Raging Bull poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto ... see more see more... , Theresa Saldana , Frank Adonis , Mario Gallo , Frank Topham , Johnny Barnes , Kevin Mahon , Ed Gregory , Louis Raftis , Johnny Turner , Bob Aaron , Bernie Allen , John Arceri , Michael Badalucco , Wally K. Berns , Joseph Bono , James V. Christy , Daniel P. Conte , Shay Duffin , Don Dunphy , Peter Fain , Lori Anne Flax , Paul Forrest , Bill Hanrahan , Ted Husing , Jack Lotz , Allan Malamud , Mardik Martin , Bill Mazer , Richard McMurray , Candy Moore , Harvey Parry , Charles Scorsese , Geraldine Smith , Coley Wallace , Kevin Breslin , Cis Corman , Vic Magnotta , Martin Scorsese , John Turturro , Robert Uricola , Mary Albee , Kenny Davis , Marty Denkin , Jimmy Lennon Sr. , Lou Tiano , Count Billy Varga , Peter Savage , Peter Petrella , Noah Young , Rita Bennett

Martin Scorsese's brutal character study incisively portrays the true rise and fall and redemption of middleweight boxer Jake La Motta, a violent man in and out of the ring who thrives on his ability ... read more read more...(and desire) to take a beating. Opening with the spectacle of the over-the-hill La Motta (Robert De Niro) practicing his 1960s night-club act, the film flashes back to 1940s New York, when Jake's career is on the rise. Despite pressure from the local mobsters, Jake trusts his brother Joey (Joe Pesci) to help him make it to a title bout against Sugar Ray Robinson the honest way; the Mob, however, will not cave in. Jake gets the title bout, and blonde teenage second wife Vickie (Cathy Moriarty), but success does nothing to exorcise his demons, even as he channels his rage into boxing. Alienating Vickie and Joey, and disastrously gaining weight, Jake has destroyed his personal and professional lives by the 1950s. After he hits bottom, however, Jake emerges with a gleam of self-awareness, as he sits rehearsing Marlon Brando's On the Waterfront speech in his dressing room mirror: "I coulda been a contender, I coulda been somebody." Working with a script adapted by Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader from La Motta's memoirs, Scorsese and De Niro sought to make an uncompromising portrait of an unlikable man and his ruthless profession. Eschewing uplifting Rocky-like boxing movie conventions, their Jake is relentlessly cruel and self-destructive; the only peace he can make is with himself. Michael Chapman's stark black-and-white photography creates a documentary/tabloid realism; the production famously shut down so that De Niro could gain 50-plus pounds. Raging Bull opened in late 1980 to raves for its artistry and revulsion for its protagonist; despite eight Oscar nominations, it underperformed at the box office, as audiences increasingly turned away from "difficult" films in the late '70s and early '80s. The Academy concurred, passing over Scorsese's work for Best Director and Picture in favor of Robert Redford and Ordinary People, although De Niro won a much-deserved Oscar, as did the film's editor, Thelma Schoonmaker. Oscar or no Oscar, Raging Bull has often been cited as the best American film of the 1980s. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Flixster Users

92% liked it

112,610 ratings

Critics

98% liked it

58 critics

R, 2 hr. 8 min.

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Release Date: December 19, 1980

Keywords: sports, boxing

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: August 1, 2000

Stats: 7,620 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Robert De Niro with Oscar for Raging Bull Robert De Niro in Raging Bull Martin Scorsese directs Robert De Niro in Raging Bull Robert De Niro & Joe Pesci in Raging Bull Raging Bull Raging Bull Raging Bull Robert De Niro in Raging Bull Raging Bull Robert De Niro in Raging Bull Raging Bull Raging Bull Robert De Niro I dont go down for nobody! Raging Bull Raging Bull Joe Pesci Robert de Niro in Raging Bull
Upload a Photo | View All Raging Bull Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (7,620)

  • spielberg00
    May 20, 2012
    spielberg00
    The decision to film RAGING BULL in black and white is utterly ingenious. This film is, quite frankly, one of the only films I have seen that I cannot imagine being anything the same in color. Something about this film makes it seem so much like something straight out of the time... read more period in which it is set. Thatā(TM)s impressive, because this film came nearly thirty years after the last point in the story. Even the fight sequences look beautiful under this visual effect. The final fight, though far more brutal than all the others combined, uses the embellishment well. Whereas in a colorization quite a few viewers would be shielding their eyes, the black and white cinematography allows us to focus more on the poignancy of the sequence rather than the violence.

    Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are the two key performing highlights of the film. De Niro portrays the furious Jake LaMotta, the filmā(TM)s primary subject, and Pesci portrays his stubborn brother Joey. Both are magnificently developed characters, and thatā(TM)s the least I can say. Itā(TM)s likely that every day, Jake goes to the ring and competes with a different rival every day. He never knows his opponent, but heā(TM)s consistently obligated, let alone paid to beat the living daylights out of him. Ironically, the one Jake seems to truly wants to pummel is Joey, who he sees seemingly every time he comes home. We begin to feel Jakeā(TM)s life eventually, and as the heated arguments and tension build up in the film, we begin to feel our blood burning, as well. Itā(TM)s the definition of a tour de force performance.

    http;//themoviefreakblog.com/review-raging-bull
  • fb791220692
    April 26, 2012
    fb791220692
    I tend not to be a fan of biopics and their often unfocused story arcs, and in keeping with that disposition, the first half of "Raging Bull" failed to fully engage me, despite the amazing performances of De Niro and Pesci. However, later on the film ends up a harrowing tale of s... read moreelf-destruction, where the boxing (which is perhaps the greatest spectacle in the film, with visceral cinematography and the captivating direction expected of Scorsese) is only an externalization for the fierce anger much deeper within De Niro's take on former boxer Jake La Motta. It's weird that I found myself enjoying such a prestigious classic less than much less meticulous "The Fighter" from 2010 as a whole, but trust me - the individual pieces of "Raging Bull" are explanation enough for it's legacy.
  • fb1463751009
    March 9, 2012
    fb1463751009
    An incredible movie. Martin Scorsese creates a character that seems cold and heartless, but relatable at the same time. A great movie with flawless acting from Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.
  • fb1378820053
    February 15, 2012
    fb1378820053
    Robert De Niro WOW. He deserved evrey award he could get for this role, the film was superb but De Niro blew me away. There is certain actors who will go down in history. De Niro will for this one film alone. Even if your not interested in the film you should watch purely for the... read more acting.


    Anyway....
    Raging Bull follows the story of troubled boxer Jake La motta. It not only follows his attempt for a world title shot but also follows his troubled homelife. A fantastic Character study directed by Martin Scorsese.
    Raging Bull is one of them films you will never forget....
  • jamers2011
    November 7, 2011
    jamers2011
    I finally got to see this classic film and sadly, I was disappointed; I didn't like it. There were elements that I thought were excellent like the acting, direction, and cinematography (the black and white is perfect for this film), but I just never got into it. I didn't really c... read moreare for any of the characters and the story wasn't that interesting. I plan to see this again...it may just be one of those films that takes multiple viewings.
  • fb1664868775
    October 28, 2011
    fb1664868775
    What can I say, an unforgettable film experience.
  • DreamExtractor
    October 2, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Raging Bull is one of the most intense and incredible sports films of all time, but its not really all about sports, its mostly about a man, and that man is named Jake Lomatta. The plot is based on a true story, but I was just watching his story and I realized there are few spor... read morets films that are as intense with the personal lives of the protagonists but this movie doesn't stray from showing us characters that are colorful and real, and I think thatsthe best kind of story, when the audience is watching a story and people who are real and we see them much differently then how we saw them before. The cast surely did their homework about their characters because they all got an A+ in my book. Robert DeNiro deserved his Oscar, he plays possibly his greatest role he has ever done and I truly loved him and he may have been the best part of the film, and Joe Pesci is always great and fun to watch. The boxing scenes are not your usual boxing scenes, they are very fast paced and quick and there even some moments that were just pure strokes of genius. My favorite sports film is Rudy, but I don't consider this much of a sports film, I consider it a dramatic work of art about a man who tried everything to be great and all he wanted was to be the best, but all he did was lose as much as he gained, and Raging Bull should be considered in the leagues as the greatest film ever, because it is just so amazing I cannot consider it anything else from perfect, this is one of Martin Scorseses masterpieces.
  • fb100001050230219
    August 23, 2011
    fb100001050230219
    Robert De Niro gives one of the greatest screen performances I've seen in Martin Scorsese's riveting drama. It is one of the best character studies I've seen and the cinematography and direction are top-notch.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 12, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Whenever Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro get together they always make a phenomenal film. Raging Bull is one of Scorsese's best films and is also one of the best boxing films ever made. Forget about Rocky, Ali and more recently The Fighter, this is the boxing film to watch. Ra... read moreging Bull is the true story of boxer Jake LaMotta who seeks to get a title shot against Sugar Ray Robinson. Like every Scorsese film, Scorsese is able to tell a terrific story on screen and make it interesting. For Raging Bull, he has assembled a phenomenal cast of talented actors who light up the screen in this powerful drama. Raging Bull is the best film dealing with boxing. Martin Scorsese really delivers a strong film and its one of his best. Raging Bull is an astounding character study of a conflicted individual as he seeks redemption. Scorsese tells a powerful story and De Niro delivers a stunning performance. Sure there are a lot of great boxing films out there, but for me, none has the power that Raging Bull has. This is a well crafted film with a well executed story and delivers believable drama on screen. Martin Scorsese has always made great films, but Raging Bull is one of his finest works. If you want to see one of the finest boxing films, then let it be this one. Raging Bull is a superbly well acted drama that is one unforgettable masterpiece.
  • fb100000257973100
    June 1, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    If one was to seriously think about it, there are really only two main types of films: Stories and character studies. The idea of a film being good or bad is nothing short of a state of mind. Here, this is a film that is a character study that, in all my years of viewing films, i... read mores unlike any other I have ever seen. And it would take Martin Scorsese to create such a film. 'Raging Bull', based on the novel Raging Bull: My Story (written by Jake La Motta), is a film that is a character study and damn good one that is hard to watch. It is not because of the violence or gore (there is plenty of that), but because we are taken into a world of a man that is beyond confused to such a point that he is self destructing himself and we end up seeing the effect on the people around him. In terms of direction, Scorsese is always a magnificent pro at what he does. It was once said by a fellow film critic that "Black and white has a special quality. It's more stylized than color, more dreamy, less realistic.". Here with this film, that quote fits this so perfectly. This film, watching it, seems like a dream that you want to escape from (or brutally beat up the main character) but you do not want to because you have to see how much more farther down he will spiral. So, the black and white film used here works beyond well. His (being Scorsese's) cinematography is beyond gorgeous. The best moments are during the many bowing scenes that are littered in this film. Watching this, you would think that he would specialize in those types of camera techniques. The only problem would have to be the pasing. This is a slow film that does not pick up until the last hour or so. Now the script. I will have to say that Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader done a good job writing the script for this film to make it the film it is. Out of the film done by Scorsese, this one has one of the best scripts so, I am impressed by those two who adapted part of the novel into this film. Then we have the acting. The only two actors that I even need to mention are Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. I mean, these guys are pro at acting, guys who give it their all. And seeing them acting as brothers in this pic, I have to admit they done a wonderful and heart-aching job and portraying the struggles the real people that they are portraying as were. Finally we have the score. To be honest, there really is not that much of a score to speak of. But, I am guessing that due to this film and how it was made, this is needed. So, overall, I say that this is a great film to watch if you are interested in seeing a great character study film and are willing to dive down into the complex hell of one man.

