Rating: 
Summary: As grueling as fifteen rounds with Sugar Ray
Review: In 1980, it is famously recorded that the real Jake LaMotta walked out of the movie theater where he had just seen the completed "Raging Bull" for the first time, turned to his ex-wife, who was also invited, and whined, "I wasn't that bad, was I?"
"No," she deadpanned. "You were worse."It is hard to imagine anyone being worse than Robert DeNiro's version of LaMotta. Hot-tempered, violent, masochistic, treacherous, pathologically jealous, Bobby D plays just an all around horrible human being, one with almost no redeeming value at all save for his ability to withstand punishment in the ring. And indeed, it is this last quality that offers Jake a place where he can come to grips with his demons in a legal and fairly lucrative way, as he quests for a shot at the middleweight title. The era that the real Jake LaMotta competed in was one of the most interesting in history. Boxing was at the height of its popularity and the 160-pound division was loaded with talent, including Michele Cerdan and the great Sugar Ray Robinson, but it was also a time when the Mob, in the personage of Frankie Carbo, largely controlled access to the title. Fight outcomes were sometimes fixed, odds were skewed, bribes were offered and taken, dirty tricks were played, and some otherwise honest men had to look the other way to get what they had already earned on merit. The scene in the film where the mobster Tommy tells Jake's brother "There's no way he's getting a title shot without us" is not far-fetched. Jake's reluctance to play ball with the mob, who he considers cowards, is one of the few ethical things he does in the film; but in the end he gets in bed with them, throwing a fight with a hapless opponent and enduring disgrace and suspension of his license so he can take on Michele Cerdan for the title. By that time, the real LaMotta later said, "I knew in the dressing room I was gonna be champion; nobody could have beaten me that night." He probably wasn't wrong. LaMotta, in real life, had no punch (unlike the movie, where he tears opponents to peices) and relied on his boxing ability and brick chin to wear down his opponents and win decisions on points. When he was in the zone, he was damn hard to beat; he handed Sugar Ray Robinson his first defeat and nearly knocked him out doing so. However, he was just a bit too big in the frame to fit comfortably into the middleweight division, and a bit too small to make the light heavyweight limit of 175 pounds. Thus he had to starve himself recklessly between fights to make 160, which often left him with nothing in the gas tank down the stretch of grueling 12 and 15 round fights. His brutal defeat at the hands of Ray Robinson in the 13th round of their sixth and final match, which he had been winning on points, is a good example of this. And like a lot of fighters who have to kill themselves to make weight, he had a tendency to balloon up enormously between bouts, a habit which probably shortened his career. All this outside the ring drama, this weight gain and weight loss, this constant pressure to perform did not help his mental state, and DeNiro does a masterful job of showing how the same qualities which made LaMotta successful as a fighter ultimately wrecked him as a person. We know within 10 minutes that this man has almost no chance of living a normal life outside of boxing, and we are not wrong. The part of the film which follows the fat, lonely, broken-down LaMotta through levels of disgrace and humiliation is every bit as grueling as the scenes where he wars in the ring. Only at the very hend, through (sort of) repentance and a refusal to give up, does the man, and the audience, find any peace. His last words to the victorious Sugar Ray, mumbled through busted lips from a state of half-consciousness, more or less some up the film's ultimate message: "You never got me down, Ray. You never got me down." In "Raging Bull" Scorsese made one of those movies that transcends its subject and becomes an instant classic, and DeNiro gave one of those performances which stands out even in a career as distinguished and brilliant as his. But it is not for the faint of heart. PS - When asked if he ever actually said "You never got me down, Ray" to Robinson, LaMotta laughed and said, "No, I didn't say that. But it was the kind of thing I would have said, if I could have gotten my mouth open." PPS - this movie begins one of the great feuds of cinematic history, between Joe Pesci and Frank Vincent. In "Raging Bull" Pesci pummels the hapless Vincent outside the Copa for flirting with Jake's wife. In "Goodfellas" Pesci beats Vincent unconscious, throws him in a trunk, and then stabs him to death. In "Casino" Vincent finally gets his revenge by beating Pesci with a baseball bat and then burying him alive in an Indiana cornfield. I shudder to think what Scorsese is gonna do with these two guys in his next film.
