Unforgettable

Rating: 10/10 (30 July 2019)

I have never seen a film about self-destruction this powerfully told and acted. Arguably the hight point of the storied careers of Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese. Raging Bull is the life story of Jake LaMotta, a winner inside the ring and a loser outside of it. Here is a man that had it all. LaMotta was a talented boxer that had money, a beautiful wife, a loyal brother and eventually threw it all away because of his paranoia, jealousy, insecurity and self-loathing. The cast is outstanding. De Niro's portrayal of Jake LaMotta is one of the all time great performances. I do not know of any other actor that gave a more emotionally intense and physically demanding performance. The jail scene where LaMotta has hit rock bottom, is hard to get out of your head. The boxing scenes are brutal and expertly shot and the black and white cinematography is exquisite. This film is not simply a contender, it's one of the all time great champions.