Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Film Related to Class:  I think that the music and the narration in the movie really made it what it was.  The narration gave the movie that third person point of view.  The audience were spectators in the relationship turmoils of Vicky and Cristina.  The narration emphasized that and kind of let the audience sit back more.  They were not in the thick of the action, on the edge of their seat.  The viewer could just watch and see how things played out.  At certain points the narrator would talk over the characters, this separated the audience from the characters even more.  I liked this because when the relationships got fiery, I did not feel as though I was a part of it.  This led to a less stressful viewing experience.  The music in the film really played to the laid back sunny setting of the movie.  It was always sunny and people were always walking slowly and the music worked very well with that.  Three of the characters being into art also played into the soundtrack as well.  

Article Summary:  ( http://www.ew.com/article/2008/08/15/vicky-cristina-barcelona )  This article speaks about how the author believes that Woody Allen is the worlds last hippie.  They mention how they believe that this movie is a play on Woody Allen's view on commitment.  How he thinks that commitment is "so damn...bourgeois."  The movie was very travel and leisure oriented with a relaxed view on relationships.  There are slow walks and sipping wine in the park.  The author speaks of how Bardem was a hunk but spoke with sophistication. They did kind of bash the outdated idea of hippie love as far as relationships go.

Article Related to film:  This film did have a very hippie feel to it.  The three person relationship had a very free-love vibe.  The movie had a slow paced vibe but moved along at a very good pace.  This slow pace fed the hippie theme that the author was getting at.  Everything was artsy and flawy and about happiness, life and love.  Every scene was a sunny day and had a ton of bokeh from the sun peaking through the green leaves of a tree in the background.  I thin that the hippieness of this movie may have been slightly disguised by the fact that it had a modern setting but was very obvious at the same time. 

Critical Analysis:  I enjoyed the narration and music aspect of this film.  I liked that I was separated with the narration and didn't feel invested in the characters very much.  TI also enjoyed the music because of how well it fit in with the setting.  The ending was funny to me because they both left really trying to figure out what life was about and what they were trying to get out of it.  They went though these emotional moment, loving moments, confusing and angry moments.  After all of that, by the end of the film everybody went back to what they had before and not many answers were found. I thought that was really a play on how were experience life in general.  We try so hard to see what life is all about, and by the end of the day we are more confused than when we first started.

Spirited Away

Film Related to class:  This film's animation is a far cry form the first animation back in the day.  The animation was very realistic even though it was in an anime style.  There was a scene were Chihiro was looking out the window before she arrived at the amusement park, the trees were moving in a natural way.  The depth of the scene was very accurate to real life.  The physics of the characters were also very realistic.  Sometimes in animation the ground will move too fast or zoo slow as someone or something walks over it.  When Haku was a dragon, his movements were very fluid and natural as well.  He flew and ran into walls, but nothing seemed unnatural out out of place.  Also when characters jumped they did not rise or gal too fast.  This made it very easy to watch the film because there were no awkward movements that would distract the viewer from the story. 

Article Summary:  ( http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Anime/SpiritedAway )  The article mentions the complexity of the films's plot.  Within the first half hour a multitude of things happen.  Chihiro was traveling to her new home and then her parents were turned into pigs, she was stuck in the spired world, met a man with multiple limbs and was put to work by her huge headed new boss.  Spirited away reached high acclaim when it won an oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.

Article Related to Film:  This film was extremely popular.  It was reflected in their aware at the Oscars.  It is the only anime film that has ever won.  This helps solidify its epic status.  The award makes sure that this film is not only know for its animation.  The animation is great, but it won the award for animated film.  This rewards the movie's plot, and not its animation.  The movie may have had great animation, but this award is proof that it was an all around great film.

