One of the greatest films I have ever seen, with an even better performance!

Rating: 10/10 (22 November 2011)

I have only seen a handful of Scorsese's films but this is by far the best. The success of the film is largely down to DeNiro's first-class performance as the title boxer, Jake LaMotta. DeNiro had to put on significant weight for the last portion of the film, in which LaMotta degenerates into an overweight, ageing loner performing low-grade comedy in his own sleazy nightclub. This is typical of DeNiro's method acting but DeNiro's performance is so much more than that. His range of emotions in the film is incredible, from jealousy to glory in the ring.
Combined with this is Scorsese's masterful direction of the piece, captured in glorious black and white which gives the film a noir feel at times. Scorsese captures LaMotta's jealousy excellent with slow motion as LaMotta watches his wife kiss and old friend, it is innocent of course but not to LaMotta, whose jealousy and paranoia of the actions of his wife and brother slowly devour him.
The screenplay is also wonderful, being inspired of course by the book from LaMotta himself, but I think the highlight of the film is its final scene, as LaMotta is warming up for a comedy routine and he recites Brando's iconic 'I could've been a contender' speech from On the Waterfront; the irony is incredibly strong.