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
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
This movie was stupid. I'm a boxing fan and train often but I have no idea why people like this movie. It's a story about a cocky, arrogant jerk who likes to abuse the people around him both mentally and physically. Most of the movie is of him degrading women, screaming profanities to them and hitting them. In one scene he beats his own brother badly in a jealous rage, stomping him and then slugs his own 20 year old wife. The only thing I learned from this movie is that Jake Lamotta was one horrible person. This movie does... more info
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
Related
Sections
