The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.The life of boxer Jake LaMotta, whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.
- Won 2 Oscars
- 24 wins & 28 nominations total
What Scorsese Film Ranks Highest on IMDb?
What Scorsese Film Ranks Highest on IMDb?
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen the real Jake LaMotta saw the movie, he said it made him break down in tears and realize for the first time what a terrible person he had been. He asked the real Vicki LaMotta "Was I really like that?". Vicki replied "You were worse."
- GoofsWhen Jake follows Joey into the parking garage, hip-hop-style graffiti is visible outside it.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Jake La Motta: I remember those cheers / They still ring in my ears / After years, they remain in my thoughts. / Go to one night / I took off my robe, and what'd I do? I forgot to wear shorts. / I recall every fall / Every hook, every jab / The worst way a guy can get rid of his flab. / As you know, my life wasn't drab. / Though I'd much... Though I'd rather hear you cheer / When you delve... Though I'd rather hear you cheer / When I delve into Shakespeare / "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse", I haven't had a winner in six months.
[he lights a cigar]
Jake La Motta: Though I'm no Olivier / I would much rather... And though I'm no Olivier / If he fought Sugar Ray / He would say / That the thing ain't the ring, it's the play. / So give me a... stage / Where this bull here can rage / And though I could fight / I'd much rather recite /... that's entertainment.
- Crazy creditsThe film is in black and white, but during the opening credits, the title is in red letters.
- Alternate versionsCBS edited 8 minutes from this film for its 1986 network television premiere.
- ConnectionsEdited into Tough Guise: Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity (1999)
- SoundtracksCavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo
Music by Pietro Mascagni
Performed by Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna (as Orchestra of Bologna Municop Thetra)
Conducted by Arturo Basile
Courtesy of RCA, S.P.A.
Scorsese and De Niro nobody needs say any more. Whether it be media satire (King of Comedy), small time thugs (Mean Streets) or real gangsta s**t (Goodfellas), the two rarely miss. This was one of their best to date (and probably for ever). The story is fascinating in itself but as an examination of masculinity it excels. The film allows us to watch a man who goes along with all the things he thinks make him a man even when those characteristics and habits begin to destroy everything he has his marriage, his realtionships and his career. Combine this with the gripping boxing tale of ups and downs and you have a film that never outstays it's welcome.
Scorsese is on top form the use of black and white any have been a quality issue, but he uses it well. The fight scenes are other worldly exaggerated to the extent that it is breathtaking and more shocking than previous boxing scenes in other movies. My favourite effect is the sound editing in the fights where silence and calm seem to descend just before key moments ..amazing. The relationship stuff is also gripping and Scorsese handles he human cost just as well as he shows us the physical beatings.
De Niro is amazing the method stuff alone is great, but his whole performance is intense. Similarly Moriaty, Pesci and Frank Vincent are excellent however they all stand in De Niro's shadow.
Overall an excellent film on so many levels, as a story, as a examination of masculinity, as a sports film, as a lesson in direction and editing ..this excels in so many ways may it never drop out of the top ten from the twentieth century!
- bob the moo
- Mar 15, 2002
- Permalink
The Movies of Martin Scorsese
The Movies of Martin Scorsese
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Life of Jake La Motta
- Filming locations
- Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(exteriors: Jake's neighborhood in the Bronx)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $18,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $23,383,987
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $128,590
- Nov 16, 1980
- Gross worldwide
- $23,405,198
- Runtime2 hours 9 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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