Rocky Vs. Raging Bull (Ep. 0007)

Episode Summary: Rocky and Raging Bull are two of the greatest boxing films of all time. Although seen as two drastically different films, they make a great pairing for episode 0007 of the Movie Wars Podcast. Kyle, Drew, and Phil discuss the themes that tie these two films together. Although Rocky and Jake LaMotta are very different, Kyle surmises that they make up two sides of one coin. One is a naive optimist while the other is a gifted but insanely troubled person. This paradox is what makes sports films great. The sport itself is often just the proving ground that acts as a metaphor that plays out the complexities of the characters themselves. Boxing itself is arguably the most superior sport to tell those stories. 

Randos cover the underdog elements of Sylvester Stallone's rise to fame through a film he wrote but no one wanted him to act in. Other randos cover other casting considerations, little budgets with big results, Martin Scorsese’s artistic approach to making a sports film, and actor dedication to learning how to fight convincingly. 

Movie Wars Scorecard:

Best Top Bill Cast

Best Supporting Cast 

Who would you rather get punched by? 

Adrian Vs Vickey in a fight 

Music 

Best fighting depiction

Bloody Bruised Face: Who Wore It Best? 

Best Nickname 

Worst with women

Worst jokes

Best Italian 

Plot Summaries:

Rocky: Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time boxer from working-class Philadelphia, is arbitrarily chosen to take on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), when the undefeated fighter's scheduled opponent is injured. While training with feisty former bantamweight contender Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith), Rocky tentatively begins a relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), the wallflower sister of his meat-packer pal Paulie (Burt Young).

Director:

John G. Avildsen

• Producer:
• Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff
• Writer:
• Sylvester Stallone
• Release Date (Theaters):
• Dec 1, 1976 Wide
• Release Date (Streaming):
• Oct 31, 2015
• Runtime:
• 1h 59m
• Production Co:
• United Artists

-Summary and info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1017776-rocky)

Raging Bull: The story of a middleweight boxer as he rises through ranks to earn his first shot at the middleweight crown. He falls in love with a gorgeous girl from the Bronx. The inability to express his feelings enters into the ring and eventually takes over his life. He eventually is sent into a downward spiral that costs him everything.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

• Producer:
• Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
• Writer:
• Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter, Peter Savage, Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin
• Release Date (Theaters):
• Jan 1, 1980 Wide
• Release Date (Streaming):
• Nov 25, 2016
• Box Office (Gross USA):
• $87.3K
• Runtime:
• 2h 8m
• Production Co:
• United Artists, Chartoff-Winkler Productions
• -Plot summary and information courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/raging_bull)