Raging Bull Blu-ray Edition
Raging Bull follows the rise and fall of boxer Jack La Motta in a documentary like film that will go down in history one of the greats in film.
Film making 22/25
Cinematography 23/25
Audio 22/25
Bonus Features 23/25
Total 90/100
Jake La Motta was a crude and rough boxer from the 1940’s who was immortalized not only by his rough life and title of boxing middleweight champion but also by Martin Scorsese’s film Raging Bull. Robert De Niro plays Jack La Motta, a middleweight boxer who is rough, paranoid and wants nothing more than to fight his way to the top.
Jacks brother Joey played by Joe Pesci wants to help him get to the title bout against Sugar Ray Robinson but the mob wants him to do it their way. While you would expect the boxing ring to have all the rough parts of the film Jake’s life was one fight after another from constant arguments with his wife, Vicky played by Cathy Moriarity to his sadomasochistic behavior with everyone eventually.
Some of the highlights of his life and career are the constant wins in boxing due to his unique close in style of boxing that is well portrayed in the films boxing scenes. Other less glamorous portrayals are the constant fighting not only with his first but second wife as well as just about everyone he met could pretty much sum up his behavior.
He was constantly in fights and his brother eventually became another of his fear and jealousy ridden paranoia’s when he was just trying to be his manager and friend. Eventually Jake pushes everyone in his life away with the constant paranoia and fear that they are out to get him and this leads to much of his destructive behavior.
Jake’s downfall in weight gain after his chance at the title bout also affects his family life and his boxing career bringing both to an end. His own destructive personal behavior is evident throughout the movie and the movie is based on his memoirs so it should be at least somewhat accurate.
The film is shot in a very clear and well done black and white but some clips in the film such as home movies look to be done with old 8mm handheld cameras. The use of black and white, still and stop action photography for some of the boxing fights and the home movies adds to the classic and almost documentary quality of the film.
Robert De Niro did an excellent job as Jake La Motta but the film has several good performances along with a well written and directed picture. The film is a bit old and does show the time and film style of the period but with a director like Martin Scorsese you get a fantastic job no matter what year it is.
I did enjoy Raging Bull for its work as a serious portrayal of a boxer who has plenty of emotional and psychological issues. I really do not think it is worth all the praise people give it credit as one of the best films of all time but I really think that is subjective as well.
Raging Bull is a great film and one you can appreciate well even if you do not enjoy the type of film it is as it does stand out as an excellent film in shooting style and many other aspects as well as the great acting performances. The Blu-ray edition contains plenty of extras for boxing fans as well as information and interesting parts about the film and Jake La Motta.
There is plenty of commentary from Martin Scorsese, editor Thelma Schoomaker, cast, crew and storytellers about the film and Jake La Motta as well as several other features. The Blu-ray edition contains a full length 4 part documentary about creating the film from preproduction such as gathering the actors and getting things going to the post production editing.
There are also some great additions in a documentary about the Bronx Bull, a look at the film from the critics and others view point as well as some dialogue from Jake La Motta. Adding to the features is a shot by shot comparison showing the similarities and differences of Di Nero and Jake La Motta fighting and a real news footage clip of the Jake La Motta and Marcel Cerdan fight.
There is plenty here for fans of the film and the Blu-ray edition is certainly well worth the cost in both excellent addition features and a great movie experience of the film in high definition audio and video. Raging Bull is a great film and is well worth at least one viewing and the Blu-ray edition contains plenty of extras.