I'm Not that Bad!

In your opinion, is Jake LaMotta a redeemable character?  Why or why not?  Does he have any positive traits that help salvage his character?  Did the choices he made bring about his downfall, or were those choices merely a side effect of a tragic flaw in his character?  In other words, could he have saved himself earlier in the film if he made different choices, or did was he destined to hit rock bottom first?

Who's the Boss?

Some reviewers have called this film a critique on masculinity.  If that is true, how is Scorsese getting this across?  Think specifically about the gender roles and relationships while answering.  How do different characters show affection for each other?  How are women depicted in this film?  How does Scorsese shoot them (sound, visuals, and dialogue)?  Contrast the male-male relationships we see with the male-female ones.  What does a woman become in Jake’s world?

The Guy Called Me an Animal!

Studio executives had fears about the release of this film because of the unadulterated savagery that abounded in the reels.  Examine the violence in this film.  Was it necessary for Scorsese to be so graphic?  How does Scorsese use the camera, sound, and editing to portray the brutality in Jake’s life?  How did the violence tie into both LaMotta’s strengths, as well as his weaknesses?  Think specifically about the way that LaMotta fights both in and out of the ring.  What is his style, and how is that style symbolic?  How does the violence relate to communication?  To sex?

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