Raging Bull Reviews

This is as good as it gets

Martin Scorsese's searing masterwork Raging Bull is not just a film about a boxer. It's a film about obsessive jealousy, a film about the self destructive nature of masculinity, a film about sin and redemption. Scorsese looks much further than the boundaries of the boxing ring. His interest lies in the territory of the soul.

Robert De Niro rightly won an oscar for his portrayal of Jake La Motta. He is utterly convincing both as the arrogant, brutal fighter and later as a pathetic empty vessel abusing and alienating all those close to him. Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty are excellent as La Motta's brother and wife who are pushed away by La Motta's obsessive anger.

Scorsese employs every trick in the book to make the boxing sequences the most incredible ever to be filmed. A dizzying mixture of slow-motion, swooping camera moves and diverse use of sound combine to stunning effect. These scenes have a heightened, almost anti-realism feel to them. After all this is when La Motta feels most alive, where he can unleash all the violent rage he must attempt to control in his daily life.

La Motta's downward trajectory makes for unpleasant yet compelling viewing. Stunningly shot by Michael Chapman and skillfully edited by Thelma Schoonmaker, the film stands as one of the great achievements of American Cinema. Both savage and beautiful, Raging Bull is an undeniable masterpiece.

The ultimate boxing film

Without doubt one of the all-time great films sees the pairing of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro.

Filmed almost entirely in black and white, De Niro plays Jake La Motta, the American middleweight fighter. While often dark and violent, Scorsese’s abundant talent is plain. From a simple shot in a mirror to the legendary fight sequences the direction is breathtaking. Joe Pesci is great as La Motta’s younger brother.

A film that is both impossible to criticise and one to judge other films by.

If you think this is a classic, you might be wrong

Having been billed as a classic with 5 star ratings I watched this film from beginning to end. I suspect that you, like me, will give this the benefit of the doubt and do the same. But if, like me, you conclude that this story is dull, slow and boring from the outset, you'll spend the best part of two hours hovering over the eject switch.

Some films with great acting are worth watching for the acting alone. Despite amazing performances from the leading cast members, this is not one of them - Simply, the biographic story is too dull to be lifted by them. The La Motta is played out consistently but I'd find more interesting characters to immortalise in film at my local Tesco. In fact, 'Raging Wet Spill in Aisle Three' already sounds far more engaging. Production budget anyone?

Dont believe the hype

This film is good, but it is not brilliant by any stretch of the imagination. People say its the best boxing film ever made, but I cant think of many good boxing films. De Niro is great and his partnership with Joe Pesci always produces the goods. However the film just doesn't live up to the hype.

I got no good or bad feeling from the film and to me that means it is at best average.

Italian machismo....again

This is without doubt a masterpiece of modern cinema. De Niro and Scorcese combine to produce a gritty and disturbing picture of the rise and subsequent fall of a poor man made good.

However, I couldn't help feeling that there have been so many subsequent stories of Italian male angst before and after that this film is in danger of becoming a satire. Characters like De Niros La Motta, (a brutal, short-tempered, misogynistic, violent, ill-educated, alcoholic wife-beater) have been portrayed so many times now that it is difficult to really empathise with his persona.

Whilst this was cutting edge story-telling in it's time, pale imitations have badly queered the pitch for Raging Bull in the intervening years. The film must now stand or fall on the innovative work of Scorcese, rather then the storyline.

Died and gone to hell

This has to be the worst movie ever, it was painful to watch and i am sure when i die and if i go to hell i will be forced to watch this for all eternity.

In case you dont get the idea dont rent this.

Watchable is a perfect description

Like another reviewer, I really struggled to care what happened to any of the characters in this film. This film is watchable, but there is nothing special about it. Another reviewer has made reference to the fact its shot in black and white, and the music and the slow motion shots. To me, that does make a good film.

What I felt the film lacked were characters with whom you could engage and care about, whether or not you liked them. As it happened, I really wasn't bothered about what happened to anyone, and the film just drifted past me.

Not a bad film, just not worth the hype.

Raging Bull'

It seems fairly self-evident to me, but at least one review I've read has tried to write otherwise: This isn't a boxing movie. We see a few fights, but the result that goes into the record books isn't as important as the mental toll taken by the running battles waged outside the ring. What it's implied that boxing meant to Jake La Motta is a release of all the pent up frustration and insecurities that destroy his relationships. Pugilism is a healthy, controlled outlet for his anger, but remove him from that sporting environment and he's as dangerous as a bull would be if it began roaming the streets...

It is entirely likely that there are no excuses to explain the development of such a man. Perhaps the best thing to do when you realise you have a time-bomb on your hands is to try to plot the path which will cause least destruction, channeling that force and at least putting it to some kind of purpose. Gaining admiration for such a volatile personality probably wasn't high on the list of priorities going into production. It's a despairing situation to document, but an unflinching and fascinating one at that. This is raw celluloid power, restrained for our study as best as can be done.

Not sure if this is Robert De Niro's finest performance as most people seem to say but it is an excellent film that keeps you gripped from start to finish. I'm not sure how accurate to La Matta's life but it was rumored that De Niro struck up a friendship with him to ensure that he portrayed him accurately. The filming in black and white makes it that little bit different too. If you're a fan of boxing, De Niro or that amazing De Niro and Joe Pesci partneship, this film is a must. Unmissable.

Over Rated!

I was keen to watch this film as it has always been cited as being a classic. I was extremely disappointed.

I had no sympathy for and was unable to engage with the main character. I therefore had no interest in what happened to him.