Raging Bull

Genre: sports biopic
Director: Martin Scorsese
Release: 1980
Studio: United Artists Films
Rating: R
MBiS score: 9.0/10

The Boxer, the Girl and the Benevolent Slave-driver

RAGING BULL opens with strains of classical music and Jake La Motta’s menacing silhouette dancing alone in the corner of a ring. Right then and there, its power is self-evident. You know you are witnessing a very special film.

Generally speaking, this boxing epic is all about Jake, a quarrelsome fighter determined to win the girl, the belt and a place in history. I may add that he succeeds on all three accounts – temporarily at least, like in most human endeavours – but instead of discussing plot points, I will simply urge you to see the film in all its black and white magnificence. You will admire its retro look and splendid cinematography, ogle Vickie’s luscious body stretched out by the pool, gasp while those front-row spectators are baptized in blood. You will marvel at Jake’s multi-faceted personality: he can be a Bronx brute, a stubborn athlete, a humourless chump but also a funny guy. Best of all, you will love RAGING BULL even if you eschew sports biopics because it deftly mixes bone-crushing action, irony, private drama and humour. A true accomplishment.

Of course, such a film deserved a sterling cast, and all actors here were ready to rumble. Robert De Niro owns his character, tenaciousness, jealousy and bad table manners included, Cathy Moriarty is truly irreplaceable as the woman Jake will always yearn for and Joe Pesci, as brother and trainer Joey La Motta, plays the same crazy and violent guy as in GOODFELLAS and CASINO with his trademark gusto and rapid-fire savagery. With this roster and Martin Scorsese’s lively and seamless direction, you easily understand why the movie went the distance. In fact, it is still up and swinging.

As for rating RAGING BULL, I know many have hailed it as a perfect film but, since its scope is not as universal as THE BLUE ANGEL, LA STRADA and a few others, I will place it just a notch below. Please give a 9.0 to this Scorsese masterpiece and Jake’s gruelling quest for glory.

MBiS

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