Excellent performance from Robert De Niro, but the movie was good but not great

Rating: 7/10 (10 February 2015)

Many critics argue that Raging Bull is one of Robert De Niro's and Martin Scorsese's greatest movies of all time. I slightly disagree. While Raging Bull is a good movie, I don't think it is a masterpiece compared to other Robert De Niro/Martin Scorsese calibrations such as Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995). It can be unpleasant to watch at times, and the film does a good job portraying Jake LaMotta as an unsympathetic character who's self destructive behaviour costs him his boxing career, his marriage to Vickie LaMotta (Cathy Moriarty), and almost his relationship with his brother Joey LaMotta (Joe Pesci) who is also his manager.
I won't dispute the fact that Robert De Niro's performance as Jake La Motta is one of his best performances that earned him a well deserved Academy Award for Best Actor. Robert De Niro has always been a powerhouse actor, as shown in such movies as The Godfather Part II (1974), Taxi Driver (1976), Awakenings (1990), Goodfellas (1990), Cape Fear (1991), Casino (1995) and Heat (1995). Hats off to Robert De Niro for giving it his all to prepare for the role of Jake LaMotta. Robert De Niro went through extensive physical training in which he went through 1000 rounds of sparring, and jumped into the ring for three genuine boxing matches, winning two and losing one. The real Jake LaMotta was said to be very impressed with Robert De Niro's preparation for the role. Robert De Niro also gained 60 pounds (30 kg) to play the older Jake LaMotta. Joe Pesci is excellent Joey LaMotta, who is Jake's brother and manager, as well as often the voice of reason for Jake. Cathy Moriarty as Jake's abused and tormented wife Vickie LaMotta who is often on the receiving end of Jake's violent temper.
I don't consider Raging Bull to be one of Martin Scorsese's best movies, although I still think that he is a quality director who has directed many excellent movies in his career including Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990), Cape Fear (1991), Casino (1995), The Departed (2006), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013).
If anything I considered Raging Bull to be more of a routine but depressing and bleak boxing movie. Raging Bull is a good movie, but I don't consider it to be a masterpiece, it is definitely worth watching to see Robert De Niro's best performance.
7/10