Raging Bull (1980)

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

Jake LaMotta (based on the book by) and
Joseph Carter (with) ...

Release Date:

19 December 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Plot:

An emotionally self-destructive boxer's journey through life, as the violence and temper that leads him to the top in the ring, destroys his life outside it.

Plot Keywords:

Jealousy | Violence | Boxing | Rage | Boxer

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Jake La Motta
Cathy Moriarty	...	Vickie La Motta
Joe Pesci	...	Joey
Frank Vincent	...	Salvy
Nicholas Colasanto	...	Tommy Como
Theresa Saldana	...	Lenore
Mario Gallo	...	Mario
Frank Adonis	...	Patsy
Joseph Bono	...	Guido
Frank Topham	...	Toppy
Lori Anne Flax	...	Irma
Charles Scorsese	...	Charlie - Man with Como
Don Dunphy	...	Himself - Radio Announcer for Dauthuille Fight
Bill Hanrahan	...	Eddie Eagan
Rita Bennett	...	Emma - Miss 48's

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White | Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Australia:M | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Brazil:16 | Philippines:R-18 | Spain:18 (1st DVD Edition) | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Israel:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (re-rating) (2000) | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R (certificate #26171) | West Germany:16 (bw)

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

Robert De Niro gained a record 60 pounds to play the older 'Jake La Motta', and Joe Pesci lost weight for the same scene (De Niro's movie weight-gain record was subsequently broken by 'Vincent D'Onofrio (I)', who gained 70 pounds for his role as Pvt. Lawrence in Full Metal Jacket (1987)).

Goofs:

Continuity: Early on in the movie, there is a scene where Jake tells Joey to punch him. Joey does so, repeatedly, and leaves his ring on thereby cutting Jake with each new punch. Yet right before he throws the last punch, all of the puncture wounds in Jake's forehead have been removed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jake La Motta: I remember those cheers / They still ring in my ears / After years, they remain in my thoughts. / Go to one night / I took off my robe, and what'd I do? I forgot to wear shorts. / I recall every fall / Every hook, every jab / The worst way a guy can get rid of his flab. / As you know, my life wasn't drab. / Though I'd much...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Maai hung paak yan (2001)

Soundtrack:

A New Kind of Love

There is a reason why they are referred to as the greatest....

From my understanding, before this film was made, Martin Scorsese, arguably America's greatest filmmaker, was at the end of his rope. He was about to call it quits. His good friend, arguably America's greatest film actor, Robert De Niro, approached him with a book he had read. The title of the book was Raging Bull. After some coaxing, Robert finally convinced his friend to do the film, and it resulted in a MASTERPIECE!!!!!

"Raging Bull" is the story of former boxing middleweight champion Jake La Motta, and his penchant for self-destruction. La Motta is not in the least a nice guy. He is well, a jerk, who eventually drives any and everyone who has ever cared about him out of his life. He evolved from a lean, trim boxer to an overweight loser who owns a night club.

This film currently ranks on AFI's 100 Greatest Movies at #24, and for very good reason. It contains arguably THE GREATEST acting performance in the history of cinema, by arguably the greatest actor in the history of cinema, directed by arguably the greatest director in the history of cinema. But together, nothing needs to be argued, they are the greatest tag team in the history of cinema. Robert De Niro is flawless, superb, excellent, amazing, any positive adjective is warranted by his performance. There is a reason why they call him the greatest actor. This is it. (also "Taxi Driver") Naturally, Scorsese's direction is flawless, and Thelma Schoonmaker's editing will pretty much speak for itself. The black-and-white(or tinted monochrome) was an ingenious touch, similar to William Friedkin's gunshot at the very end of "The French Connection". It is the most beautiful movie I have ever seen, if it were a woman I could only beg to drink its bathwater. Joe Pesci is excellent as Jake's brother Joey, as is Cathy Moriarty as Jake's long suffering wife. It is sad when you realize that De Niro will never act that great again, but you find solace in the fact that he once did. He is maybe my favorite actor, Scorsese maybe my favorite director, and I only hope to have a millionth of the impact they've had on film. Far superior to "Rocky", even though Rocky is very good and contains maybe the most inspirational theme song ever.

This film was criminally robbed of 1980's Best Picture and Best Director Academy Awards, by "Ordinary People", another one of those dysfunctional family drama's. The Academy has since lost a huge amount of credibility, but I find solace in the fact that they honored De Niro with an award for Best Actor, in a performance that warrants two of them and makes me want to shine his shoes.

The film gets nothing less than a 10. It was voted the film of the 1980's decade. I agree wholeheartedly.

Scorsese and De Niro forever.