Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (25 June 2008)

Raging Bull (1980)
**** (out of 4)
Martin Scorsese's masterpiece about boxer Jake La Motta and his personal demons that caused him to lose everything won Robert DeNiro the Best Actor Oscar and the film remains one of the greatest ever made. From the opening title sequence to the end where DeNiro quotes scenes from On the Waterfront, this is a rather remarkable, if dark and depressing, look at a self destructing maniac and it's one of the best character studies of all time. This certainly isn't a film that you'll want to watch often considering how depressing it is but it will always be a strong entertainment when viewed. On a technical side this film is flawless from start to finish. The sound effects really stand out as their use here is unforgettable and they still rank among the best for any film I've seen. The use of Italian composer Pietro Mascagni music also hits the right mood as it contains a certain sadness, which fits the film perfectly. The boxing scenes are among the most brutal that I've ever seen in a movie. The final fight with Robinson is so brutal, violent and perfectly edited that you cant' help but feel the actor is really being beaten down in the film. Cathy Moriarty plays DeNiro's wife who he meets when she is fifteen years old and the actress must play her in different aspects of her life. Moriarty is just another example of Scorsese taking someone no one has really heard of and getting them to deliver a strong performance. The highlight for Moriarty is a scene where she's getting slapped around in a bathroom and she finally breaks in anger to try and put Jake in his place. Joe Pesci plays the younger La Motta and also shines very brightly. The rage he has to show, to a smaller level than La Motta, is great to watch and he really works well with DeNiro. As far as DeNiro goes, I'd say his performance here is the second greatest I've ever seen after Marlon Brando in Last Tango in Paris. Everyone knows about the weight gain, which is in itself very impressive but the true genius here is the prison scene where La Motta finally cracks and breaks down. The emotions that DeNiro show in this scene and the rage are something hard to watch but it's so fitting for the character and the film. The movie isn't easy to watch and there aren't any soft punches thrown but if you like in your face dramas then this here is certainly one of the greatest ever made.