View All Raging Bull Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss
August 4, 2008
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

De Niro is always absorbing and credible, even when his character isn't. Full Review

Joseph McBride
March 14, 2007
Joseph McBride, Variety

Martin Scorsese makes pictures about the kinds of people you wouldn't want to know. Full Review

Dave Kehr
March 14, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

I can't pan it, but this 1980 fantasy biography of fighter Jake LaMotta seems unquestionably Martin Scorsese's weakest work, at least to that point in his career. Full Review

Ty Burr
March 11, 2005
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

The film that many consider the finest of its decade. Full Review

Glenn Abel
February 23, 2005
Glenn Abel, Hollywood Reporter

An underdog in its day and a classic today.

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Though Raging Bull has only three principal characters, it is a big film, its territory being the landscape of the soul. Full Review

Amy Taubin
January 1, 2000
Amy Taubin, Village Voice

The most obvious basis for the film's claim to greatness lies in Scorsese's devastating critique of the very codes of masculinity that shaped him as a filmmaker, and in Robert De Niro's performance, t... Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It's the best film I've seen about the low self-esteem, sexual inadequacy and fear that lead some men to abuse women. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

There's no room for romanticism in the ring with inky black blood staining the canvas. During fight sequences, the director also uses a number of point-of-view shots designed to show the world, howeve... Full Review

Leonard Maltin
April 21, 2011
Leonard Maltin, Leonard Maltin's Picks

The other night, my wife and I sat down to watch the new 30th Anniversary Blu-ray edition of Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull. I could scarcely believe it's been three decades since... Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Fighter
    The Fighter (100%)
  • The Wrestler
    The Wrestler (95%)
  • Million Dollar Baby
    Million Dollar Baby (97%)
  • This Sporting Life
    This Sporting Life (60%)

More Movies like Raging Bull

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Jake LaMotta: And though I'm no Olivier, if he fought Sugar Ray, he would say that the thing ain't the ring, it's the play. So give me a stage where this bull can rage, and though I can fight, I'd much rather recite. That's entertainment.
    • Joey LaMotta: Your mother sucks big fucking elephant dicks!
    • Jake LaMotta: What are ya thinkin' about? Ya keep lookin'. Where the fuck you going? You're dead! You're married! You're a married man, it's all over. Leave the young girls for me.
    • Jake LaMotta: I'm gonna open his hole like this. Please excuse my French. I'm gonna make him suffer. I'm gonna make his mother wish she never had him - make him into dog meat... He's a nice, a nice kid. He's a pretty kid, too. I mean I don't know, I gotta problem if I should fuck him or fight him.
Submit a Fact | View All

Raging Bull : Watch Free on TV

Raging Bull Trivia

  • Robert De Niro plays the emotionally destructive boxer in this 1980 classic  Answer »
  • What do all these movies have in common: Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, Raging Bull and The King Of Comedy  Answer »
  • Who was the actor who was killed by Joe Pesci in both Raging bull and Goodfellas?  Answer »
  • True Or False: ALL Of these films were directed by Martin Scorsese: The Departed, Gangs of New York, GoodFellas, and Raging Bull.  Answer »
More Raging Bull Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Raging Bull Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Raging Bull to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Raging Bull News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

debmm Skin by debmm
26 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins