Raging Bull

Not so much a film about boxing, but rather about the struggle of an emotionally unbalanced man with his surroundings and eventually with himself. The story builds slowly and gradually to reach an emotional climax in the fight scene with Ray Robinson. Here La Motta, weighed down by remorse, redeems his wrongdoing through willingly taking the punches of his opponent's boxing glove. Blood spurts in all directions and the viewer shudders in horror and amazement. Scorsese's direction is simply fantastic, De Niro is phenomenal, but it would be unfair not to mention the great editing and cinematography. And last but not least, Joe Pesci, who is De Niro's equal acting partner. Raging Bull is a film that may not win the viewer over immediately, thanks to its slower first half hour, but it lingers all the longer afterwards. (27/06/2004)

“I don’t trust nobody.” The anti-Rocky (which probably would not have been made if Rocky didn’t exist). Raging Bull is not a film about boxing matches, but about the struggles inside the head of a man who is bugged by the fact that he has small hands. Because of his bullish nature, Jake gradually loses his fame, power and money, as well as the trust of others, from whom he demands the respect that he cannot show for himself. He is dragged down by his inability to prove what he is convinced of, that he ranks among the best. Success in the ring is not enough for him, as he needs to assert his dominance and control over situations also in his home environment. He thus inflicts the hardest blows on those closest to him. The key people on the painful path to finally accepting his own sins are his brother and second wife. Vickie initially represents for him an unapproachable goddess, whose beauty also thoroughly intoxicates the camera, and whom Jake at most takes the liberty of only timidly caressing. He willingly transforms himself from a raging bull into her obedient boy (for which he is rewarded with a “Mother’s Little Helper” apron in one of the contrastingly idyllic family videos). After he realises that Vickie is not just a mother figure to him and that he has to share her with others and thus put his manhood at risk, he begins to see her as his private, untouchable property. And he also treats her like property in the very brutal scenes of domestic violence. He truly behaves like an animal that is unable to control its instincts (animalistic screams also accompany the boxing matches). Conscious of the irredeemable nature of his sins, he at least tries to recast his defeat in self-pitying joking in the brutally disheartening conclusion.  However, it is clear that he cannot fall any farther. I must also mention that Scorsese’s justifiably ponderous film also has captivating cinematography, unrivalled editing at least in the boxing scenes (the dialogue scenes in the bar are chaotic in places) and, as its focal point, one of the most tenacious acting performances in modern cinema. 85% (25/08/2012)

I simply don’t like films about awful human beings, even if they’re greatly made. Raging Bull is an excellent piece of filmmaking, but I was unable to enjoy it. (28/05/2010)

Scorsese is a director who is two classes better than Avildsen, and the same can be said about Robert De Niro compared to Sylvester Stallone. However, I won't give more than 3 stars even in this case because boxing is as likable to me as encountering an agitated swarm of wasps, and testosterone-filled Jake LaMotta is not the kind of guy I would want to share a double house with. As a study of masculinity and uncontrollable jealousy, it is quite decent, but the film didn't captivate me in any way. Overall impression: 55%. (19/11/2010)

Come to think of it, Raging Bull was the first Martin Scorsese movie that I ever saw. The sight at a person, who destroys his own life right in front of you is unbelievably crushing. Nevertheless the character of Jake LaMotta, in a perfect delivery by Robert De Niro, deserves admiration because, just like most good boxers, he never gave up. (25/10/2006)

This film is not so much about boxing, but it is executed in such a way that it fully impacts the viewer and everything weighs heavily on them until the very end, and that is its strength. A gem of world cinematography and I am grateful to have seen this masterpiece. (26/02/2005)

What? The best boxing film and there's about ten minutes of boxing? But it’s brilliant. I like Rocky, I like Paul Newman in Somebody Up There Likes Me, but of all these battered men, Jake La Motta is my favorite, and I don’t know why. (19/09/2007)

This is a film of undeniable quality with a story that literally radiates a specific and unmistakable atmosphere, where you strongly sympathize with the main character throughout his tortuous life journey. But success goes hand in hand not so much with the direction as with the excellent performances by De Niro, Pesci and Moriarty. They are the ones who are constantly at the centre of the action, they are the ones who transmit all the emotions, they are the ones whose characters you will find both sympathetic and repulsive throughout the film. Similarly, the script is brilliantly and cleverly constructed, as if it was tailored exactly to the body of the main characters. And yet, I must give it only 4*. I'm sure you know that feeling when after finishing a film that was smart, well acted and well shot, you still can't shake the sensation that it wasn't quite right, that it lacked something. Raging Bull is exactly one of those cases for me. (13/01/2012)

The fact that it is apparent in some scenes that it is just acting (especially in the fights outside the ring), is redeemed by the strong story of a man who is difficult to like. It's as if he willingly tries to live alone, to not have anyone who cares about him. The personal destruction of a man who was a great boxer but also hit rock bottom. Martin Scorsese shows how strong his passion for film and directing is. The black and white execution is brilliant, as well as the musical accompaniment and individual shots in the ring. The spraying sweat and blood are very intense. (28/10/2013)