De Niro stars in this film biography of the controversial prize fighter of the 1940s, Jake LaMotta. Genre: Feature Film-Drama Rating: R Release Date: 6-FEB-2001 Media Type: DVD
Martin Scorsese's brutal black-and-white biography of self-destructive boxer Jake LaMotta was chosen as the best film of the 1980s in a major critics' poll at the end of the decade, and it's a knockout piece of filmmaking. Robert De Niro plays LaMotta (famously putting on 50 pounds for the later scenes), a man tormented by demons he doesn't understand and prone to uncontrollably violent temper tantrums and fits of irrational jealousy. He marries a striking young blond (Cathy Moriarty), his sexual ideal, and then terrorizes her with never-ending accusations of infidelity. Jake is as frightening as he is pathetic, unable to control or comprehend the baser instincts that periodically, and without warning, turn him into the rampaging beast of the title. But as Roman Catholic Scorsese sees it, he works off his sins in the boxing ring, where his greatest athletic talent is his ability to withstand punishment. The fight scenes are astounding; they're like barbaric ritual dance numbers. Images smash into one another--a flashbulb, a spray of sweat, a fist, a geyser of blood--until you feel dazed from the pummeling. Nominated for a handful of Academy Awards (including best picture and director), Raging Bull won only two, for De Niro and for editor Thelma Schoonmacher. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
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,... more info
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... more info
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... more info
Related
Sections
