Brutality as art - Art ain't always pretty

Rating: 10/10 (20 March 2006)

Robert De Niro pitched the idea of this film based on the book by Jake La Motta and Joseph Carter to director Martin Scorsesse in 1974. It's the biography of Middlewieght boxer Jake La Motta and his climb and fall from fight fame spanning the years 1941-1964. De Niro put on 60 pounds in his transformation of the younger to older La Motta. This film is shot entirely in black and white by cinematographer Michael Chapman who was nominated for and should have won the Academy Award for Cinematography for 1980. From 1939 through 1966 the cinematography category was split into two awards, one for color and one for black and white. From 1967 until present the two categories were reduced to just one regardless of a film in color or black and white. Raging Bull would be the last black and white film to be nominated for Best Cinematography until 2005 when Good Night and Good Luck, shot in black and white received a nomination. Chapman had worked with Scorsesse on Taxi Driver and The Last Waltz. Di Nero won his second career Oscar and his fourth nomination in his portrayal as the self destructive demon battling and brutal Jake La Motta who in the ring masters his rage into an art form. In the supporting cast Cathy Morriarty received her only career nomination as Best Supporting Actress in her role as Vickie La Motta and Joe Pesci as Jake's brother Joey received his first career nomination as Best Supporting Actor. Also in the principal cast are Frank Vincent, Theresa Saldana and Nicholas Colasanto. The film's second Oscar win went to Theresa Schoonmaker who previously had been nominated for her editing of Woodstock. This film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Sound. Raging Bull marked Di Nero's fourth film with Scorsesse following Taxi Driver, Mean Streets and New York, New York. This film has a great script, a wonderful cast from top to bottom, amazing cinematography, sound and editing and a fantastic production design. Some call this Scorsesse's masterpiece but it certainly is Di Nero's masterpiece in acting. I first saw this during it's initial theatrical release and have seen it several times since. I would give this a 10 out of 10.