Critical Analysis:  I am not a fan anime at all but I suppose I cannot say anything bad about this film considering how much praise it has received.  I am not a fan of very fanciful movies like this one, but I did think the complexity of the plot.  Even if someone does not like anime, or could not figure out what the movie was about at all, could still be entertained for the entire film.  I am not totally sure about what the deeper meaning of this film was about but it seemed to me to be about nature.  How people are destroying nature and that all of their spirits are now sunned to an abandoned theme park.  I liked the deeper message to tho movie, if that was actually the deeper meaning or not.  I think that it was just subtle enough to not be completely obvious, but just deep enough that you had to to some figuring out.  The animation was very seamless as I mentioned before, but the constant action and plot is what really did it for me.

Three Kings

Film Related to class:  In class we spoke of the language used in class.  The language used in this movie did consist of a lot of vulgarity.  I think that the vulgar language symbolized who the military men were.  They were basic, and harsh people who didn't beat around the bush.  It is not surprising that when they try to do something sneaky, it all goes terribly wrong.  They were men who joined the army to shoot guns and blow up things.  They word choice reflects this.  There is also a language barrier between the locals and the military.  The locals end up being ignored because of this, but they aren't just yelling about nothing.  They have a very serious story that the main characters know nothing about.  The language in this movie reflects a lot.  It reflects the barrier between the US military and the local villagers.  It also reflects the tunnel vision of the United States soldiers, and their very basic approach to war.

Article Summary: ( http://entertainment.time.com/2013/02/27/the-art-of-the-steal-10-great-heist-films/slide/three-kings/ ) In this article, Three Kings is named as one of 10 Great Heist Films.  The article states how some heist movies use the war as backdrop to a heist, but in this movie the heist ends up being the backdrop to the film.  They are trying to steal the gold, but the war is the real issue in the movie.  This movie is not only a good action heist movie, it also exploits the American's policy at the end of the Gulf War and how much it failed.  The most obvious part of that is how they left Saddam Hussein in charge.  The four soldiers ended up being stand ins for the entire US military and came to the realization of how terrible the local people's situation is.  By the end of the movie the soldiers realize that the best thing to get out of this war is to regain their honor.

Article Related to Film:  This article speaks of the real plot of this movie.  It is not about stealing gold a driving off into the sunset.  Three Kings is about soldiers who felt robbed out of the experience of War, and then realize what is really going and and are changed by it.  The article states that the movie exploits the United States poor decision to leave at the worst time and how it affected the local population.  They were taken over by Saddam's military right after the US left after really doing nothing.  The gold is just to make the movie a little more Hollywood and a little less political.

Critical Analysis:  I enjoyed this movie for the same reason the person who wrote the article did.  This movie was not only about stealing gold and some action tossed in their.  This movie was about the positive and negative power of money and international politics.  I liked that this movie really showed how touchy international affairs can be and how a simple situation like crossing villagers over the border in order to save their lives, can turn into multiple helicopters and higher ups coming in and immediately having to take over.  It was also a war movie that did not glorify the military.  The soldiers trying to bring the villagers to freedom were seen as being good people to the viewer but were seen as bad by the rest of the US military.  This movie didn't make the locals as terrorists or radicals, just as the desperate people they were.  I love multilayered movies and this film was a great example of one.  The soldier were trying to get the gold but the movie tells the story of the war, the people it impacts, the soldiers, and American politics in general.

He Got Game

Film Related to Class:  In class we spoke about how Spike Lee uses montages.  I think that he does this to add some background to his films.  It gives a more complete setting to where the film takes place.  His montage showed people playing on nice basketball courts.  We also spoke of his use of classical music.  Spike Lee strayed from hip hop and went really old school.  I like when films use seemly opposite things, such as basketball and classical music.  One of the most elite forms of music, and the most city style hip hop sports are combined.  I think that the slow motion and the classical music went together well.

Article Summary:  ( http://www.allmusic.com/album/he-got-game-the-music-of-aaron-copland-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000382819 ) This article explains how bold Spike Lee was in choosing classical music for his film.  The composer of the music was Aaron Copland who has composed music associated with the American heartland and not the inner city and hip hop.  The gamble pays off during the montage and the display of universality of basketball.  The author did think that the music worked to s certain extent but that other genres like rock, R&B, rock, or jazz.

