The making of De Niro the actor

Rating: 8/10 (27 December 2000)

The most renowned film of the Scorsese/De Niro partnership, Raging Bull is an insight into a highly disturbed man's life, superbly played by De Niro [as usual].
His growing paranoia and jealousy, particularly where his wife Vickie is concerned, helps build a man who you should have pity for by the end of the film, but you just can't bring yourself to have that pity.
De Niro's talent as a character actor shines through, and you do believe that he is a boxer as he is incredibly convincing as Jake La Motta.
The black and white cinematography and camera work gives Raging Bull the feeling of a documentary well, and it fits perfectly as a classic Scorsese film.
Some of the supporting cast did well, others gave a predictable performance [particularly Joe Pesci], although perhaps this is inevitable given that the same Italian Americans seem to appear in every film set in this community.