Cinematography task

                                         Raging Bull(1980)

  Country: USA                                                                   

  Directed by: Martin Scorsese

  Based on: Raging bull: My story by Jake LaMotta

                  Joseph Carter, Peter Savage

  Screenplay by: Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin

  Produced by: Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler

  Cinematography: Michael Chapman

  Editing by:  Thelma Schoonmaker

  Starring:  Robert De Niro

  Budget:  $ 18 million

  Box Office: $ 23,380,203

  Duration:  129 minutes

   

                              Cinematographic analysis of fight scene in "Raging Bull"

                          

Walking to the ring

In the the scene before final fight steadicam is fixxing tracking shots with Jake LaMotta,who is preparing to this fight. Selective focus on his face was made in order to show a spectator LaMotta's concentration and excitement about forthcoming fight.

Entrance to the ring

If  at first a viewer can see medium and close-up shots of Jake's face, notwithstanding in the moment of going to the crowd position of steadicam is changed and with wide-angle lens faces of crowded fans can be seen.It was made so as to show reaction of audince on LaMotta. After that horizontal panning is used (when Jake is entracing to the the ring) in order to show  how many people are here for Jake's supporting. A set of medium and close up shots gives a watcher feeling that he is in that place also.

The fight

During  the fight a range of close up and extremely close up shots can be revealed.  This kind of shots with low angle and eye level makes a spectator feel pressure and tension because emotions of boxers can be seen exactly(for them them nothing is important now except this fight).Once time one medium shot with high angle is used to show not only faces but movements both boxers clearly.

End of the fight

The fight is ending with close up shot with canted angle of Jake's rival. It was made to emphasis ache of this boxer and his impossibility to continue fight. Slow motion of judge’s serious face is used to reinforce importance of this triumph.

Celebration

The celebration is beginning with tilt shot with low angle of Jake, who is standing on pedestal, so as to accentuate that now he is on top of the world. After that extreme close up shot with eye-level with Jack displays his tears of this victory, he is happy as never before.