Amazon.com essential video: Martin Scorsese's 1980 Raging Bull has been identified in recent years as one of America's greatest films, and understandably so. Robert De Niro won a richly deserved Academy Award for portraying fighter Jake La Motta, an extremely difficult New York boxer who has to contend with his own temper and jealousy, as well as the Mob and the boxing establishment. Joe Pesci is very good as La Motta's long-suffering brother, and Cathy Moriarty made a strong screen debut as the brawler's glamorous wife. The highly contrasted black-and- white film has a richness, texture, and even sensuality about it that, together with Scorsese's amazing editing (with his Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker) and De Niro's focused, tragic performance, is unforgettable. The DVD release has optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, plus closed captioning, Dolby sound, theatrical trailer, and optional French and Spanish soundtracks and English, French, and Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh
A Well Shot and acted movie about an unworthy individual. Alright the guy could take a punch and even give a few back but he beat women, was an overall f-up, and basically contributed nothing to society which should be remembered. The direction and acting are top notch but without a worthy individual to tell about the end result is a big "so what?" I know I'll piss off all the Italians who view this guy as some sort of hero but he represents everything that was wrong with this subculture during this time in American history. BRAVO for the realism!!
Scorcese and DeNiro's Best Work - How can a film about such ugly people be so beautiful? This definitely isn't your average feel-good, stereotypical, underdog boxing movie. After all, Sly Stallone was the sole owner to the keys to that kingdom four years prior w/ his beloved "Rocky". In fact, this film really isn't about boxing at all (although there's a plethora of savage, short fight scenes throughout), its intentions and focus are much more intricate. "Raging Bull" is a powerful, provocative, realistic work of art, a character study about an emotionally-disturbed, self-destructive boxer, who's indocile and violent nature take him to the top of his profession while at the same time completely destroying his personal life outside of the ring. Yes, sometimes a man's greatest strengths can be his own worst enemy.
Bobby DeNiro gives the performance of the century as the infamous, pugnacious pugilist Jake La Motta, a raging bull(y) if there ever was one. It was definitely a no-brainer the following year when DeNiro took home the coveted Oscar for best actor. The film also introduced us to Cathy Moriarty (Vickie Thailer, La Motta's wife) and Joe Pesci (Joey La Motta, Jake's older and wiser brother and manager), who both gave outstanding Oscar nominated performances as well. According to Hollywood folklore, Pesci was on the brink of quitting acting all together when De Niro, who had seen his only performance up to that point in the 1976 B-movie mafia debacle "The Death Collector", decided he wanted Pesci for this important role. A decision that turned out to be brilliant, for can anyone imagine "Goodfellas" and "Casino" without little Joe? Two other notable actors deserve mention here for their fine performances as well - Frank Vincent (Salvy Batts) most famous for his role as Phil Leotardo in "The Soprano's" and Nicholas Colasanto (Tommy Como) who of course we all remember fondly as "Coach" in the hit T.V. series "Cheers".
Martin Scorcese and DeNiro would again call upon writer Paul Schrader whom they teamed up with four years prior in the avant-garde classic "Taxi Driver" and the results were obviously duplicated. This collaboration once again produced an intense, gritty, often times seedy portrait of a lost, lonely, paranoid anti-hero, just another lost soul ensnared in the underbelly of New York society. Splendidly shot in black & white in order to enhance the malaise and misery of the turbulent era in which La Motta reigned, this violent and disturbing film pulls no punches. Although "Goodfellas" may be my favorite of all Scorcese's films, I would still have to say that overall, this was his magnum opus.
If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing this one yet, rent it today. Odds are that if you do, you'll be placing your order w/ Amazon as soon as the credits start rolling.
