When searching the website for our great biltong and jerky many customers are directed to websites referencing the Raging Bull movie rather than Raging Bull Snacks. We of course have nothing to do with the movie or indeed anyone in history who has used the name Raging Bull. To be fair we actually hadn’t even thought about the boxing connotations until now! So why have we called our biltong and jerky brand Raging Bull Snacks? Nothing deeper than we really just liked the name!
Sticking with the boxing theme (on a roll now!) our dedication to crafting the highest quality biltong & beef jerky snacks has actually been acknowledged by the Guild of Fine Food with multiple Great Taste Awards (champions of our class). That could be because we have been crafting award winning biltong and jerky here in the UK for over 20 years so we really know our way around the ring (ok that is the last boxing reference). The skills and passion for our craft have been passed down through generations of our family and we think its important that we honour those traditions by using only the finest natural ingredients and beef from farms with a focus on high animal welfare and sustainability. Put simply we make great high protein snacks and if you want to learn more about the best biltong and jerky in the UK visit our website where you can find our Original Beef Biltong, Chilli Beef Biltong , Teriyaki Beef Biltong, Peppered Beef Jerky, Sweet Hot Beef Jerky and Original Beef Jerky.
If though you want to learn more about the movie and its main protagonists, we thought we would help you out with the below……
Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull movie is a 1980 biographical film starring Robert De Niro as the real-life boxer Jake LaMotta. The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, and it is considered a masterpiece of American cinema. We will explore why in a moment but first who was Jake LaMotta?
Jake LaMotta was a legendary middleweight boxer from the Bronx, New York, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time. However, his life outside the ring was just as fascinating, marked by his tumultuous relationships, run-ins with the law, and his struggle with personal demons.
LaMotta was Born on July 10, 1922, the eldest of seven children to Italian immigrants. His childhood was marked by poverty, violence, and crime and he dropped out of school at the age of 14 to start working odd jobs to help support his family. He discovered boxing at the age of 16, and quickly found that he had a talent for the sport while competing in amateur fights. In 1941, LaMotta turned professional and began fighting in small venues around New York City.
He quickly gained a reputation as a tough fighter with a strong chin and became known for his aggressive style which earned him the nickname “The Bronx Bull”. In 1949, LaMotta got the chance to fight Marcel Cerdan for the world middleweight title in what is widely considered one of the greatest middleweight championship fights in boxing history.
The fight took place on June 16, 1949, at the Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. Cerdan was the reigning middleweight champion and came into the fight with a record of 111 wins and only four losses. LaMotta had previously lost to Cerdan in a non-title fight. In the first round, LaMotta landed a devastating left hook that broke Cerdan’s right hand but Cerdan continued to fight on, using his left hand to land several powerful punches. As the fight progressed, LaMotta began to take control, punishing Cerdan with a barrage of body shots and in the ninth round, LaMotta landed a crushing left hook that sent Cerdan to the canvas. Cerdan tried to get up, but his injured right hand prevented him from doing so, and he was counted out.
For LaMotta, it was the highlight of his career. Cerdan, unfortunately, never got a chance to avenge his loss, as he died in a plane crash just a few months later. LaMotta lost his middleweight title two years later to Sugar Ray Robinson. The fight, which took place at Chicago Stadium, was the sixth and final meeting between the two fighters. Robinson won the fight by a technical knockout in the thirteenth round, becoming the new middleweight champion of the world.
Despite his success in the ring, LaMotta’s personal life was far from stable. He was married six times, and his jealousy and infidelity led to the breakdown of many of his relationships. LaMotta’s relationship with his brother Joey was also fraught, with the two often at odds both personally and professionally. He had a series of run-ins with the law, including a stint in prison for pimping. However, he later turned his life around and became a stand-up comedian, actor, and author publishing his autobiography, Raging Bull: My Story, in 1970, which was later adapted into the film. He also performed regularly at clubs and theatres throughout the United States and appeared in a number of films and television shows, including “The Hustler”, “The Bronx Bull”, and “Miami Vice”. LaMotta died on September 19, 2017, at the age of 95.
