterson

I had no knowledge of this film when I was told that we were going to see "Raging Bull" and said in perfect seriousness "I don't see Robert Deniro as an Indian Chief, but if anybody can do it, I guess he can",

The fight scenes are done meticulously. The brutality is really intense. There are lots of short takes, fast clusters of hard combination punches. The sense of realism and visceral identification with the fighters is very great. The viewer feels like he is in the ring being hit.

Outside of the ring in the rest of the film Scorcese uses a much more relaxed pace and longer takes so we can see subtle facial expressions and absorb dramatic complexities. One good example is when Joey introduces Jake to Vickie with a chain link fence between them. Jake is very shy and awkward because Vickie is so young and beautiful. But Jake is also courageous, knows what he wants, and asks her out anyway.

After Jake and Vickie get married the picture becomes a close study of Jake's unreasonable worry about Vickie's fidelity. Scorcese often uses slow motion to grab the viewer's attention and heighten the dramatic effect of Jake's glaring anger and jealousy.

There are effective tracking shots such as the long one of Jake going from the training room to the ring. There is also a very impressive shorter one of Jake strutting victoriously, smirking proudly sideways towards the camera. Very good wiseenhiemer facial expression.