Fantastic Character Study

Rating: 10/10 (21 May 2019)

Raging Bull is a film that works on nearly every level. Martin Scorsese's direction perfectly captures the time period of the film as well as the emotional and physical intensity of Jake LaMotta's story. The screenplay by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin is gritty but honest and beautiful. These elements combined with the phenomenal (and believable) performances of Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and the rest of the amazing cast make Raging Bull a must-see. This could have been a by-the-numbers, generic sports movie, but Scorsese and the writers instead crafted a complex portrait of a deeply troubled man. At certain points in the film, LaMotta seems despicable and completely unlikeable but at other points is sweet and charming. He is portrayed as a real human being and not just a caricature. The boxing matches are brutal and intense, but the more intimate scenes are emotionally draining as well. This is largely due to Scorsese's stylistic choices, such as the edgy black and white color palate and the home video-style transition sequences. Everything in this film is intentional and aids the story; no time is waisted. By analyzing Jake LaMotta throughout not only his boxing career but later on in his life as well, Raging Bull becomes a fascinating, intelligent, and emotional character study more than it is a straight up boxing movie. It takes a while to get into and drags in a few places. Also, some of the supporting performances are spotty and some characters are underdeveloped. However, these are minor complaints for a great film.