You talking' to him?

Rating: 10/10 (19 April 2006)

In one of their many collaborations, Martin Scorsese directed Robert DeNiro in "Raging Bull", about self-destructive 1940s boxer Jake LaMotta. The way that DeNiro gets into the role is almost beyond belief. The viewer understands that LaMotta was an angry lunatic, but can't help but sympathize with him. Still, we can see how his jealousy ruined him: if he even saw a man touch his wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarty), he would explode, seeing the situation as a threat to his machismo. It's impressive how DeNiro gained all that weight to play the older LaMotta of reduced status. Equally as intense as DeNiro as Joe Pesci as Jake's brother Joey, who had his own problems.
All in all, I don't think that anyone can deny that DeNiro deserved Best Actor for this movie. Watching it, you feel like you just got your face pounded in by LaMotta himself. Was this DeNiro's and Scorsese's best collaboration ever? Hard to say, since they had so many great ones. But "Raging Bull" is certainly up there. It's an experience that you'll never forget. And believe me, you shouldn't forget it, because this is a great movie.
Anyone feel like boxing now?