Raging Bull is a TKO. Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980) is the best boxing film ever. Adapted by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) from Jake LaMotta's memoir, Raging Bull: My Story, Scorsese's crisp black-and-white film chronicles the middleweight champion's controversial life and temperamental personality both inside and outside the ring. Scorsese's film depicts LaMotta as an out-of-control, rage-filled fighter, a volcano ready to explode at any unexpected moment. De Niro reportedly wanted to play the title character so much that he moved to Paris for three months in order to gain 50 or 60 pounds to portray LaMotta in the latter part of the film, a role that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. There are at lest two things that make this the best boxing film ever: its raw, emotional intensity, and the fact that the boxing scenes were actually filmed in the ring, thereby capturing the raw brutality of every punch. Whether or not you're a boxing fan, the fight scenes are breathtaking. Joe Pesci plays LaMotta's brother, Joey. Cathy Moriarty plays LaMotta's wife, Vickie, the beautiful, Bronx sex object of LaMotta's irrational jealousy, whom LaMotta is only capable of seeing as either a virgin or a whore. (Dare I say Raging Bull is the closest Hollywood film I've seen to controversial French director, Catherine Breillat's films (Anatomy of Hell), which equate male violence with sex, leading some men to abuse women.) Scorsese's exploration into LaMotta's twisted psyche is a true Hollywood masterpiece (a word I rarely use when describing a film), and Raging Bull is a Total Knock Out.
G. Merritt
A triumph of American cinema; a landmark if ever there was one... Considered by many to be the greatest film of the 80's, and ranking number four on AFI's top 100 greatest American films, `Raging Bull' has become a landmark in American cinema. Martin Scorsese will always be remembered for this film, and rightfully so, for `Raging Bull' is not merely a sports film or merely just a drama but `Raging Bull' captures something rare, something monumental. `Raging Bull' captures the essence of a man and the time in which he lived with such precise perfection that the audience is transported into this mans life, walking in his shoes and fighting his personal (as well as professional) battles.
There are many facets to this movie that help elevate it to `masterpiece' levels of brilliance. First you have the flawless direction by Martin Scorsese. In my humble opinion this is probably his finest moment behind the lens. Scorsese is often praised for his `gangster' films, most notably `Good Fellas', but in my eyes it will always be his weightier work that shines the brightest. Films like `Taxi Driver' and `Raging Bull' are truly Scorsese's crowning achievements. His decision to shoot the film in classic black and white film is another bonus to an already fantastic film. It adds layers of honesty and humanity that are at times lost in the glitzy colors flooding the screen. Stripping it down in this way allows the rawness and realness of these people to shine through ten fold. Scorsese is also responsible for capturing some of the greatest scenes of violence ever recorded on film. Of course this is violence within the ring, calculated and controlled violence, but Scorsese displays it in such a sporadic and brutal way that the audience is in a way pummeled mercilessly by the images attacking the screen. The only other director I've seen able to capture this same intensity was Ron Howard in `Cinderella Man'. Others have tried, and they have done so admirably, but truly none have reached this level of perfection. Scorsese was also able to capture the feel and mood of the era in which `Raging Bull' takes place. The way individuals interact with one another, the dialog and the emotional construction is a marvelous representation of the time period as well as the subject. Scorsese had a real grasp of what he was attempting to deliver, and the end result is nothing short of perfection. Couple this with Michael Chapman's glorious cinematography, rich and vibrant despite it's grit and lack of color, and you have a film that looks as brilliant as it plays out.
Honestly though, no matter how brilliant Scorsese was, `Raging Bull' would be nothing without Robert De Niro. As the tortured and violent boxer Jake La Motta, De Niro ignites the screen with fiery determination and complete control and understanding of his character. This is one of those moments where the actor is so lost within his character that you forget you are watching a motion picture. These are the moments that cement De Niro as one of the greatest actors to ever grace the big screen. Sure, his recent film choices have been less than desirable, but there is no denying that in his prime he was better than anyone has ever been.
De Niro has help in the form of Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci. Pesci is flawless as Jake's devoted brother Joey. From his very first scene onward you are drawn into his character and become invested in him. Pesci is always on top of his game when playing the scheming and loud mouthed gangster (i.e. `Casino' and his Oscar winning performance in `Good Fellas') but here he is more subdued and subtle and I think this adds a layer of realism to his performance. In my opinion, this may be his finest performance to date. Cathy Moriarty is also stunning as Vickie, La Motta's second wife. The blonde bombshell gives De Niro a run for his money and proves she is more than just a pretty face. Her attachment to her character is obvious and certainly pays off in the end.