Article Related to Film:  This article spoke of the classical music used for Spike Lee's film.  Spike Lee decided to use classical music and not the basketball associated hip hop.  I think that the classical music went along with Jesus' sophisticated approach to his career and how he valued education.  Jesus may have lived in the ghetto but some parts of him seemed to not belong there.  I think that the classical music spoke specifically to the Jesus character in the movie.

Critical Analysis:  I did enjoy the movie and how the viewer got to follow the Jesus character through his process of choosing a school.  I think that a lot of people don't realize how much pressure and  turmoil is involved in a character like Jesus's life.  People think that someone like Jesus have it very easy but people like him have it harder than most people.  I think that Spike Lee went into a realm that is not usually spoke of.  People like to criticize college athletes for taking money and perks but what they don't realize is that just because they have a nice jersey and all the attention in the world, when they go home they still have nothing.  This movie not only opened up peoples eyes to the pressures behind being an athletic star but also had a very high pressure plot involving Jesus' father.

Fargo

Film Related to class:  In class we discussed the director's connection to Minnesota.  This movie takes place entirely in Minnesota and I think that they wanted to really show a lot of aspects of the state.  They had many different characters from different walks of life.  They had prostitutes, a family, a bartender and of course cops.  Not all of these charters play a crucial role but everything in a movie is put in it for a reason.  The Coen brothers being extremely smart clearly had they reasons for having so many minor characters.

Article Summary:  ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10792814/The-truth-behind-Fargos-true-story.html ) This article explains how the movie was not actually based on a true story.  It was stated in the beginning of the film that the movie was based on actual events and that the participants names were changed for their protection.  When  the movie was first coming out the brothers went as far as pretending that it was based on a true story and even flat out stated that it was true.  Later on, they stated that the movie "pretends to be true."

Article Related to Film:  The article did not really speak about the film content.  It spoke of the truthfulness of the film.  Weather or not the events were really true.  We spoke in class about how the film was not based on true events, I do think that the first time I saw the film I thought it was actually true.  The story did seem slightly unbelievable, but whenever I hear a crazy story I always think stranger things have happened.

Critical Analysis:  When I first heard about this film I heard someone say that it was "hilarious."  I had also heard that it was a comedy, or dark comedy.  After seeing it, I realized the humor in the movie but was not prepared for the violence and graphic scenes.  I did like how the film was filled with mild light humor and then followed up by murder and violence.  The opposites of the humor and violence gave the film a unique feel.  One moment your chuckling and the next you seeing a man getting beaten or shot.  I think that it made the movie feel a little more real.  There weren't characters cracking jokes and doing unrealistic things for laughs.  Every joke or comedic moment in this film was very realistic.  It was like you were sitting in, or eavesdropping on their conversations.  That made this film much more believable when it came to being "based on true events."  I liked the believable conversations because that made things much more intimate.

Dazed and Confused

Film related to class:  This movie is what every person who did not experience the 70’s, thinks the 70’s was like.  It painted the quintessential picture of teenage life during that time period.  There were geeks and jocks, bitches, kids in between, and those about to make the transition to high school.  It covered kids worried about the government, school, their future, and most importantly, partying.  When you think of the 70’s, Vietnam may come to mind.  Instead of making a War hero movie, this is a movie of the complete opposite nature.  There are fights and conflict of teenagers but they are comedic and light hearted.  Thinking about this movie the song “Glory Days” has come to my mind, as apposed to “Fortunate Son” by Creedance.  It put a more positive look on the 70’s that every teenage can either relate to, or wish they could.

