Raging Bull story
Raging Bull is a 1980 American biographical sports drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, produced by Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler and adapted by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin from Jake LaMotta's memoir Raging Bull: My Story. The film, distributed by United Artists, stars Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, an Italian-American middleweight boxer whose self-destructive and obsessive rage, sexual jealousy, and animalistic appetite destroyed his relationship with his wife and family. Also featured in the film are Joe Pesci as Joey, LaMotta's well-intentioned brother and manager who tries to help Jake battle his inner demons, and Cathy Moriarty as his wife. Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, and Frank Vincent all play supporting roles in the film.
10 total · 7 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| brother and brother | major | Jack and Joey |
| coping with a jealous lover | major | Vicky was annoyed when Jake acted jealous |
| extramarital affair | major | Jake began an affair with 15 year old Vicky; later he worried about her faithfulness |
| husband and wife | major | Jake and first wife; Jake and Vicky |
| romantic jealousy | major | Jack was jealous over Vicky |
| the desire for fame | major | Jake wanted to be world champion; Jake wanted to be cheered even when told to take a dive |
| the sport of boxing | major | we saw how professional boxing is conducted and heard talk about it |
| divorce | minor | Vicky divorced Jake |
| domestic violence | minor | Jack became violent and hit both his wife and his brother, although never to the extent that anyone considered involving the police. |
| fall from grace | minor | Jake had been world champion, then got divorced and went to prison. |