`Raging Bull' masterfully interweaves La Motta's violent profession with his violent persona, giving us a glimpse into a man who took his work home with him in the most literal of senses. There is no flaw to be found here, for Scorsese crafts a marvelous portrait of a man destroyed by his own carnal weaknesses. Looking back, I don't think it can be stressed enough how marvelous the year of 1980 really was. All five Best Picture nominees were deserving of their nominations, and while `Raging Bull' is not my favorite of the five (in my humblest of opinions `The Elephant Man' was the Best Picture of 1980) there is no doubt in my mind that Martin Scorsese deserved that directing Oscar one-thousand times over. Regardless, there is no denying the fact that `Raging Bull' is a flawless film, a marvel, a spectacle and most definitely one of the greatest films ever made.
The ultimate set--for the ultimate film Jake LaMotta:one of the most talented and successful boxers of his time. Also,one of the most turbulent boxers of his time,who's personal life would,eventually,work its way into his career.
And,in "Raging Bull",all of that is covered here. Shortly after "Raging Bull" has opened(the opening scene may be in 1964,but that really doesn't take part until the end of the film),we are taken back to 1941,at the start of(Jake)La Motta's boxing career. Here,it all begins. Back and forth on "Raging Bull",we see several fights of Jake La Motta documented. Everything--the personal part of the fight--the violence and grittiness of the fight--and the fight itself--are rolled up into one. It's really quite impressive. It's like watching an actual fight,De Niro and all of the actors having their complete emotion rolled into it. The suspense and "beauty" really work well here. Not only did Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler(who won the Best Picture Oscar at the 1977 Academy Awards for "Rocky")produce "Raging Bull",the creativity/imagination of Martin Scorsese and the brilliant technique used by Scorsese(only one camera to film the boxing,as opposed to three,the usual method)really help a lot.
The parts that focus on La Motta's personal life stand out quite well,also. With the screenplay,direction,and acting of Robert De Niro,you get to see who Jake La Motta was as a person:violent,angry,and crude,how he preferred to be with people "he liked",and how he preferred to be with people he "didn't like". "Raging Bull" succeeds on focusing on every other person of Jake La Motta's life and giving them enough recognition,without forgetting who the film is about. Joe Pesci can get annoying at times,but otherwise,the acting in "Raging Bull" is richly executed and contributes to the beauty of the film.
It's worth noting that most of(minus about ten-thirteen minutes)of "Raging Bull" is shot in black and white. Some people may be iffy towards actions like this for a film. But,here,it's brilliant. Through the black and white,you get immersed in the 40's,50's,and 60's. You see what the life of Jake La Motta was completely like,the time period for which it was being documented the way it is helping a lot(history fans are in for a treat with this aspect of "Raging Bull"). "Raging Bull" actually has the characteristics of any "old" film from the time period in which it takes place. Yet,it still has the same,modern standards of any film made today.
As you may have noticed,this is the two-disc,special edition of "Raging Bull". The title lives up to itself. The extras(three audio commentaries--one from Martin Scorsese and Editor Thelma Schoonmaker,the Cast and Crew Commentary,and the Storytellers Commentary,four behind-the-scenes feauturettes,and "The Bronx Bull" making-of documentary)really do spread one issue--learning about the making of the film--out. It's a very successful method. The eight bonus feautures let viewers of "Raging Bull" learn every aspect of the film being made(thumbs up for letting the real Jake La Motta have a helping hand),and all offer a fair amount of interesting and intruiging facts. The newsreel footage of Jake La Motta defending his title and the shot-by-shot comparison of Robert De Niro and Jake La Motta are impressive touches. The booklet is also quite nice with fun trivia/facts and some pictures that happen to stand out,while the actual "case" that holds the DVDS has a lot of creative and strong touches to it,as well.
If you are a harcore,American Film institute film fan,"Raging Bull" is one film not to miss.
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