Robert De Niro

Cathy Moriarty

Joe Pesci

Frank Vincent

Nicholas Colasanto

Theresa Saldana

Mario Gallo

Frank Adonis

Joseph Bono

Frank Topham

Lori Anne Flax

Charles Scorsese

Don Dunphy

Bill Hanrahan

Rita Bennett

James V. Christy

Bernie Allen

Floyd Anderson

Gene LeBell

Harold Valan

Victor Magnotta

Johnny Barnes

John Thomas

Kenny Davis

Paul Carmello

Jimmy Lennon Sr.

Bobby Rings

Kevin Mahon

Marty Denkin

Shay Duffin

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad

Dick Whittington

Jack Lotz

Kevin Breslin

Louis Raftis

Frank Shain

Coley Wallace

Fritzie Higgins

George Latka

Fred Dennis

Robert B. Loring

Johnny Turner

Vern De Paul

Chuck Hassett

Ken Richards

Peter Fain

Billy Varga

Harvey Parry

Ted Husing

Michael Badalucco

Thomas Beansy Lobasso

Paul Forrest

Peter Petrella

Sal Serafino Tomassetti

Geraldine Smith

Mardik Martin

Maryjane Lauria

Linda Artuso

Peter Savage

Daniel P. Conte

Joe Malanga

Sabine Turco Jr.

Steve Orlando

Silvio García Jr.

John Arceri

Joseph A. Morale

James Dimodica

Robert Uricola

Andrea Orlando

Allan Malamud

D.J. Blair

Laura James

Richard McMurray

Mary Albee

Lisa Katz

Candy Moore

Richard A. Berk

Theodore Saunders

Noah Young

Nick Trisko

Lou Tiano

Bob Evan Collins

Wally K. Berns

Allen Joseph

Bob Aaron

Glenn Leigh Marshall

Martin Scorsese

Vincent Barbi

Joseph Bergmann

Scott Crawford

Dennis Crosswhite

Robert Dahdah

Vincent Di Paolo

Bruno DiGiorgi

Marty Farrell

R. Michael Givens

Charles Guardino

Bob Harks

Chuck Hicks

Michael Charles Hill

Pietro Mascagni

Irwin Winkler

Paul Schrader

Robert Chartoff

Michael Chapman

Thelma Schoonmaker

Gary S. Gerlich

Chester Slomka

Mike Maggi

James D. Brubaker

Budd Schulberg

Richard Bruno

Cis Corman

Jerry Grandey

Ed Arter

Phil Abramson

Jimmy Nickerson

Kirk Axtell

Alan Manser

Gene Rudolf

Patrick Hogan

Brian Hamill

Robbie Robertson

Frank E. Warner

Mary Keats

Donna Smith

Verne Caruso

Jean Burt Reilly

Marilyn Putnam

Andrea E. Weaver

George Trirogoff

Michael Neale

Jake LaMotta

Hal W. Polaire

Frederic C. Weiler

George Alden

Steven Burnett

Robert Iannaccone

Marty Eli Schwartz

Henry J. Bronchtein

Christopher Cronyn

Mona Orr

Michael Westmore

Allan Wertheim

Jim Henrikson

Elie Cohn

Bennie Moore

Carl Biddiscombe

Allen Payne

Marion Billings

Jan Tucker

Joseph Carter

Dan Perri

Joan Van Horn

Walter A. Gest

Dustin Blauvelt

Emily Ferry

Michael Evje

Hannah Scheel

Eddie Ramirez

Thomas Saccio

Donah Bassett

Gary Ritchie

Les Lazarowitz

Edward Gold

Richard Quinlan

Joe R. Marquette Jr.

