Being a huge Martin Scorsese fan, I was rooting for him to win the oscar. The Departed wasn’t the best movie Scorsese directed. Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, to name just a few, rank above it for me. However, no one can grudge the great man his Oscar. I took time out to revisit Raging Bull, one of my favourite Scorsese films.

Raging Bull is the story of boxer Jake La Motta. The movie explores the problems of La Motta. It shows how genius and talent are not all what are necessary to reach the top. More importantly, as it is with most great movies, each viewer can relate to the movie and asks strong questions to himself or herself. Are we our worst enemies? Where do real problems end and the mind’s illusions begin?

In the movie, Joe Pesci, playing Jake’s brother Joe, tells Jake to do himself a favour and to leave Vicky (Jack’s wife) before she ruins his life. Basically, Jake was required to evaluate priorities and take a firm stand regarding what’s important - his career or things which distract him from it. Scenes which show Jake thinking regarding Vicky’s supposed unfaithulness even while he is boxing show early signs that it is having an impact on his career. It is evident never more than when he beats the face of a boxer to pulp just because Vicky said that the boxer had a beautiful face.

A general viewer may not have similar problems as Jake has but he will have various problems at his own level which will deter and stop him from achieving goals - some of which he cannot rectify - like Jake could not rectify the obsessive streak he had regarding his wife. Every one is Jake because of this in his own personal plane.

Pete Sampras used to be called the tennis guy while he was in college. He used to go to the college, attend required classes and apart from that, he used to play tennis all day. He often said that he made a lot of sacrifices to reach where he had reached. Bradman once stated that he saw many much more talented cricketers than himself. However, he made the most use of his talent.

I am reminded of some thing Robert De Niro said in another movie, A Bronx Tale - there is nothing as sad as wasted talented.