Raging Bull (12/12) Movie CLIP - I Could've Been a Contender (1980) HD

CLIP DESCRIPTION:
Jake (Robert De Niro) practices his Marlon Brando lines in his dressing room before going on to perform.

FILM DESCRIPTION:
Martin Scorsese's brutal character study incisively portrays the true rise and fall and redemption of middleweight boxer Jake La Motta, a violent man in and out of the ring who thrives on his ability (and desire) to take a beating. Opening with the spectacle of the over-the-hill La Motta (Robert De Niro) practicing his 1960s night-club act, the film flashes back to 1940s New York, when Jake's career is on the rise. Despite pressure from the local mobsters, Jake trusts his brother Joey (Joe Pesci) to help him make it to a title bout against Sugar Ray Robinson the honest way; the Mob, however, will not cave in. Jake gets the title bout, and blonde teenage second wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarty), but success does nothing to exorcise his demons, even as he channels his rage into boxing. Alienating Vickie and Joey, and disastrously gaining weight, Jake has destroyed his personal and professional lives by the 1950s. After he hits bottom, however, Jake emerges with a gleam of self-awareness, as he sits rehearsing Marlon Brando's On the Waterfront speech in his dressing room mirror: "I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody." Working with a script adapted by Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader from La Motta's memoirs, Scorsese and De Niro sought to make an uncompromising portrait of an unlikable man and his ruthless profession. Eschewing uplifting Rocky-like boxing movie conventions, their Jake is relentlessly cruel and self-destructive; the only peace he can make is with himself. Michael Chapman's stark black-and-white photography creates a documentary/tabloid realism; the production famously shut down so that De Niro could gain 50-plus pounds. Raging Bull opened in late 1980 to raves for its artistry and revulsion for its protagonist; despite eight Oscar nominations, it underperformed at the box office, as audiences increasingly turned away from "difficult" films in the late '70s and early '80s. The Academy concurred, passing over Scorsese's work for Best Director and Picture in favor of Robert Redford and Ordinary People, although De Niro won a much-deserved Oscar, as did the film's editor, Thelma Schoonmaker. Oscar or no Oscar, Raging Bull has often been cited as the best American film of the 1980s.

CREDITS:
TM & © MGM (1980)
Cast: Robert De Niro
Director: Martin Scorsese
Producers: Robert Chartoff, Hal W. Polaire, Peter Savage, Irwin Winkler
Screenwriters: Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter, Peter Savage, Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin

WHO ARE WE?
The MOVIECLIPS channel is the largest collection of licensed movie clips on the web. Here you will find unforgettable moments, scenes and lines from all your favorite films. Made by movie fans, for movie fans.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MOVIE CHANNELS:

HIT US UP:

[aaronstark]

One brilliant actor portraying another brilliant actor intentionally poorly. Makes my mind melt.

[dirkdirksen]

I love this scene because Jake’s story is the complete opposite of what he’s recounting; his brother loved and protected him and Jake was a willing participant in fixing both in his favour and against. He got multiple title shots and became champ, achieving all his dreams.

His biggest foe was himself and the inadequacies he imagined in himself and others, and he threw away those who loved and supported him. He identifies with on the waterfront but only superficially, and his delivery of the monologue is flat as a reflection of this.

[WarbossRktfSants]

Ironically, De Niro did play as a younger Vito Corleone, originally owned by Marlon Brando. He must have loved the old man before he passed away.

[enriquemedina]

Marlon Brando won his first Oscar for Terry Malloy in “On the Waterfront” in 1955. His second for Vito Corleone in “The Godfather” in 1973 (he refused). In a pivotal scene from the latter, his character is shot in an assassination attempt. In the background of the scene, a “Jake La Motta vs Tommy Bell” boxing promotion poster is shown.

Robert De Niro won his first Oscar for “The Godfather, Part II” in 1975, playing a younger Vito Corleone. He won his second for this film, “Raging Bull” in 1981, where he plays Jake La Motta. This scene he recites the “I Could’ve Been a Contender” monologue from “On the Waterfront” starring...Marlon Brando.

Brando and De Niro did do one film together, “The Score” in 2001, Brando’s final film role.

[nickgillen]

There's so much depth and complexity to this scene. The contrast of the emotionless delivery of lines that Brando spilled his soul out with, then the words resonating with Jake and his relationship with his bother. Plus how he's speaking into the mirror like he's trying to chastise a younger version of himself for the decisions he's made which have led to the situation they're in. Something far beneath their potential. The film is a masterpiece.

[tarynashley]

How brilliant to have one of the greatest actors of his generation, DeNiro, to reenact an iconic monologue by another great actor of his generation, Brando

[johnnymarlin]

Greatest acting ever period, makes anygrown man nearly cry, simply outstanding "It was you charlie it was you !!

[CS-bwbs]

IM THE BOSS IM BOSS IM THE BOSS everymorning before work lol

[BrendanJSmith]

It really is amazing how well that scene from On the Waterfront summarizes Jake’s entire life.

[aishahdzol]

I watch On The Waterfront after De Niro quoting the lines of that movie, and I love it. It's pretty great that movie and I never watch it before. Both Brando and De Niro delivered those lines perfectly.

[docschweitz]

What a Movie. Will never ever EVER be repeated or duplicated. Words cannot describe the masterful craftsmanship of pure artwork. This type of production from "Hollywood"--Gone with the em Danno"

[evolutiontail]

This scene was painting a picture on self responsibility. Instead of going on talent he resorted to tanking (losing on purpose). This would cost him future title shots and his career wasn't the same. Now lamotta on the other hand did the same thing however he let his violent nature get the best of him. Both these guys got no one to blame but themselves. However lamotta realize deep down. While Brando is dead set on blaming his brother.

[cjwright]

the key part of this is the "just a little bit". It doesn't take a lot of effort to be your brother's keeper, but you do have to care, and not just about your own end.

[joyceyolandastorch]

It always amazes me how Robert De Niro & Al Pacino, can do so many films and have no problem remembering their lines. Thats not easy.

[grsword]

De Niro must have done that scene a million times in the mirror growing up. I don’t think a movie has ever portrayed a man’s rise and fall quite like this one. You can imagine that for Jake it must be worse than death.

[areteees]

He's doing acting of a guy acting... insane talent

[mkphotofilm]

"You're the boss, you're the boss, you're the boss"

[jacklawrence]

De Niro's acting makes this scene amazing, obviously, but what underpins that so impressively are the props and set dressing... The emptiness, absence, reflecting the character's life... A bare light bulb, an un-ringing telephone, empty bottles, clothes hangers without clothes. He has nothing right now and what he did have he threw away, and this scene absolutely reflects that.

[tristanfoss]

Marlon Brando plays Terry Malloy and wins an Oscar for it, De Niro does Malloy's speech and wins an Oscar for the role. Marlon Brando plays Vito Corleone and wins an Oscar for it, De Niro plays Vito Corleone and wins an Oscar for it.

[santaclaus]

I will stand by it now and forever, this is the best movie ever made