Article Summary:  This article discusses many of Richard Linklater’s evolution in the films he makes, and his motivations.  He got more into film after a heart problem forced him to stop playing baseball in college.  He began watching more and more movies until he watched an average of almost 2 a day.  He eventually stopped going to school and set goals for what he wanted to do in film.  He made a film called “Slacker” and considered entering it into some film festivals.  After things were all said and done, it was distributed internationally and made 52 times the amount of money it cost to make the film.  It also spoke of “Dazed and Confused,” and his process of making it.  He tried not to use aspiring actors and tried to get people who enjoyed acting and did not necessarily want acting to be their future.  This helped create the characters more genuinely, such as Mathew Mcconaughey and his famous catch phrase “Alright, alright, alright.”  The article also spoke of his lack of plot but how he makes it work.  That is evident in in “Dazed and Confused,” as there is a beginning and end, but not exactly a cookie cutter plot, but it works.  Many of his films involve a coming of age, “Dazed and Confused” does, it’s just that it doesn’t focus on one age group or generation; it focuses on all of them.

Article Related to film:  The article definitely gave me a deeper understanding of the director, and his motivation behind making this film.  Reading the article basically explained his style.  I still like the film as much as I did before, but now I have a deeper and fuller understanding of the film.  It made me notice the fact there wasn’t really a plot with a climax and a hero and antagonist.  I think that Linklater would be pleased with that.  I understand now that many of his films are about transitions in someone’s life.  I like how he gave a snippet of multiple generations or transitions, and what they were going through.  There are probably multiple age groups looking back and thinking, “that was me when I was in high school.”   

Critical Analysis:  I liked the film, and I loved that it covered every different social status in high school.  There were freshman, seniors, dropouts, super-seniors, anti social people, jocks, and even sibling attending school at the same time.  The movie focused on every person or group, even if just for a little bit.  I feel that this gave the most true and complete representation of what high school is like...or at least was like in 1976.  Everyone has a different image of what high school was like to him or her, and this movie covered just about every one of those.  There were main characters, but some viewers may have different opinions on who the main character was.       

Unforgiven

Relate to Class: Unforgiven involved a hero, Clint Eastwood, that had to overcome obstacles in order to achieve what he needed to do;  he used his gun on many occasions in order to conquer those obstacles.  Clint Eastwood using a gun to get what he wanted was classically Western, along with the setting and the basic rough lifestyle he and the other characters lived.  Aspects that were not classically Western include how killing was seen in a more negative light.  Death was dealt with in a more real life way along with injuries resulting from fights.  Men did not want to kill because they knew the emotional and mental impact it had on them.  Of course there was the gutsy "Schofield Kid" who had "killed five men."  He eventually realized the toll that killing a man would put on his soul.  After fight scenes, people had injuries that were realistic and visible.  In other Westerns, men could be in full brawls and in the next scene have no visual scarring.  The plot may have been typically Western, but the characters and realism of this film were not typically Western.

Related Article:  ( http://www.clinteastwood.net/filmography/unforgiven/ )  The article fist explains Clint Eastwood's role in the film.  He was a former gunslinging murderer who was turned good by his young wife.  His wife dies and he is left with a failing farm and two young children.  The article then goes on to talk about the writing of the script and how Clint Eastwood got involved with the movie.  Clint Eastwood saw the script and bought it.  At the time he felt he was too young to play the role of Bill Munny so he held onto the script until the appropriate time.  Gene Hackman did not want to be in the film due to it's violent nature but he was convinced that it promotes non violence.  The article also goes into little things such as the fact that the pheasants that English Bob shoots were not introduced to the United States until the year after the movie was supposed to take place.  

Article applied to film screening:  The article stated that Clint Eastwood did not allow any modern vehicles on set.  This gave me a little more respect for the movie, I say a little because I already respected the movie and Clint Eastwood.  I have heard multiple good things about Clint Eastwood but this article gave me a little more insight no his process.  The movie grossed over $80 million and won multiple awards.  Clint Eastwood also dedicated the movie to two of his greatest influences.  This gave me more respect for the move and Clint Eastwood.

Critical Analysis:  I really enjoyed the film and I enjoyed the characters in the film as well.  I think that this movie covered every type of Western character.  The young gun, the old veterans, the outlaws, the good guys, the rich guy, the innocent townspeople, and the entourage members.  Of course they all met at the bar.  I liked the real representation of murder and killing and how it burdens people.  I think that Clint Eastwood's character was very deep and was my favorite.  His transformation throughout the movie was very interesting, especially seeing him return to his old self.  The final fight scene at the bar was a great scene and a great climax and ending to the film.      

