Raging Bull1980

The Scorses-a-thon This is unusual for me. There are many unpopular movies that I have loved. Just look at my five-star list. But very rarely, if ever, has there been a very popular movie that I have really disliked. Maybe it’s just from watching like ten Scorsese movies in a row, but I’m kind of tired of these stories on toxic masculinity, especially one with a character that has exactly zero redeeming qualities.  This movie does look incredible, and the fight scenes are cool. But I don’t care about this guy if he wins or loses, and honestly, I wish he would just drop dead. I feel like Marin Scorsese’s other characters have some depth or redeeming qualities, but this guy just sucks. Also, all the stuff between the fights, which unfortunately is the majority of the movie, feels like a real step backwards. It reminds me of Who’s That Knocking, which, let me remind you, is his first film. The pacing is just excruciating, and I just don’t care.  I’m actually writing this while the movie is still playing, which I never do because I’m just waiting for it to end. I don’t have a problem with unlikeable or problematic characters, but this movie is just so dull.  It really is a good-looking film, but it’s not enough to get me to care.  Maybe, maybe it would play better in isolation outside of a marathon.  New York, New York was almost three hours long, but compared to this, that was a summer breeze. This just drags.  This ending is actually worlds more interesting, and I wish it was the whole film. A washed-up fighter who recites Shakespeare is more interesting than an asshole fighter on his way to the top.  This was a wash for me, and I’m pretty disappointed. And it kind of makes me worried for the rest of the marathon.