Review of Raging Bull (1980) by Alex G — 03 Oct 2012

Boxing films that we know of today or even a fighting film is all about the loveable underdog of our hero in the gloves. This film is a masterpiece, this film is nearly the opposite of what we expect. This film is Scorsese's and De Niro's master piece, their legacy.

The Good; brutal choreography, powerful acting, steady pace, a hero we hate, the perfect ending.

The Bad.

I first became a fan of Scorsese when I'd watched the departed where I noted the film maker's talent for head turning violence. Raging Bull puts the former to shame in this regard. Raging Bull's horrifying choreography goes far out of the ring, in the homes the punches still fly in a beautifully horrible dance. De Niro's punches to his friends and family hit much harder than those in the ring and for this I commend De Niro and Scorsese for making a film I actually had to turn from, if only for a moment.

The dialogue and performances in this piece were beyond realistic. It was almost as if we as viewers were hidden somehow as we watched these lives unfold. So much so that I could not help but feel a need to interject at the domestic violence scenes. The complete dedication that each actor had to take to attain this master level of acting is beyond me. Everyone behind and in front of the camera are true masters of their craft and it all shows in the performances.

The film is handled by a steady direction and a pace that definatly knows where it is going. It moves as it damn well pleases much like our protagonist. When it feels the time of youth is complete it moves on briskly into later life.

What I took away the most from this film, was that at nearly every turn I wanted to hate our protagonist. I disdained him. Hoped he failed. Cheered as his wife left, cheered as he was imprisoned. Yet-I pitied him. So much so I wanted him to make a turn around not so much in his career but in himself. He never does so, he never will, but it is refreshing to so openly hate a character.

This film's ending is easily in my ever shifting top ten. The final scene where life has caught up and he whispers I am the champ as he shadow boxes, is so sad, so captivating, so awe inspiring in it's genious in it's finale as a final brush stroke to the art work that is Raging Bull that I nearly wept. In that moment I finally felt something for the character outside of hate and pity, sadness. Truly in that moment he must realize what he has become, the uncertainty of his future, that even we as mere spectators nearly wept.

The Bad. None.

This film is a masterpiece. Scorsese's best picture and De Niro's best work. We have an American classic ina film that has no quarrel in giving us a protagonist to hate and reluctantly cheer on. Bravo Mr. Scorsese and bravo Mr. De Niro. 10/10.