Martin Scorcese's Raging Bull is often considered one of the greatest movies ever made, and its ending is steeped in deeper meaning relating to the life of Jake LaMotta and the film's deeper themes. Based on the autobiography of Jake "The Bronx Bull" LaMotta, Raging Bull tells the sensational story of the tenacious middleweight as he navigates his career and his tumultuous life outside the ring. 1980's Raging Bull is regularly named as one of director Martin Scorcese's best films, as well as one of Robert De Niro's finest performances.

Alongside Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, Raging Bull also stars Joe Pesci (of Goodfellas fame) as Joey LaMotta, Jake's brother and manager. The growing tension between the two is one of Raging Bull's focus points, as is the relationship between LaMotta and his wife, Vickie (Cathy Moriarty). Raging Bull follows LaMotta as his volatile nature works to his advantage in the ring, even as it threatens to destroy his life outside of it.

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As Raging Bull follows the life of LaMotta, its ending follows to some degree the events of his later years. However, as its last scenes follow LaMotta's later years and his life after boxing, there is a slight disconnect between the film and its final act. There are still key similarities and thematic parallels that link them, and its upon examination of these that Raging Bull's real meaning comes into focus.

What Happens In Raging Bull's Ending

Jake LaMotta in the ring in Raging Bull

For Raging Bull's later scenes, Robert De Niro transformed into the aging and overweight LaMotta. After his estrangement from his brother Joey due to his own violent behavior, Jake's career quickly declines, culminating in the loss of his title to Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951. In 1956, Jake and his family move to Miami, where Jake's marriage breaks down and he loses his family, leaving him with nothing but his nightclub. In 1957, he then finds himself imprisoned for hosting underaged girls in his club. Jake later returns to New York in 1958, where he fails to reconcile with his brother. Raging Bull's final scene shows Jake in 1964, years later, reciting a quote from On the Waterfront into the mirror and psyching himself up to deliver a comedy show to a crowded auditorium, bringing the film full circle to its opening, which introduced the older Jake LaMotta.

How Accurate Is Raging Bull?

Jake LaMotta boxing in Raging Bull

Many boxing movies (like Rocky and Southpaw) are inspired by true stories, but Raging Bull was actually closer to a biopic. As it was based on the autobiography of LaMotta, it's actually thought to be incredibly accurate. LaMotta himself admitted to finding the film difficult to watch, as it highlighted his most violent and unpleasant behaviors. When watching Raging Bull, LaMotta reportedly turned to his wife and asked, "Is that the way I was in real life?" to which she simply replied, "You were worse."

In that regard, Raging Bull may have pulled one or two punches. Largely, the events of the film are all true, including LaMotta's arrest and the comedy shows he performed later in life. This actually makes Raging Bull one of the most realistic and accurate boxing movies ever made, delivering even the most unpleasant aspects of LaMotta's life to the big screen.

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Raging Bull's “On The Waterfront” Quote Explained

Robert De Niro looking into mirror for Raging Bull final shot.

One of the most iconic moments of Raging Bull is Robert De Niro delivering a speech from On the Waterfront into the mirror in the film's final scene. LaMotta quotes Marlon Brando's Tery Malloy, directly referencing On the Waterfront as he does so: "I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley." 

The quote takes on a new meaning when delivered by LaMotta. Malloy speaks the lines to his brother, lamenting the career that he could have had, blaming his brother for his misfortune. LaMotta revealing how much the words resonate with him echoes the sentiment from On the Waterfront. In Jake's case, it's Joey - his estranged brother and former manager - that he appears to hold responsible for his troubles. Scorcese using the Marlon Brando quote is a clever way of acknowledging the superficial parallels between Raging Bull and On the Waterfront, but it also evidences the way that LaMotta sees himself. Years later, he's reminiscing about his past and thinking himself a victim of cruel fortune or some malicious scheme of his brother's, and that twisting of the classic quote is an exceptional way to highlight the sort of person that Raging Bull's LaMotta is.

Raging Bull Is About Self-Perception And Responsibility

Robert De Niro boxing in a match in Raging Bull

Raging Bull's ending calls back to the film's opening scene, framing the entire movie with LaMotta's comedy performances later in life. These scenes see him observing himself in a mirror, reciting quotes and psyching himself up for his performance. This speaks to one of the film's deepest themes: self-perception and the way in which LaMotta sees himself and his life. Robert De Niro's performance as LaMotta holds very little back, and LaMotta himself reportedly being horrified at seeing his actions laid bare on screen further proves the way in which LaMotta's life was tainted by his own self-perception. Right up to Raging Bull's final scene, LaMotta sees himself as a champion fallen on hard times - a victim, rather than the guilty party.

Therein lies one of Raging Bull's other pervasive themes: responsibility, or LaMotta's lack thereof. Throughout Raging Bull, LaMotta continues to act and react in ways that damage his career and his relationships with those around him, but he never sees himself as anything other than a contender. LaMotta's refusal to accept responsibility is ultimately what causes him to lose everything: his career, his brother, and his wife. Even then, he carries on without truly acknowledging his own guilt, making Raging Bull a self-perpetuating tragedy.

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What Raging Bull's Ending Really Means

Raging Bull John Turturro, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci sat at a table

Like a number of other Martin Scorcese movies, like Goodfellas and The Wolf of Wall StreetRaging Bull is based on real events. As such, its ending is perhaps less definitive than other movies, because it doesn't really mark the end of LaMotta's story. However, by finishing the film with the quote from On the Waterfront, Scorcese does deliver one clear final indicator of the purpose of the film. By making it known that LaMotta sees himself as a man robbed of greatness, Raging Bull confirms that the Bronx Bull hasn't really learned anything at all.

Though this may seem decidedly negative, it's actually a testament to LaMotta's indomitable fighting spirit. No matter how many times life rocks him, LaMotta's still standing. He refuses to go down, even for the strongest opponent of all: himself. Regardless of the blows delivered to LaMotta, Raging Bull's ending shows one final time that he's as tough as can be.

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