Christine M. Loss

Drama

Raging Bull

United Artists

Chartoff-Winkler Productions

United States of America

This film marked the third reunion between Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro after “Mean Streets” and “Taxi Driver”. This time Scorsese invited Paul Schrader (‘Taxi Driver’) and Mardik Martin (‘Mean Streets’ ) to write the film script that is loosely based on La Motta’s novel. Raging Bull tells the true story based of Jack La Motta a middleweight boxer whose rage, violence and temper made him king of the ring while on the other hand destroying his life slowly. The greatest demon of all we have to fight is actually deep within all of us.

Andres Gomez

Impressive Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in a classical Scorsese movie.

CinemaSerf

Sorry but I was really unimpressed with this tale of the life of legendary boxer Jake La Motta. It's based on his own book, so it can be relied upon to be authentic, but somehow this Martin Scorsese effort just fell flat for me. The usual mix of Robert De Niro (La Motta) with probably the least versatile actor I have ever seen on screen, Joe Pesci, as his brother Joey; Cathy Moriarty as his wife Vickie and an ensemble of Italian American co-stars just reminded me of a very much weaker "Midnight Cowboy" (1969). Sure, that's not about boxing - but I'm not too sure how much this is about it, either. There is precious little by way of ring action - though what there is is excellently and intensively photographed - for the most part it is more of a soap opera, backed up with loads of expletives and a bit of domestic violence that seems to have come to epitomise the attitudes this New York community have for their womenfolk. There is the usual gangland, fight-fixing, shenanigans but somehow it all comes across as remarkably sterile. I don't really rate De Niro as an actor. Like Pesci, he only really seems to have one gear; one style and it all usually involves him playing well to his own roots, armed with a ripe vocabulary and lots of angry tantrums. At times it is shot like a television movie; the black and white imagery is just too clean and pristine. It seems to be trying for a look that places it contemporaneously in the late 1940s, but instead, for me anyway, it came across more as a film out of it's time. I am certain that I am in the minority here; it played to a very full cinema the other night and received applause at the end, but I am afraid I just cannot see what all the fuss is about.

Filipe Manuel Neto

**One of Scorsese's best.**

This is considered by many to be the best boxing film made to date. And in fact it is a very well made film, where director Martin Scorsese shows all his value as a filmmaker. I don't know if we can say it's his best film, but it's certainly on the top five list.

The plot revolves around the controversial sporting career of Jake “Bull” LaMotta, one of the most famous middleweight boxers of all time. At a time when sport was controlled by criminal mafias and where fights were often a hidden and manipulated betting business, LaMotta managed to succeed and become champion before his career collapsed under accusations of fight manipulation that led to the sanitation of the competitions for several years. The film portrays his journey well, but also dedicates a lot of time to showing us the violent man, coming from very humble origins and where violence is everyday, and who lives in a conflictive marriage due to constant jealousy. A man that very few could like, I dare say, he paid the price for what he experienced and finally understood the true value of violence. In fact, being such a violent film, it is obvious that children and more sensitive people should avoid it.

Technically, the film is simply impeccable. The black-and-white cinematography could not be sharper, more pleasant, clear and well-framed, and the cuts made during post-production work are surgical and made with millimeter precision. With very special care for the sets and costumes, the film makes us travel through time with silky smoothness, from the 40s to the end of the following decade: without being an expert, I can say that I didn't observe any great problems with recreating eras and the sets, costumes and props are of high quality. The effects and makeup are unblemished, transforming the scenes in the ring into authentic massacres that make the real fights look like classical ballet rehearsals.

I'm not sure, but I believe that, along with “Taxi Driver”, it was the film that launched Robert DeNiro's career to a level of maturity that allowed him to become the undisputed star he is today. The actor embraced the character with a commitment and dedication that is truly enviable and worthy of applause. Joe Pesci isn't far behind and does an excellent job as LaMotta's brother. In a more reserved but undoubtedly suffering role, Cathy Moriarty is very good, and we still have some room to see the elegant work of Frank Vincent or Nicholas Colasanto.

English

Sugar Ray Robinson Defeats Robert De Niro in the Boxing Ring | Raging Bull (1980) | TCM

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