Raging Bull is a deeply complex and emotional film, exploring themes of masculinity, violence, and self-destruction. It is a character study of a flawed and troubled man, and it does not shy away from showing the darker aspects of LaMotta’s personality. However, the film also highlights the redemptive power of love and forgiveness, as LaMotta’s relationship with his brother and wife serves as a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
The movie was both critically acclaimed and a commercial success. It was made on a budget of approximately $18 million and grossed over $23 million at the box office worldwide and was nominated for eight Academy Awards. It actually won Oscars for Best Actor (no surprise Robert De Niro) performance and for Best Editing for Thelma Schoonmaker’s work on the film. Despite being nominate it did not win for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay, among others. However, the film’s critical acclaim and impact on cinema have solidified its place as a classic and a masterpiece in the world of filmmaking. Why?
1.Direction and Cinematography: Martin Scorsese’s direction and the film’s cinematography by Michael Chapman were both highly praised by critics. The black-and-white cinematography gave the film a raw, gritty feel, which perfectly captured the world of boxing in the 1940s and 50s. Scorsese’s use of slow-motion, close-ups, and camera movement during the fight scenes created a sense of intensity and realism that was unparalleled in other boxing films of the time.
2.Robert De Niro’s Performance: Robert De Niro’s portrayal of Jake LaMotta was a masterclass in acting. De Niro gained 60 pounds to play the older LaMotta, and his transformation was so convincing that it was hard to believe it was the same actor who played the younger, leaner version of the character. De Niro’s performance was praised for its emotional depth, physicality, and authenticity.
3.Screenplay: The screenplay for “Raging Bull” was written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin, based on LaMotta’s memoir, “Raging Bull: My Story.” It was praised for its honesty and authenticity in depicting LaMotta’s life and career which was a departure from the typical Hollywood sports biopic.
4.Themes and Symbolism: “Raging Bull” explores themes of violence, masculinity, and self-destructiveness. The film’s use of animal symbolism, particularly the bull, was praised for its effectiveness in conveying LaMotta’s primal and instinctual nature. The film’s exploration of LaMotta’s relationships with his family, particularly his brother Joey (played by Joe Pesci), added an emotional depth to the film that resonated with audiences and critics alike.
Martin Scorsese is one of the most revered and influential directors in the history of cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, he has directed some of the most iconic and ground-breaking films in the history of the medium.
Scorsese was born in Queens, New York, in 1942, to Italian-American parents and was fascinated by the world of cinema from an early age. He enrolled in New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied film and met some of the future collaborators who would shape his career, including screenwriter Jay Cocks and actor Harvey Keitel.
Scorsese’s early films, such as “Who’s That Knocking at My Door” (1967) and “Mean Streets” (1973), were gritty and realistic depictions of life in New York City’s neighbourhoods. They established him as a master of the crime genre, with a talent for portraying complex and flawed characters. His use of fast-paced editing, intense sound design, and vivid cinematography also set him apart from other filmmakers of the era.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Scorsese made a series of films that are now considered classics of American cinema. “Taxi Driver” (1976) explored the seedy underbelly of New York City through the eyes of a troubled loner played by Robert De Niro, “Raging Bull” in 1980 and then the “The King of Comedy” in 1982 which was a biting satire of celebrity culture and media obsession, starring De Niro alongside Jerry Lewis. Scorsese continued to make acclaimed films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including “Goodfellas” (1990), “Casino” (1995), and “Gangs of New York” (2002).
In recent years, Scorsese has continued to push the boundaries of cinema with films like “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013), “Silence” (2016), and “The Irishman” (2019). He has also been a vocal advocate for the preservation of film history, serving as a board member of the Film Foundation and working to restore classic films from around the world.
Robert De Niro is one of the most accomplished and respected actors in the history of American cinema. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has delivered some of the most memorable performances in film history.
