Robert DeNiro’s RAGING BULL Oscar® acceptance speech

October 8th, 2008 by Scott Marks

“I’m the boss, I’m the boss, I’m the boss, I’m the boss…”

For years I have been searching YouTube in hope that this would eventually surface. March 30, 1981 was the date set for the 53rd Academy Awards ceremony. It was also the date John Hinckley, Jr. attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan. For only the third time in Oscar history, the annual giveaway was postponed. (The show was pushed back a week in 1938 due to flooding in Los Angeles and the 1968 ceremony was rescheduled after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.)

Ironically, the reason DeNiro’s win came a day late was due in large part to Hinckley’s obsession with Jodie Foster and the role of a young prostitute she played in Taxi Driver. Hinckley had seen the film at least 15 times (this was before home video) and strongly identified with the film’s lead character Travis Bickle.

Hinckley had been following Foster around the country for years. Upon reading in People Magazine that Foster was attending Yale, Hinckley enrolled in a writing course in hopes of meeting his Iris…sweet Iris. Foster ignored his numerous letters and phone calls, and Hinckley became convinced that if he assassinated the president he could become equally as famous as Foster. He began stalking then-President Jimmy Carter, but the non-partisan Hinckley eventually had to settle for a Republican. In March 1981, Hinckley wrote three or four more notes to Foster who in turn handed them over to her dean. The Yale police department tried and failed to track him down.

Raging Bull received 8 nominations, but only Bobby and editor/apex Thelma Schoonmaker took home Oscars. The Academy robbed Marty because they’re miserable and their mothers take it up the $%**+#@ @$$! The only vivid image I retained over the years was DeNiro clutching his Oscar and saying, “I love everybody!” Seeing it again was like discovering the missing link to Scorsesedom…that, and those graven Giorgio Armani commercials I’ve yet to catechise.

“Huh?”

The biggest laugh comes when DeNiro thanks LaMotta, a man he spent 127 minutes depicting in a brutal and most denigrating fashion. Cut to a beaming Jake followed by a smattering of applause from the dignified congregation. Like any voting member would allow this animale into their home for dinner.

DeNiro couldn’t ad-lib a belch after a plate of Catherine Scorsese’s brasciole. He even begins his acceptance speech by goofing on his unscripted inarticulateness. His first platitude goes to the costume designer. “…I want to thank Bruno…” Bruno, who? Bruno S.? And whatever became of that Joey La Motta lawsuit? Who’d it have something to do with? Vickie?

Watching as the talent rende omaggio

Marty was backed by His beaming ex, Isabella Rossellini. After a crushing defeat, his gumad probably dodged a dozen or so hurled telephones when the couple returned home later that night. And am I the only one that misses His satanic beard? Betcha Isabella does to, when it’s late…and no one else is around.

Thanks to Bushido John for sending me the link. Watch the acceptance speech here.

“Raging Bull” closing monologue and Scorsese cameo: