The eight boxing matches are the backbone of the movie, and various other passages are attached to it and unfold from it to develop into a big tree in the sky. These boxing plays not only complete the narrative, but also complete the shaping of the characters and form the theme.
First round.
There are several messages that Scorsese wants to convey here.
1. Jack LaMotta's boxing style is so much as his personal character. His fighting ability is extraordinary, and he even has a hobby of masochism, which is reflected in the first shot. At the same time, his desperate attitude towards offense is reflected in his personality as his persistence to his goals.
2. The main external contradiction between Jack LaMotta and the underworld - the manipulation of the underworld makes him unable to win the game even if he knocks down his opponents, and still has no peace after losing the game. There is a chair that fell from the sky in the dark. But he just wants to rely on himself, and he doesn't want to be controlled by others. It's his character and a way for Lao Ma to build his image.
3. There was a riot scene in the first boxing match, which was the only one in 8 boxing matches. The sense of chaos created by Lao Ma is also paving the way for Jack LaMotta's entire chaotic life, and the scene of that woman playing the piano coincides with the sense of religion he hopes to achieve.
second round.
Fight against Robinson. It fully reflects the boxing strength of Jack La Mota, like a fierce animal. In the background sound of the upgrade shot of La Mota, the old horse uses many animal calls. After the fight, the shot of the broadcast speaker falling from the sky was an announcement that Jack LaMotta was capable of becoming the champion.
This scene is immediately after Jack LaMotta's love scene. At this stage, his life is on the rise, although there are other problems hidden.
The third scene.
Still fighting Candy Robinson. Lao Ma photographed the boxing ring into a purgatory. Everyone seemed to be scorched by fire. The background sound was still mixed with the cry of beasts, but it was even more tragic. He deliberately turned Jack LaMotta's beloved boxing into a painful torture. In the lounge after the boxing match, Jack LaMotta had a reflection on himself for the first time. Although this rude guy had simple thinking, his IQ was also very problematic. The sequence of the two shots he looked at in the mirror is very inspiring to me.
Before this boxing purgatory, it was a sex scene with Jack La Motta, where it should be explained that he insisted on self-repression of sex for his boxing.
At this time, his life changed from rising to falling.
At this point, it is considered the end of a stage. His love paragraph is also over, there is a short sweetness, but those colorful pictures are intertwined with each victory of his but unable to win the championship. What follows will be the intensification of various internal and external contradictions step by step.
The fourth game.
No special treatment was done, just to show that Jack LaMotta violently beat Guinillo, punching him in the face and breaking his nose. After the victory, La Mota smiled triumphantly at his wife. It was all this patient's crazy jealousy and possessiveness.
At the same time, adding narratives makes the underworld more eager to control him.
Here he rises again as the victor he considers to be.
The fifth game.
He betrayed himself and punched fake punches. That's why the underworld boss sits under the stage, and that's why the two brothers in the dark passage are resigned, so he stood on the stage and walked around anxiously before the start of the game. But after all, he held the bottom line of his personality and never fell for anyone.
In this boxing match, his life is of course falling.
The sixth game.
His first world champion. The meaning of this scene is actually in the long shot before the start of the game. That shot also covers his previous life. Warming up in a small lounge, walking through the narrow silence with his brother and coach. Through the passage, stepped up the steps, passed through the cheers and applause of the crowd, and came to the center of the ring. At the end of the shot, the camera no longer closely follows Jack LaMotta. It was far away, slapped him and his ring high, which meant it was self-evident.
As soon as the bell rang at the start of the game, he rushed forward before the opponent could turn around. He waited too long for this day, paid too much, and wanted too much, no wonder. The game is as violently as it should be, and there is no need to set him up for any difficulties here.
The famous Podwell once commented in a commentary that Jack LaMotta took the initiative to embrace his opponent after the victory of the game, which is also implying his homosexuality. In my opinion, the boy named Bo is talking nonsense. A successful man is here. At that moment, he would suddenly want to show his kindness and pride. It is not difficult to understand, even if his character is bad.
The state is up.
The seventh game.
Defending. Before this scene, he beat his wife and brother, and broke with his brother completely. He defended his title in a way that is almost self-abuse, is it a kind of proof or regret? Or both? Here is the one I am not sure about.
At this point, the rise and fall have become blurred. Victory is in hand, but more can be lost.
The eighth game.
The last game, with Candy Robinson. Before the start, his coach's series of actions were clearly arranged by the old horse, which was like baptizing and saying goodbye to the corpse.
He took the initiative to give up the championship, which is his self-punishment for all his previous actions and choices. The theme of "Redemption" of the old horse is half completed here. The winner is not important, the last shot slid over Robinson and the celebrating crowd indifferently, staying on the blood drop on the rope. The plot handling about the loss of the championship is contrary to the real experience of Jack LaMota, a real character, and is used by the old horse to strengthen his expression. This is in line with our slogan of "above life" that we have always mentioned.
Lao Ma combined the speed of this boxing shot, and it was extremely shocking.
The originally pursued upturn has become a downfall, and the originally evasive downturn has become an uplift. He gave up the championship and won himself back.
Look at how complicated and sophisticated these eight boxing matches of Lao Ma are, step by step, he has reached the height of the goal he hopes to achieve.
This note is only about eight boxing matches, the rest of the film has not been recorded yet, and those are all wonderful. For example, the scene where he and his first wife had a meal and quarrel was so fucking good.
View more about Raging Bull reviews
