Raging Bull Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1980

Once in a while a film comes out that is destined to become a bona fide classic. Raging Bull is one such movie. This hard-hitting biography about 50's boxer Jake La Motta is masterfully directed, exceptionally acted, and thoroughly compelling. Far more than a simple boxing film, Raging Bull is an absorbing character study of a gifted athlete who was his own fiercest opponent on the road to success.

Martin Scorsese is one of the most gifted directors alive. While he's made his share of missteps in his career (as all directors do), he's honored movie viewers with multiple classics that will forever be remembered, such as Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and… yes… Raging Bull.

The first thing viewers will notice is that Raging Bull was filmed in black and white, and if you're like me this might initially be cause for concern. I personally am not a fan of black and white movies (barring classics that didn't have the option of color, of course), but Raging Bull was one of those rare modern films that actually begged to be produced in this "sparser" format. The black and white cinematography lends more authenticity to the time period the movie takes place in (the 50's), and somehow it makes the film feel much more raw and powerful.

Although there are multiple vicious boxing matches shown throughout the film, this is no Rocky. Raging Bull is the story of an inner city boxer that became a champion, but despite his success in the ring he failed miserably in his family and every day life. As his temper and life escalated out of control, he made horrible career choices and eventually destroyed his career and the respect of many of his ex-fans.

Robert De Niro put forth a disturbingly brilliant performance as the rough-necked Jake La Motta. Anger, resentment and jealousy emanates through his every pore, and when he unleashes his ferocity at his wife, Vickie (Cathy Moriarty), and his brother, Joey (Joe Pesci), it's potent enough to make many viewers wince. Robert De Niro didn't just play the role of Jake… he became him.

Side note: Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci's performances were so realistic that in certain scenes they were actually smacking each other around a bit. One such scene is when Jake demands that Joey slug him multiple times across the face to prove how tough he is, and another such scene is when the two brothers spar in a boxing ring and De Niro accidentally breaks one of Pesci's ribs!

Raging Bull was one of Joe Pesci's first films, but his gifted acting abilities were on display in full force. Few could even hope to hold their own against De Niro's presence in this movie, but Pesci did so with aplomb. Together they were cinematic dynamite. Moriarty and all the other secondary actors throughout the film also put forth respectable performances; Scorsese couldn't have selected his cast any better.

It will not make a shred of difference whether or not you are a boxing fan. It doesn't matter a whit whether or not you know Jake La Motta's life. Raging Bull is a film that every movie fan simply must see at least once in their lifetime because it is a timeless masterpiece.

Movie rating: 10 stars

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