Rating: 
Summary: The best film ever made
Review: Robert De Niro the finest actor in the world at the peak of his powers giving an astounding performance as the self destructive, suspicious, stubborn and angry Jake Le Motta would be reason enough to behold this film. Yet, Raging Bull contains so much more, the crisp black and white photography inturrupted by brief projector images of coulor that are extremely poignant , as we watch La Motta's seemingly happy home movies while knowing all along the path his life is taking. In another great performance in the movie, Joe Pesci hits the right notes as Jake's brother who is too weak to stand up to him. He takes his frustrations out on his wife and his friends, and eventually abandons his abusive brother in the film final harsh,fair and heartbreaking third. This director Martin Scorsese's masterpiece which criminally lost the best piture oscar to the much lesser Oridinary People. To all of you who haven't seen this film, do yourself a favour and see it.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: A stirring, gripping tale of a fighter's tumultuous life and times in and out of the ring. Robert De Niro gives an astounding performance as Jake Lamotta, the rampaging wild man who storms his way to the title and over damn near anything and everyone else. His gaining of 70 pounds to show how Lamotta appeared after he left the ring is without question the most devotion to a character in cinematic history. Deniro won a well deserved Academy Award for Best Actor for this one, and is hailed by fans and critics alike as his finest performance ever. Scorcese of course derves special mention as Director....brilliant cinematography, lighting, terrific. Also, Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty were nominated for Academy Awards for thier gripping performances. Unfortunately they didnt win but thier performances are stunning as well. Truly one of the greatest movies of all time, it will stay with you long after youve watched it.
Rating:
Summary: "Gimme a stage where this Bull here can Rage!"
Review: What can I say about 'Raging Bull'? It's my favorite movie of all time, the title character is played by my favorite actor of all time, and the director is my favorite director of all time.
Any questions? :) What a way to start out the 80s! The decade before you had the birth of such films like 'Mean Streets,' 'Taxi Driver,'(both directed by Marty Scorsese), 'The Deer Hunter,'(Cimino)'The Godfather (Parts 1 & 2)and 'Apocalypse Now.'(all by Coppola). ..Then Marty comes back with a tour de force film that examines the trials and tribulations of an ordinary man's soul. Robert De Niro, in his second Oscar-winning performance, portrays 1940s Bronx boxer, Jake La Motta. What's so interesing about this movie, as well as practically ALL of Scorsese's cinematic gems, is that here you have an ordinary man trying to live an ordinary life by his own standards but can't because the local hoods have other plans for him. He's in constant struggle of normalcy and answering to a 'higher' power.
Jake La Motta is a lot like Charles Foster Kane ("Citizen Kane"). He wins support and followers just as quickly as he loses them while losing those who loved him in the process.In essence, this film bears a lot of similarities with "Citizen Kane." La Motta is a tragic figure, a victim of his own self-disgust and complexities. He fights in two rings: the actual boxing ring and the domestic ring that includes the two people he loves most, his brother Joey (Joe Pesci)and wife, Vickie (Cathy Moriarty). Because he keeps what he feels for both so close to the surface, it eventually erupts and drives them both away. At heart, La Motta is a closet romantic. He becomes smitten with a fifteen-year-old Vickie the first time he sees her and she becomes his trophy and ideal. In the scenes where Jake is looking at her, there is no sound. It's as if this young girl's presence takes Jake completely out of reality. It's amazing to watch scenes with Moriarty and De Niro. When he pines for her, when he meets her, marries her, and even when the marriage goes sour. It's also absolutely mesmerizing to watch De Niro transform in front of the cameras. He goes from a promising boxer to a burnt-out has-been. De Niro gained over 60 pounds for the scenes later in the film. He still holds the world record for the most weight an actor has put on in preparation for a role. It's absolutely incredible. De Niro, you're the best there is and the best there ever will be! Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci give flawless perfomances. They deservably won best supporting actor/actress nods for this film. It started Moriarty's career and reignited Pesci's.(You're awesome, Joe! :))The cinematography and editing is top-notch. It doesn't any better than this. And Marty...dearest Marty, you're a master! In my book, that best director Oscar should've gone to you years ago! You're number one!
Rating:
Summary: If there has ever been an American masterpiece, this is it.
