Most overrated performance in film.

Rating: 7/10 (6 December 1999)

De Niro got heaps of praise for his performance in Raging Bull. I'll admit it is gutsy. But so what. He gained weight, he lost weight. He acted like a total slimeball. So what? The movie fails completely to explain why anyone would care about Jake LaMotta. Indeed, nothing about DeNiro's character is attractive. He fails to show any redeeming qualities in LaMotta, which ultimately makes the movie unbelievable. The supporting performances, especially from Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty are far greater. The fight scenes are a marvel, as is the cinematography and editing. The core, however, is rotten.