Internal Conflict In Raging Bull
Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980) is not a movie about boxing, instead the boxing underscores the true meaning of the film, Jake LaMotta’s, Robert De Niro, inner demons and deep feelings of inadequacy. True to the message, the openings scene does not take the typical route of most sports movies, showing a scene where the main character, or team, is preparing for their first match of the film interlaced with shots of people in a stadium, even though it appears at first to do be doing so. Raging Bull opens with a scene where Jake LaMotta is shadow boxing in an empty ring; this scene, even though it is not evident until closely examined, shows Jake’s internal conflict and sets up the character development method of the movie.
Jake LaMotta’s
shadow boxing is seen from a long shot on a still camera with a normal lens and a shallow depth of field, giving a full view of the entire ring, while keeping Jake always sightly out of focus. Our view is also some what obscured by the ropes marking the boundary of the ring. The ring is cast in a fog, which makes the ring and Jake the only things visible. The background and the rest of the people in the building are not visible to the viewer, giving the entire scene a dream like quality. The only clue that there is someone else in the room is the disembodied flashes of light that usually come from cameras. The use of black and white film and the slow motion helps in creating this effect as hard shadows are accented, Jake is completely cast in shadow, and the slow movement gives an overall unrealistic feeling to the shot. The only sound in this scene is the music; all noise of a crowd that you would expect from a crowded stadium is taken out to focus on the main track from the film. The music, “Intermezzo” from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, sets a somber tone. An unusual feeling in a sports movie, and prepares the viewer for the coming tragedy rather than the usual uplifting and inspirational story.
Making this scene look like a dream seems to be the intended result as there is no reason that the ring would be so covered in fog. Upon close examination, one comes to realize that this scene is either in Jake’s head or never happened. Either way this scene is intended to completely be allegory. The ring is the only place where Jake feels he is able to express himself, he is seen moving not like a boxer, but moving more like a dancer across the ring. The ropes of the ring, shown very close to the camera to give the sense of prison bars, could also show how the violence in the ring is trapping him. The violence in his life and in his head are pushing others out and trapping him in a constant downward spiral through out the movie. The scene is also ironic, as he moves alone in the ring, a very violent place, it refers to how Jake fights himself. Jake’s inner conflict can only be released by letting it out on someone else, usually, but not always, by boxing.
This scene is a microcosm of the story telling in the movie. It is never said that Jake is a man constantly on edge, distrustful of everyone, including his family, and constantly feels the need to assert his dominance due to his feeling of inadequacy. The acting of De Niro (especially the facial expressions), the music, and the cinematography all convey this without anyone needing to spell this out to the viewer at anytime in the movie. All of those elements can be seen from this shot.
Jake LaMotta’s
shadow boxing is seen from a long shot on a still camera with a normal lens and a shallow depth of field, giving a full view of the entire ring, while keeping Jake always sightly out of focus. Our view is also some what obscured by the ropes marking the boundary of the ring. The ring is cast in a fog, which makes the ring and Jake the only things visible. The background and the rest of the people in the building are not visible to the viewer, giving the entire scene a dream like quality. The only clue that there is someone else in the room is the disembodied flashes of light that usually come from cameras. The use of black and white film and the slow motion helps in creating this effect as hard shadows are accented, Jake is completely cast in shadow, and the slow movement gives an overall unrealistic feeling to the shot. The only sound in this scene is the music; all noise of a crowd that you would expect from a crowded stadium is taken out to focus on the main track from the film. The music, “Intermezzo” from Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, sets a somber tone. An unusual feeling in a sports movie, and prepares the viewer for the coming tragedy rather than the usual uplifting and inspirational story.
Making this scene look like a dream seems to be the intended result as there is no reason that the ring would be so covered in fog. Upon close examination, one comes to realize that this scene is either in Jake’s head or never happened. Either way this scene is intended to completely be allegory. The ring is the only place where Jake feels he is able to express himself, he is seen moving not like a boxer, but moving more like a dancer across the ring. The ropes of the ring, shown very close to the camera to give the sense of prison bars, could also show how the violence in the ring is trapping him. The violence in his life and in his head are pushing others out and trapping him in a constant downward spiral through out the movie. The scene is also ironic, as he moves alone in the ring, a very violent place, it refers to how Jake fights himself. Jake’s inner conflict can only be released by letting it out on someone else, usually, but not always, by boxing.
This scene is a microcosm of the story telling in the movie. It is never said that Jake is a man constantly on edge, distrustful of everyone, including his family, and constantly feels the need to assert his dominance due to his feeling of inadequacy. The acting of De Niro (especially the facial expressions), the music, and the cinematography all convey this without anyone needing to spell this out to the viewer at anytime in the movie. All of those elements can be seen from this shot.