Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Martin Scorsese's 1980 film RAGING BULL is probably one of the most realistic and throughly depressing movies I've had the experience of viewing. The film follows the true story of '40's boxer Jake LaMotta, but more than the boxing story, it is a detailed character study of an imperfect man, much like Scorsese and De Niro's previous collaboration, 1976's TAXI DRIVER. These two films are quite similar in many of their underlying themes, and both are excellent examples of great movies from the late 70's, early '80's.

Jake LaMotta, played remarkably by Robert De Niro, is a New York boxer, quickly becomming a top name in the sport due to his raw power and toughness in the ring. He makes a regular habit of pummelling opponants until they are left bloody and battered, and prides himself on the fact that he rarely, if ever, gets knocked down in the ring. His brother, a seemingly odd role for Joe Pesci, acts as his manager, and is often forced to keep his brother in line, because Jake is an unstable and violent character outside the ring as well.

Jake finds a girl and starts a family, but it is here when he really begins to lose it. His success in the ring has always been so hard to come by that it seems that Jake doesn't want his wife and kids to slip away as well. The problem is that Jake frequently makes rash decisions when it comes to his wife sleeping around, his brother and others denying him his fights in the ring, and generally alienates him from all of his surroundings, making him a virtual timebomb, that can unload on anyone in the ring, or out.

LaMotta eventually wins the heavyweight championship, but becomes so paranoid and self-concious about his wife that he beats her and his brother up. Soon, he is left with absolutely nothing, making this film go full circle, and showing us LaMotta as a recluse.

There are many astonishing things about this film. First off, the cast is excellent, led by De Niro and Pesci. De Niro makes all of his actions completely believable, and creates on of the most striking and hard-hitting acting portrayals in the history of film. Amazing in all of its subtle and not so subtle details. Pesci turns in an excellent performance as well. It's nice to see that way back when Pesci actually got roles that he could act in, and not just be comic relief. The casting and charactarizations in the film are just incredible.

Also worth noting is the visually striking camera work in the boxing sequences. This is where the action is in this film, and is particularly brutal in the effective way it was filmed. The camera zooms around the ring, delivering occasionally nasty close-ups of faces literally getting pounded to a bloody pulp. I'm glad this film was in black and white in these scenes. They are some of the goriest images I've ever seen.

The other great element of the film is the atmosphere created by directory Scorsese. The film is shot in beautiful blackand white, creating an old-style atmosphere to balance the 1940's-'60's setting of the film. Scorsese also has created an incredibly detailed view on the character of La Motta. We are taken, over the course of the film, on the total experience of Jake LaMotta, and at times feel differently about the LaMotta character. Scorsese's visual flair adds a lot of intensity to the surroundings, and we almost feel somewhat connected to LaMotta. At times he is charming, at others, he is completely disgusting and repulsive in how low he will go to do things his way as he sees fit, and it is this change in his character that really draws the audience in.

RAGING BULL is an amazing piece of cinema. It is a powerful study of a character who literally destroys his life as he goes along. This facet of the film may make it tough for some audiences to watch. It is a graphic portrayal of a life that most of us would not want to live, marked by infidelity, violence, and mistrust, making is depressing and at times disturbing to watch. However, the impressive ideas presented in the study of LaMotta ultimately prove to be quite rewarding, and there's no denying the stellar direction, acting, story, and overall effect of the film. Well worth watching for any adult film enthusiast.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older