OK so I'm watching Raging Bull for the first time.

[hickman1937]

I'm 15 minutes in and all I see is actors having fun. Drama. No one walking the high wire. This is a classic? OK, OK, I'll watch for a little more, but christ tell me why I care about these idiot's story.

[enigmatic]

1. You watching TCM, too?

I've got in on while I do my overnight show; it's an incredibble film..

[hickman1937]

3. Of course. I'm TCM addict.

I don't like this movie.

[KitchenWitch]

2. I saw that one for the first time about 6 months ago

My son had to do a paper on a film and he chose that one. I found it to be a real downer.

[enigmatic]

4. it's a downer

but a masterpiece, too. LaMotta's life was pretty rough, and DeNiro captures it in all it's ugliness..

[KitchenWitch]

5. True

I found myself wanting to kick his ass myself half the time.

[hickman1937]

7. So why is this film and Taxi Driver more important than

Ghostbusters, Parenthood, and for crying out loud even Long Time Companion? Sturm and Drang? The clowns are the true actors. Why is it that the directors that understand the hardest acting in the world, comedy, and can produce, it are considered b-list?

[KitchenWitch]

12. I guess anything comedic is seen as fluff

I agree comedy is harder...because timing is so important.

But DiNiro can do comedy too!

[Wetzelbill]

6. it's a perfect movie

not something you can sit down and watch over and over again, but it is flawless.

[hickman1937]

8. I'll give you this, It's a very pretty movie.

Maybe it's my failing tv, but Martin Scorsese has an old school feel for shadows and light.

[Wetzelbill]

9. he does, really old school

He's such a film nerd, that's why. Really appreciates his craft. I wrote a paper on him once, had to read a book and watch a bunch of his films, back when I was in video school. If you notice every one of his films deals with a single, solitary character who is a bit of an out of place loner. LaMotta, Travis Bickle, Henry Hill from Goodfellas. None of them totally fit into regular society. He's a very fascinating filmmaker.

[hickman1937]

10. Their not just loners, but just one step away from psychotic.

I got bored with this movie and jumped to the biography channel's "Secret Societies", and I really hate reality tv. But if it's got to be ugly, than it better be real.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

15. He templated a lot of the visual look and feel on The Red Shoes

The classic ballet movie.

A lot of the boxing sequences are quite balletic.

[kid a]

14. I second that assessment!

love that movie . . .

. . . and there's a great line parodied in Waiting for Guffman:

"D'you fuck my wife?"

[hickman1937]

11. My sincere apologies to Martin Scorsese fans, but

he is not a true storyteller.

[jane_pippin]

13. What makes you say that?

I'm just interested to know.

[imperialismispasse]

16. Wait until the prison scene later

I think its very moving.