Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (Cambridge Film Handbooks)

Since its initial release, Raging Bull has been called the greatest film of the 1980s, the greatest boxing film ever made, the greatest sports film ever made, and, indeed, one of the greatest films of all time. The introduction to this study tells the story of how the film came about, examining its inspirations and positioning the film within the history of cinema. Subsequent chapters, each written by contributors from different disciplines, critique the film from a variety of perspectives. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 List of Illustrations......Page 9 List of Contributors......Page 11 Abbreviations......Page 13 Introduction......Page 15 1 Art and Genre in Raging Bull......Page 33 PLOT......Page 34 CHARACTERS......Page 44 SETTING AND ICONOGRAPHY......Page 49 NOTES......Page 54 2 Visual Absurdity in Raging Bull......Page 55 RAGING BULL AND “INTELLECTUAL MONTAGE”......Page 58 VISUAL FLUIDITY AND RAGING BULL’S LONG STEADICAM SHOT......Page 64 THE FIRST SEVEN SHOTS OF RAGING BULL......Page 68 ON THE BRINK OF ABSURDITY: “LA MOTTA VS. SUGAR RAY ROBINSON, DETROIT 1943”......Page 72 NOTES......Page 80 BEGINNING BETWEEN DOING AND SEEMING......Page 83 THE KING OF TRAGEDY......Page 87 THE ACTOR’S BLUNT INSTRUMENT......Page 91 PLAYING POSSUM......Page 95 ENDING BETWEEN PRETENDING AND CONTENDING......Page 98 “I’D RATHER RECITE...” OR, WHY ACTING (MASCULINE) IS BETTER THAN FIGHTING......Page 102 NOTES......Page 104 4 Women in Raging Bull......Page 106 IRMA: THE SHRIKE......Page 109 VICKIE: THE TROPHY WIFE......Page 115 THE NIGHTCLUB WOMEN......Page 127 NOTES......Page 128 5 My Victims, My Melancholia......Page 130 NOTES......Page 147 “RAGING BULL: NO PUNCHES PULLED”......Page 149 “RAGING BULL”......Page 151 FROM “MUSCLEMEN”......Page 153 “DE NIRO PACKS A MEAN PUNCH: STUNNING BUT UNSENTIMENTAL, RAGING BULL SCORES A KO”......Page 156 “RAGING BULL”......Page 157 “RAGING BULL IS A GRITTY, BRUTAL MASTERPIECE”......Page 159 Filmography......Page 163 Selected Bibliography......Page 171 Index......Page 173 Raging Bull (1980) represents American film making at its best. Since its initial release, the film has been called the greatest film of the 1980s, the greatest boxing film ever made, the greatest sports film ever made, and, indeed, one of the greatest films of all time. Raging Bull: A Cambridge Film Handbook presents the fullest critical appreciation of Scorsese's film available. The introduction tells the story of how the film came about, examining its inspirations and positioning Raging Bull within the history of cinema. Subsequent chapters, each written by contributors from different disciplines - film studies, literary history, theater history - discuss the film from a variety of perspectives. Though primarily directed toward undergraduate and graduate film courses, this collection should enhance appreciation of Raging Bull for all readers. Contributors to this volume have been issued a challenge: to write chapters that contain fundamental information for students, to include new information and ideas for seasoned film scholars, and to write in a jargon-free style that all readers can appreciate. Raging Bull has been called the greatest film of the 1980s, the greatest boxing film ever made, and one of the greatest films of all time. This volume provides a timely critical appreciation of this work. In his introduction, Kevin J. Hayes recounts how the story of Jake La Motta, the protagonist in Raging Bull, came to be made into a film. He examines the film within the oeuvre of Martin Scorsese, traces its sources, and positions it within the history of cinema. Subsequent chapters examine Raging Bull from a variety of methodological and critical perspectives and lend new insights to the work. Aimed for use in undergraduate and graduate film courses, Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull," will also enhance appreciation of this seminal film for general audiences. "Raging Bull has been called the greatest film of the 1980s, the greatest boxing film ever made, and one of the greatest films of all time. This volume provides a timely critical appreciation of this work. In his introduction, Kevin J. Hayes recounts how the story of Jake La Motta, the protagonist in Raging Bull, came to be made into a film. He examines the film through the oeuvre of Martin Scorsese, traces its sources, and positions it within the history of cinema. Subsequent chapters examine Raging Bull from a variety of methodological and critical perspectives and lend new insights into the work Aimed for use in undergraduate and graduate film courses, Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull" will also enhance appreciation of this seminal film for general audiences."--Jacket