Raging Bull on DVD (1980)

This is as good as it gets

Philip Concannon from London , 07/05/2004

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.

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The ultimate boxing film

AndyMoore from Isle of Wight , 14/10/2003

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.

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

Matt Evans from UK [Highly rated reviewer] , 25/10/2007

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?

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Dont believe the hype

higs from London , 28/06/2004

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.

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bit disapointed

hannah from herts,england , 06/07/2005

we have been meaning to see this film for ages as goodfellows is one of our favourite films, and this is always rated higher in top 100 film lists. although it was good it was no where near as good as we expected and was a little slow in places. worth looking at if only to say you've seen it.

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This is as good as it gets

Philip Concannon from London , 07/05/2004

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.

Read all highest rated reviews