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8.5/10
- Directed By: Martin Scorsese
- Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty
- Distributed By: United Artists
There is no denying that Raging Bull is a great film, and when you remember it is 40 years old, it's surprising that it still serves as a great piece of cinema.
Raging Bull, a classic boxing film, has intense action which you can't say about a lot of films in this era. The choreography is spot on, the screaming of the crowd makes you feel as though you are watching the fight in person, and the emotions attached to these scenes are very powerful. My only complaint for the fights is that they feel quite short and I wish they were extended by a few extra minutes because the intensity seems to fade away the moment it arrives and you don't immediately receive the 'on the edge of your seat' feeling for the first couple fights.
Similar to another iconic boxing film (Rocky) the love relationship contains the same issue. This issue being that the relationship starts off feeling a little uncomfortable or forced but as the film continues, we eventually learn the ideals/characteristics of this couple and their experiences together via a montage.
It's obvious since it's in the title but the main theme of this film is rage. It's an emotion that drives some characters and has a choke hold on others. Either you accept the rage inside you and use it as weapon (Jake and Joey) or you're the person who's being attacked by it (Vickie). It's a very destructive personality trait and it is presented incredibly well by both Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. I would like to see more films with these two actors working together because it's clear to me that when they are offered good direction with their characters they can portray it extremely well. Jake's rage evolves into a level of toxicity that creeps into his romantic relationship and his relationship with his brother. It rises to the point he physically abuses his wife and shouts at his brother. As a viewer, you watch Jake have a fight straight after doing these two things I previously listed and you consider if he's becoming the antagonist of his own story.
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