This film has the reputation as one of the greatest movies of the 80s but I’m not a fan. I can see it’s appeal to Robert de Niro, whose passion project this was – it’s full of long monologues and Jack La Motta is a great challenge, a character full of hate, anger, honor (he won’t throw a fight for the Mob), jealousy, sex appeal, violence, misogyny, devotion, toughness. Lots of memorable scenes, such as his jealous rants, pouring cold water on his dick, the fight scenes, winding up a performing clown in a nightclub.
But he’s a bore to be around, even on the page, and his adventures are monotonous. Lots of yelling, fighting and getting jealous, in constant repetitive cycles. At least Travis Bickle had some real ambition. The other characters aren't particularly memorable either.
Why do people love this so? I think it’s partly because in the film de Niro put on all those pounds. And some men get off on the misogyny and self-flagellation of it all.
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