Sex Lies and Video Tape

Relate to Class:  During our class period we discussed that the movie was edgy.  For its time it was very edgy but today it may not be considered so.  I don’t watch a lot of sexy movies but a I think that they are based on visual explicity.  Such as nudity and.  This movie had very little sex scenes and the scenes that did contain sex did not have any nudity.  At the same time I felt almost violated by the intimacy of the movie in one particular scene.  Some scenes with Graham were particularly awkward, but the most sexually explicit scene in my opinion is his scene where he films Cynthia.  The scene between them was so personal its like you were listening in on a very private conversation you didn’t want to hear.  I think that is what made this movie so edgy, yet it had zero nudity.

Article Summary:  ( http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sex-lies-and-videotape-opens ) This article talks about Steven Soderbergh, and how he started the independent lens revolution.  It mentions the movies that he has directed and the numerous awards he has won.  He paved the way for movies like Reservoir Dogs, Clerks, and Cigarettes & Coffee.  It also mentioned his success with George Clooney and The Ocean’s series.

This article really solidifies the part in history that this movie holds.  It started the independent film movement. The article did not really change my opinion on the film though.  I understand its part as far as the independent lens movement goes but it did not make me like the movie any more.  The movie was very original and spark the start of something new in film and the article mentions that.  

Critical Analysis:  I was not a huge fan of the movie but I am not going to say that it is a bad movie.  I think everything about it from the cinematography to the plot, as strange as it was, all worked.  I noticed that Ann was filmed from above a lo to imply that she was less powerful.  She was very timid and trusted her lying husband.  Once she finally knew for a fact that he was cheating and she was more assertive, she was filmed from below.  She finally had the upper hand and was finally sticking up for herself.  She had the power and it reflected in the way she was shot.  The movie was just too personal for me.  The information the characters revealed I did not care to know.  I walked away from the movie asking myself what I had just seen.  I felt like I was taken to a weird dark personal space I was not supposed to be in. 

Do the Right Thing

1.) Relate to Class:  In class we discussed how in the movie the colors used rejected what was going on in the movie.  In the film it was very hot out and there were a lot of very saturated reds used.  The three men that sat under an umbrella across form a convenience store sat in from of a bright red wall.  Many of the colors used were reflective of the heat.  At night when the mob destroyed the pizza place, there were less red filters used.  The red filters were then replaced by the red of the fire of the restaurant being burned down.  We also spoke of the fact that none of the characters were heroes in the end.  By the end of the movie every character had showed their bad side.  Mookie only cared about money and despite him claiming that all hi did was work, he really did not work very hard at all.  Radio blasted music everywhere, and Mookie's friends walked around all day harassing people and talking down to people.  Mother Sister even belittled to the drunk they called Mayor.  Mayor was looked down on the most as a drunk and he was the only character who did not hurt anyone in the film.  He saved the boy and the owners from the riot and tried to always teach people to do the right thing.  Mookie seemed to be a good character up until he was constantly slacking off and then threw the trash can at the window.  Even after all that he still demanded he get paid for his “work.”

 

2.) Related Article:  ( http://beck.library.emory.edu/southernchanges/article.php?id=sc11-4_018 )  In the article it discusses how some white people are made to pay for things they had nothing to do with.  It spoke of a fire fighter fighting a law that would give white firefighters a belated opportunity to challenge the city’s affirmative action plan.  He said “i feel like I’m paying the price for something I had nothing to do with.”  This sums up the movie in the writers eyes.  Sal had nothing to do with the killing and was punished for the crime by having his store destroyed.  The author believes that this applies to modern times.  Some people are being held accountable for something they had nothing to do with.  The author summarizes by saying that white people do most voting, participate in police forces, are fire fighters, and did not create the ghettos or the underclass that many blacks are apart of and don’t deserve to be victims.  He finishes the article by absolutely agreeing with the character Mookie that we all must pay a price one way or another.

