Raging Bull (1980) review

Opening credits pa lang, ang ganda na agad ng framing. Boxed in siya sa boxing ring, parang visual cue na agad na trapped siya, hindi lang physically kundi mentally and emotionally. I watched this right after Taxi Driver, and ibang Robert De Niro ito. Kitang kita yung dedication niya. He really put in the work with his body to look like a boxer. Nagkalaman siya, and the acting feels like a wild man ready to knock everyone out. I think may prosthetics din sa mukha niya, especially sa mga sore and battered scenes, which made the punishment feel even more brutal. I really like how the fights were shot. Mostly close ups and mid body shots lang. Walang wide heroic angles. You can really feel the raw grit of boxing, lalo na kapag may heat fumes distorting the image. I also like the use of slow motion combined with blood spurting out. It’s violent, ugly, and very physical, not glamorous at all. I am kind of happy for him when he found a more supportive wife compared to the first one who keeps on nagging. But even then, you can feel that no matter who is beside him, the real problem is still him. The black and white cinematography didn’t really work for me. Parang C’mon C’mon na film ng A24. It prevents me from being fully immersed at times. I get the artistic intention, but emotionally, it kept me at a distance. Overall, I think this film is about success and self sabotage. How someone can reach the top, be celebrated, feared, and respected, but still destroy everything from the inside. Hindi nya kalaban yung mundo, kundi ang sarili nya.