De Niro was born in New York City in 1943, to parents who were both involved in the arts. He began his acting career on stage, before transitioning to film in the 1960s. His breakout role came in 1973, with Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” and throughout the 1970s he established himself as one of the most talented actors of his generation with roles in classic films like “The Godfather Part II” (1974) and “Taxi Driver” (1976). His performances in these films were marked by their intensity, emotional depth, and sheer physicality. He was willing to push himself to the limit in order to fully inhabit his characters, and this commitment to his craft made him stand out among his peers.
De Niro’s collaborations with Scorsese in particular is considered among the greatest partnerships in film history. As highlighted above the two first worked together on “Mean Streets,” and then went onto make “Raging Bull”, “Goodfellas”, and “The Irishman”. These films showcased De Niro’s range as an actor, as he portrayed characters from all walks of life, from boxers to gangsters to ordinary working-class men.
De Niro’s performances in these films have earned him numerous accolades over the years, including two Academy Awards for Best Actor (“The Godfather Part II” and “Raging Bull”). He has also been nominated for several other Oscars, as well as Golden Globes and BAFTAs. In addition to his work on screen, De Niro has also been involved in producing and directing. He founded Tribeca Productions in 1989, and has produced numerous films and TV shows over the years and directed several films, including “A Bronx Tale” (1993) and “The Good Shepherd” (2006).
In recent years, De Niro has continued to work steadily in film, with roles in movies like “Joker” and “The War with Grandpa”. Despite his decades-long career, he remains one of the most respected actors in Hollywood.
Robert De Niro’s performance in “Raging Bull” is widely regarded as one of the greatest acting performances of all time. He gained over 50 pounds to convincingly play the older, out-of-shape LaMotta, and trained extensively to master the boxer’s mannerisms and fighting style. But it was his ability to convey the character’s inner turmoil and self-destructive tendencies that truly set his performance apart.
Throughout the film, De Niro’s LaMotta is a deeply flawed and troubled individual consumed by jealousy and insecurity and he takes out his frustrations on his loved ones and opponents in the boxing ring. But despite his many flaws, De Niro’s portrayal of LaMotta is never less than empathetic conveying the character’s pain and vulnerability with remarkable nuance and sensitivity. The performance leaves you feeling for La Motta even as he behaves in reprehensible ways.
One of the most striking things about De Niro’s performance is the physicality of his acting. He throws himself into every scene with a raw, visceral intensity that is truly remarkable to watch. Whether he is in the boxing ring or engaging in a heated argument with his wife, De Niro’s physical presence is always powerful and compelling.
But perhaps the most impressive thing about De Niro’s performance is the way he transforms throughout the course of the film. He starts out as a young, ambitious boxer with dreams of fame and fortune, but as the story progresses, we see him become increasingly bitter and self-destructive. De Niro conveys this transformation with incredible subtlety and nuance, capturing every shift in LaMotta’s personality with remarkable precision.
Over the years, “Raging Bull” has continued to be regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, and its legacy has only grown stronger with time.
Martin Scorsese, already an accomplished director, cemented his status as a master of his craft with the movie and De Niro, who had already won an Oscar for his role in “The Godfather Part II,” pushed his acting abilities to new heights and established himself as one of the greatest actors of his generation.
The film also marked a turning point in the way biographical films were made. Scorsese’s unconventional approach to the genre, which eschewed a traditional chronological structure and emphasised character over narrative, was groundbreaking and has been emulated by countless filmmakers since.
Moreover, the film’s use of black and white cinematography and innovative editing techniques, such as the slow-motion fight scenes, has influenced a generation of filmmakers, including Darren Aronofsky, who cited “Raging Bull” as a significant influence on his film “The Wrestler.”
Beyond its impact on the film industry, “Raging Bull” has also had a broader cultural impact. The film’s portrayal of toxic masculinity, jealousy, and self-destruction remains as relevant today as it did when it was released over forty years ago. It has become a touchstone for discussions of masculinity in popular culture and has inspired countless think pieces, essays, and academic analyses.
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