Review: A mood masterpiece from director Martin Scorsese, Raging Bull is the authority on boxing films as well as cinematic biographies. The life and times of Jake La Motta (Robert De Niro) are as troubled and bumpy as that of any great figure. A furious man from the backstreets of the Bronx, La Motta rises from the ravages of poverty to become one of the most unbeatable contenders in boxing history. Set amid the backdrop of the 1940's and 50's, this film is the modern pinnacle of the always-arresting theme of Rise and Fall. A man who had everything he wanted, La Motta was forever haunted by personal demons that were expressed through forceful paranoia and the obsessive need for reassurance. Driven by anger rather than passion, he was able to defeat any opponent with sheer grit and thirst for blood. Among his Achilles heels were his young wife, Vikki, whom he met when she was only fifteen. Moving at a steady and always involving beat, La Motta is shown taking more beatings, winning more titles and self-destructing. As through a looking glass, there is always a feeling of not knowing what this fighting man will do next. And in the great tradition of Scorsese's Italian American fables, this film forges a somber and exciting attitude all the way through. Intensifying the film's dismal and violent beauty is the soundtrack, which mainly consists of the Intermezzo, from Cavalleria Rusticana, an Italian opera by Pietro Mascagni. This choice of scores not only furthers the feel of darkness, but it immediately foreshadows La Motta's downfall, while at the same time bestowing Italian artistry on the picture. Always worried that his wife is cheating on him, and thinking that his counterparts are working against him, Jake La Motta ventures beyond the point of no return. As the film's flashback approach illustrates, Raging Bull is more than just a sports film. Rather, it is a look at how a person's actions decide his fate. It is an in-depth journey into how people can shun those around them to the point of doing irreparable damage, and what carelessness and misuse of ones own limits can sow. Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese have undoubtedly constructed a picture of stark reality and emotional fire. De Niro stretches his abilities even farther than he does in Taxi Driver. This film achieves mythical direction and allegorical character figuration. With its black and white colour as well as its unmistakably subdued tone, Raging Bull delivers great performances not only from De Niro, but from Joe Pesci as Joe La Motta (Jakes' brother) and Cathy Moriarty (Vikki La Motta). In between the ring matches, lies the story of a broken spirit with a destiny for suffering, for this story is Jake La Motta himself, and not a third person reciting it.
Rating:
Summary: Robert De Niro Is The Boss
Review: Robert De Niro is an actor of absolutely unquestionable and indescribable strength and power.There is no acting in this film.Robert De Niro is purely and simply Jake La Motta; famous 1940's boxer with uncontrollable rage and bouts of jealousy that eventually cost him the care and respect of his loved ones.Robert De Niro put on about 50 pounds towards the end of the film; you probably already know that.What you will not know, and simply MUST expeirience is the sheer power of De Niro's intense, yet realistic, ultimately stomach churningly wrenching performance.My title is a little inaccurate.De Niro, isn't the boss, he's the God, at least in this film. Pesci is stunningly effective as De Niro's brother, and 18 year old Cathy Moriarty marks a very impressive debut as the sultry Vickie.The script is perfect and every bit as profane and vulgar and in your face as it needs to be. True, this film tends to lose it's compellingness as a drama during the film's tiny dry spots.But it's a wondrous character study, one of the best of all time; and the mastery of De Niro's performance is earth-shattering.
Rating:
Summary: Martin Scorsese's masterpiece
Review: Martin Scorsese's 'Raging Bull' is his finest movie to date, a bleak look at 1940s middleweight boxer Jake La Motta. Seen by Scorsese as his final film, the New York director crafted a brilliant, mesmerising movie that captivates and shocks with its brutallity. Jake La Motta - an up-and-coming boxer - cannot get a shot at the title unless he gives in to the local mafia. This is a story typical of any boxing movie, but the plot is not the essense of the film, La Motta is. Based on a true story, Scorsese has used La Motta's autobiography loosley to explore the tormented, paranoid, insecure mentality of the character. The plot is arguably flimsy in this sense. Many scenes that occur in the movie have not occured at all in real-life, and other scenes are moulded perfectly for the film. For example, the real-life friend of La Motta, Joe Savage, and the boxers brother, Joey, are embodied in Joe Pesci's character Joey, La Motta's on-screen brother/manager. The script is dedicated to La Motta's struggles, in and out of the ring - he gets scared, so he beats his wife, he's worried, so he hits his brother - his only emotional outlet is violence. 'Raging Bull' was made at a very personal time for Scorsese, and this is reflected much in the film - the black and white photography, the unsympathetic look at La Motta, and even his wife and brother - there is no subjectivity in this film. This is particularly emphasised at one particular scene when La Motta holds the belt after becoming champion and starts to cry - La Motta is charged with emotion, yet the scene is cut away with almost a harshness to life after the event. Martin Scorsese, I feel, is one of the greatest - if not the greatest - active director about. He has created some of the great movies, but certainly not Hollywood movies. 'Taxi Driver', 'Goodfellas', 'Casino', 'The Last Temptation of Christ' - all brilliant in their own right, but 'Raging Bull' is his masterpiece. The acting throughout is flawless - Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty giving great performances as La Motta's punch-bags, but of course, they are outshone by Robert De Niro's earth-shaking portrayal of the Bronx Bull. It is my personal favourite of any celluloid-captured performance. This is not a boxing movie, it is a character study. It treads on all of Scorsese's themes - a sinful protagonist, Catholic guilt, redemption, violence, etc. This is what cinema is all about - an artistic, stylish piece of filmmaking.
