Raging Bull (1980):

Starring:

Robert De Niro - Jake La Motta

Cathy Moriarty - Vickie La Motta

Joe Pesci - Joey

Frank Vincent - Salvy

Nicholas Colasanto - Tommy Como

Theresa Saldana - Lenore

Frank Adonis - Patsy

Mario Gallo - Mario

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Flixster: 92%

Synopsis:

The story of Jake LaMotta, a former middleweight boxing champion, whose reputation for tenacity and success in the ring was offset by his troubled domestic life: full of rage, jealousy, and suspicion--particularly towards his wife and manager/brother--which, in the end, left him destitute, alone, and seeking redemption.

Review:

Considered by many to the one of the greatest films of all time. I would tend to agree. The film is not so much about Boxing, as it is a Boxer with a short temper & slight paranoia leads him through a path of self destruction & misery. The lack of actual Boxing in the film doesn't take anything away from this perfectly written autobiographical picture that won  De Niro the best actor Academy Award while be nominated for 8 others. This is easily Joe Pesci's best performance & it should have garnered him an academy award. He shows a great amount of love for his brother & everything to do with his brothers life only to have Jake's rage & mistrust of Joey's mafia friends tear apart their relationship & bring an abrupt end to Jake's boxing career. The film has a great mix of drama, action with the right spice of comedy thrown in. Overall it really lives up to the credit of one of the greatest films of all time. Brief cameos by Jake LaMotta himself & a very young John Turturo. Also it was fun to finally see the scene that the Simpson's had used during the episode where Homer becomes a Boxer, where he's beating down all the tramps, hobos & bums with the musical montage. I had only known that seen as being in Raging Bull but obviously had never seen it before. Funny stuff. And seriously, what is with the fake nose on De Niro? Atleast now a days directors hire actors who look ENOUGH like them, not add silly things to their faces to make them look more like the real person. De Niro in a fat suit & with fat make up on though was hilarious & not to far off from what he looks like now.

 92%

Main Acting: 15/15

Supporting Cast: 14/15

Plot: 10/10

Compared To The Genre: 10/10

Cinematography: 18/20

Intrigue: 17/20

Extra: 8/10