Masterpiece.

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2002)

This film is probably the finest work to date from Director Martin Scorsese. Perhaps the reason for this success was the way in which Scorsese was able to realte to LaMotta through out the making of this film. Obviously Marty was going through many problems in his life and instead of giving up and retiring he chose to translate what was happening to him through this film.
He claimed that Raging Bull would be his final film and although this thankfully for cinema has not been the case it would have certainly been a fitting finale. Scorsese is on top form in his attempt to recreate the life of chaotic boxer Jake LaMotta and by all accounts he has done a first class job. His choice to shoot in black & white has given the film an impact it would be almost impossible to deliver in colour. The entire film is tragic because of this and all the more effective.
Of course when mentioning this film it is impossible not to mention DeNiro. To film LaMotta's life story had been his idea in the first place and he had pleaded with Scorsese since the 1973 on the set of Mean Streets to get this film made. it took him 7 years to finally convince the director in which time he had built up and impressive list of performance's in such top films as The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver and The Deer Hunter, three very different performances in three very different films. Also along the way he had picked up two Oscar nominations and a best supporting actor win in 1974 for Godfather 2. However when he teamed up with Martin Scorsese in 1980 he would top them all.
Firstly DeNiro boxed over a thousand round with the real LaMotta and got into fantastic shape. The boxing in the film was 100% real and the fights were replicated exactly. Then came the next chapter in this amazing performance. Production was shut down for 6 months while DeNiro "ate his way through Europe". He visited many different countries and ate many different foods and in this time he was managed to put on 60 pounds(roughly four stone). This had a terrible effect on him as his body was not used to being in such shape but DeNiro's commitment to the project remained and he did not give in and continued acting superbly until the end.
This film alo has admireable supporting roles from Joe Pesci as LaMotta's brother Joey. He gives one of his better performances here and while not to the standard of Tommy in 'Goodfellas' he really has an impact. His scenes with DeNiro are rather fantastic and there improvisational scenes are amazing as they play of each other so well(without a doubt one of cinema's greatest double acts.) Another honourable mention must go to Cathy Moriarty who plays Jake's wife Vicki LaMotta. This performance is made ven more amazing when you take into account that she is only 20 years old here. few actresses in this day and age can give such great performances at this age, she truly does seem tortured throughout this film.
Finally a nod to editor Thelma Schoonmaker who cuts this film together magnifecentlly well, the fight scenes particularly are absolutely majesticlly done. I get the feeling the film would not have been anywhere near as good if it wasn't for her.
This movie was voted the best movie of the 80's and rightfully so. It is amazing in all departments and deserved far more than the two oscars it won(Deniro:Best Actor,Schoonmaker:Best Editing) Scorsese was robbed as was the film itself by Robert Redford and his Ordinary People. A film which has vanished into obscurity, while this, 1980's true masterpiece is a film that will live forever in the memories of all as a tru;y harrowing and majestic piece of cinema.