3.) Apply Article to Film:  I think the article is correct about the film and somewhat to society today.  Many people pay the price for something they had no part of.  Men and women willingly join the army and know that they may have to go to war and face combat, but when they die it is always the fault of the person who sent them there.  When there are riots the stores being looted have nothing to do with what people are rioting about.  Teachers and students are shot in schools who may have never failed a student or bullied him or her.  Charles Manson killed innocent people that had to do with the entertainment industry, but never met him or affected his life at all, and for what?  At the end of the film you see yourself saying why? Why did they destroy this man’s business?  Has it changed anything about the “racism” they were fighting, or the murder of Radio Rahim?  The author basically says that the people who pay usually aren’t at fault for what they are being punished for and Do the Right Thing exposes that.  

 4.) Analysis:  I liked the film and I did not mind that there were no heroes in the movie.  I think that the film would not be the same, and would not have the same message if there was a hero.  The entire point of the film was that there was no hero, nobody was helping each other, nobody saw the big picture.  I think it exposed a problem in society that still exist  today.  People fight for causes that won’t make a difference (having a black American on the wall of Italian American heroes), then they sucker people into following them and hurt innocent people that didn’t need to be hurt.  Everyone thinks they did the right thing and that, at least in this case, the police are the enemies.  At the end of everything everyone still hates each other and nothing has changed.  This cycle has probably happened since the beginning of time. It happens because people either don’t exercise their mind enough and think of “meaningful” things to do, or they don’t think deeply about things enough.  In the movie the man that wanted the picture on the wall didn’t think that having a black man on the wall does not really make any sense.  All he saw was a lot of white people, no black people, considered it racism in his mid and then started to fight.  The end product was injury, death, and more hate, stemming from a cause that probably would have made no difference to anything.  This type of peripheral thinking bothers me and I think this film completely exposes it but in a slightly subtle way. I could see people watching this movie and finding a hero or thinking the riot was totally justified.  I did not really think the acting was too great, and I don’t think Spike Lee even raised his eyebrows once in order to portray any emotion, but the film was very good. 

King of Comedy

1.)  This film did not get as much attention as the creators thought it would.  It was relevant in its time, but was not very well perceived.  I am not sure people really understood the mentality of those who were obsessed with popular icons.  I think that today we understand what exactly goes on due to so much exposure to these sort of crazy events.  With the internet we realize how many people are out there and how many crazy people are out there.  I think that the theme of this movie may have been a little new for the public.  They were not as exposed to such situations and therefore did not have as deep of an understanding as we do now.
2.) ( http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-king-of-comedy-1983 )  Roger Erbert explains how the first time he viewed the movie he was unsatisfied with what he saw.  He wanted it to be more Scorsese, and more typical.  Instead what he got was a movie with no big time parts or explosions of pent up emotions.  He wanted to see Rupert show more emotion and act on his neglect.  After watching it a second time he focused more on the performances and what the movie was really about.  He said he liked it more but was not exactly in love with it.  He gave it three stars and seemed a little confused by the movie.
3.)  I don't really think the film changed my opinion on the movie.  It did however help me understand why it was not well received when it first came out.  People wanted a Scorsese film and they got something different.  They wanted something easy to understand and more black and white, and they didn't.  I think that people always expect things out of other people and get upset when those expectations aren't met.  The fact that Scorsese did something not typical I think was a good thing.  Just because it meant that he wasn't afraid to change things up and do what he wanted.
4.) I liked the film and thought that it was not one dimensional.  I stated in my previous blog post that I like movies that have almost more than one plot.  This movie was not just about Rupert Pupkin trying to make it big.  This was about Rupert's obsession with Jerry Langford and getting on his show, Masha's obsession with  Jerry Langford, and Jerry Langford dealing with the both of them.  Rupert and Masha weren't a comedy funny sort of crazy, they were a more personable actual crazy that you could believe.  They did have funny lines and do funny things but it was more real and believable.  The people that followed celebrities around didn't seem like crazy people who have no lives.  They were two people that had an obsession and didn't see it that way at all. 

