Robert De Niro Goes the Distance for Martin Scorsese

Rating: 10/10 (16 November 2009)

In flashback, flabby ex-fighter Robert De Niro (as Jake La Motta) recalls his life, rising from Bronx, NY obscurity to become a World Championship-winning boxer. Unfortunately, the "Raging Bull" finds his soul imprisoned in the boxing ring, with demons on the ropes
This is an amazing piece of work.
The Robert Chartoff/Irwin Winkler production team does for the seedy side of boxing what they did for the more reputable "Italian Stallion" in "Rocky" (1976). Even without the weight gain, Mr. De Niro certainly deserved his "Best Actor" accolades. Director Martin Scorsese is at an artistic peak and, arguably, should have won as many "Best Director" awards. The supporting performances, from brother Joe Pesci (as Joey) and wife Cathy Moriarty (as Vickie), are also outstanding. Mr. Scorsese, with exemplary editing by Thelma Schoonmaker and superb cinematography by Michael Chapman, creates often wondrous sequences of film art...
One of the best ever
And, shout out to young apprentice Billy Chartoff, who was learning the ropes in style with "Raging Bull"; remember walking to the movies with sister Jenny from (was it) Apaquoque (or Georgica) Road, EH. Best wishes to you and your siblings. See you in the movies!
********** Raging Bull (11/14/80) Martin Scorsese ~ Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Frank Vincent