Raging Bull

There are very few films that would qualify as perfect. Once in a while a film comes along that is the result of unrelenting dedication to the material and creative vision that combine and enable the film to succeed on every level. Martin Scorsese’s "Raging Bull" is one of those films.

Based on the life story of Jake La Motta (Robert De Niro), "Raging Bull" is a character study of a man who can’t get out of his own way. Jake is a boxer notorious for his devastating abilities on his opponents, but what is an asset in the ring ultimately destroys his life. As he tries to rise to the top of the boxing world his increasing jealousy and abuse toward his wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarty) and his brother/manager Joey (Joe Pesci) further alienate him from his family until he is left as a shadow of his former glory.

The film is meticulously crafted. Every fight scene is uniquely designed to fit the emotional state of the character. Every camera move, as well as film speed and sound design is purposefully utilized to enhance the drama. These scenes are some of the most striking pieces of sports cinema every captured. The fights are exciting; La Motta’s ferocity is unmatched in the ring. But the drama spills over into La Motta’s personal life as does his intensity. The scenes of La Motta’s home life are as compelling as the actual fights themselves. This is a film about a boxer but it is also about a life full of missteps and mistakes in the face of unrelenting potential. La Motta’s aggression and suspicion consume him until he has destroyed every thing he has and every relationship he holds dear.

De Niro has never been better. His commitment to his portrayal of La Motta is what every actor aspires to. And every performance in the film is equally affective. Pesci as Jake’s brother and manager offers tremendous range when confronted with how far he will go for his brother especially when the relationship is pushed passed its limits. His performance is honest and bittersweet. And Cathy Moriarty is adept enough to match her costars as her character arguably experiences the most change over the course of the film. Despite the stylized fight scenes there is a realism to the rest of the movie, a dramatic honesty that is solely the product of the great performances by the actors.

"Raging Bull" is the story of a tragic figure as he experiences great success and is doomed to cause himself only misery. The film is beautiful and sad, its touching and relentless and heartbreakingly ironic. If you haven’t yet seen it you would be doing yourself a disservice not to. It is as close to perfect as cinema gets.