Raging Bull

1.)  Relate to Discussion:  The editing in the movie was on point.  The fight scenes were pretty seamless considering the era.  Today there are about 50 cuts between every punch to mask any mistakes or fake looking punches.  The fight scenes in this movie had less cuts and a little more choreography.  I think you let this get a little more into the fight and added suspense.  The movie was shot in black and white and as I mention later I think is much better than color.  That is, if you have good cinematography, and this film definitely did.  My mother had seen this movie when it came out and being very religious the cursing shocked her and ruined the film for her.  This cursing was not exactly aimless, but brought you closer to La Motta and his lifestyle.  Cursing was not exactly as common as De Niro and Pesci made it in Raging Bull but it added to the rawness and realness of the movie.  
2.)  Article: ( http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/21721%7C0/Raging-Bull.html ) In 1978 Martin Scorsese was lacking confidence after the lack luster response for New York, New York.  He wanted a project where he could tell a story of a self destructive protagonist.  After year of persuasion from Robert De Niro Scorsese made a film based off of the life of Jake La Motta.  It won best Actor and Best Film Editing at the Academy Awards.  Raging Bull re-creates WWII era Brooklyn impeccably.  Joey LaMotta has his hands full as he tries to keep Jake's personal life in check while ale keeps his fitness and career in check. Joey also has to keep the mob at bay.  As the 40's continue so does Jake's dominance, but a few years later Jake is champion once again but his personal life is in jeopardy.  Jake throws a game for the mob, but so poorly that there is an inquiry for the fight and his career is jeopardized.  After two years that has blown over and he becomes champion once again.  As his career is at its peak his home life is on its decline.  He accuses his brother of sleeping with Vickie and beats him up even though Joey never did what he said.  He drops out of boxing shortly after for three years.  Jake gains weight and moves to Florida where he does novelty acts where he does dramatic readings about his career and professional life. Robert De Niro gained a reportedly 50lbs for his role as retired La Motta and then lost it to play Jake during his career.  Joe Pesci received his first major role and that sparked a major career for him.  Thelma won the Academy Award for editing and has edited every one of Scorsese's movies since Raging Bull.  Shoonmaker felt that Scorsese deserved the award.
3.)  Relate to Article:  I think that the Article supported how I felt about the movie.  The article did mention facts about the movie such as plot and awards it won.  It did also mention the cinematography and representation of Brooklyn.  The overweight Jake was portrayed by an overweight De Niro and I thought that was impressive and was probably done so that De Niro could relate to the dieting lifestyle of boxers.  The article mentioned editing and that was clear in the fighting scenes.  When watching the movie there were never awkward cuts even throughout the many scenes of dialogue.  Scenes of extended dialogue can be very boring if not edited well and none of the scenes heaving in dialogue were slow.  
4.)  Personal Opinion:  I liked the movie, and that it was in black and white.  I think that when movies or photographs are shot in black and white that the end product must be better than that of products in color.  When things are shot in color, you can distract the viewer with bright colors or filters in order to cover up poor cinematography, or a bad photograph.  When something is shot in black and white it is more raw, and therefore must be a better end products.  There are no bright greens of the grass, or blues of the water to mask anything.  Only the shot and what it is composed of is what the viewer sees, and that product better be good.  If it isn't than the viewers will get bored.  I also like when there are real characters in a movie.  For example Jake La Motta was a unique person.  He is not a cookie cutter character that you might see in a teen movie where the main character is a good looking kid who is nice, smart, and part of a average family but is still made fun of for some reason.  Raging Bull was about much more than Jake La Motta's boxing career.  It is about his life and his brother, and boxing, and his romances.  I like movies that have a big theme like his boxing career but at the same time have a much deeper more powerful person story behind it.