Rating:
Summary: De Niro's Tour-De-Force
Review: Raging Bull established Robert De Niro as the preeminent actor of his generation and one of the best of all-time. Mr. De Niro doesn't just act the part, he becomes Jake LaMotta. He explodes off the screen as he takes us through the highs and lows of Mr. LaMotta's life from being middleweight champion of the world to being a second rate lounge act. He is fierce, bitter, angry, touching and becomes somewhat sympathetic near the end. He trained to get into fighting condition and then put on about 100 pounds to play the Mr. LaMotta later in life. He is simply brilliant. In addition, an 18 year old Cathy Moriarty makes an impressive debut as his abused wife and Joe Pesci, in one of his earliest roles, plays his tormented brother. Martin Scorcese decided to shoot the movie in black and white (there is a brief scene in color of a LaMotta home movie) and this adds to the film's intensity and darkness. Mr. De Niro deservedly won the 1980 Best Actor Academy Award, but the film (which many critics site as the best of the 80's) lost out to the bland melodrama Ordinary People and Mr. Scorcese failed to win the best director award, losing to first time director Robert Redford.
Rating:
Summary: "I'm the boss"
Review: If you've seen this film, then you know what I'm referring to in the line above! Raging Bull is a driven and unforgettable character study of famous 1940's boxer, Jake La Motta. Jake La Motta was a rather pathetic figure.He had raging tempers and outbursts of jealousy and rage that he himself could not control.I'm not even sure he knew where he was coming from.He was violent and ridiculously controlling of everyone and eveything around him.He rode high when boxing was good to him, but when he gave up his career, his angry ways caught up with him and he was left with no one to care about him. And yet, despite Jake acting like an egotistical son of a b*tch,I sympathized with him, deeply.I sympathized with him because in the end, he liced his life the only way that he knew how.He loved the ones around him the only way that he knew how.He wasn't a bad man by choice; he was simply a weak man who wasn't capable of controlling his inner demons.The boxing scenes create the perfect atmosphere of blood and lust and sweat and rage. Joe Pesci, who plays Joey, Jake's brother, and manager is excellent and could've easily been granted his academy award.He deftly moves through the film capturing all his character's many dimensions.In many ways, Joey is not much different from his brother-he was just able to control himself more.Every scene Pesci is in, is an unforgettable one, because he brings something new to each one.Cathy Moriarty is perfect as Jake's wife of eleven years.You witness her descent from a young beauty full of life and vitality into a world-weary housewife with barely any freedom or life of her own. But this film belongs to a man called Bobby D. Robert De Niro is absolutely brilliant.He isn't acting, he is being(no matter how many times you may have heard it, it's true)>Every single word he says, every grunt he produces, every expression om his face is compelling and impossible to look away from.Towards the end, with 50 extra pounds on him, De Niro produces some of the most unforgettable scenes I've ever seen.He is absolutely wrenching and his performance is everything you've heard and more. This film has a few rough spots in the middle;at times, it's not as compelling of a drama as it wants to be.But these moments are so rare, and so completely overruled by the brilliant acting, and script, that you'd be hard pressed to care. You gotta watch it, that's all I can say.
Rating:
Summary: what a show
Review: We all know Robert DeNiro was magnificent in the role of Jake LaMotta but he's not the only remarkable aspect of this movie. Cathy Moriarity, played Vicky LaMotta and she's something to see. What a shame this talented young actress's career never took off. Joe Pesci, in his first movie role plays LaMotta's brother and manager and he probably should've taken home an Oscar for supporting actor. Raging Bull is part Greek tragedy and part Othello. Jake in this movie wants so much, finally gets it and blows it. His jealousy and paranoia drives his brother, the one person who knows and loves him best, out of his life and turns his marriage into a tragedy. The higher the boxer rises (interestingly enough the most beautiful scenes in the movie take place in the ring) the lower the man goes. The movie ends with LaMotta retired, fat, divorced and finally figuring out in his own mind what went wrong. The movie also features one of the most memoriable trailers ever made. You'll never listen to Cavaleira Rusticana again without thinking of Robert De Niro. This was one of the great movies of the 80s.
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