Raging Bull is a 1980 American biographical sports drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, and others. The film is based on the life of boxer Jake LaMotta, who, due to his violence and temper, rose to the top in the ring but destroyed his life outside of it. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning $23.4 million at the box office. Raging Bull is often considered one of the greatest films in both Scorsese's and De Niro's careers, showcasing their talent and collaboration. The film explores themes of self-destruction, defeat, and the consequences of violence and rage.
Plot
Raging Bull is a 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Cathy Moriarty. The movie is a biographical sports drama that delves into the life of boxer Jake LaMotta. It focuses on his violent and temperamental nature, which propelled him to success in the ring but led to the destruction of his life outside of it.
The film is not just about boxing, but rather a character study of LaMotta, exploring themes of jealousy, sexual insecurity, and self-destruction. The movie is known for its powerful emotional impact, thanks to Michael Chapman's black-and-white cinematography and Frank Warner's sound design.
The screenplay, co-written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin, is based on the book Raging Bull by Jake La Motta, Joseph Carter, and Peter Savage. The film has been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of modern cinema, earning critical praise and several awards, including two Oscars for Robert De Niro and editor Thelma Schoonmaker.
Trailer
Cast
- Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta
- Joe Pesci as Vito LaMotta
- Cathy Moriarty as Monica LaMotta
- Frank Vincent as Salvy Batts
- Nicholas Colasanto as Johnny Doyle
- Billy Vera as Leonard Martin
- Bronx native Mario Gallo as himself
The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and featured a screenplay co-written by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin, based on the book Raging Bull by Jake La Motta, Joseph Carter, and Peter Savage.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Jake LaMotta, Joseph Carter, Peter Savage, Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin
Box Office Gross: $23,404,827
Distributor: United Artists
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1980
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2016
Theme
Raging Bull explores themes of self-destruction, jealousy, sexual insecurity, and the consequences of violence and rage. The film is not just about boxing, but rather a character study of Jake LaMotta, a boxer whose violent and temperamental nature propelled him to success in the ring but led to the destruction of his life outside of it.
Reception
Raging Bull was a critical and commercial success, earning $23.4 million at the box office. The film has been widely acclaimed as a masterpiece of modern cinema, earning critical praise and several awards, including two Oscars for Robert De Niro and editor Thelma Schoonmaker.
Production Challenges
The production of Raging Bull faced several challenges, including the need to shoot the boxing scenes in a way that was both realistic and visually compelling. The filmmakers also had to work with a limited budget, which required them to be creative in their use of locations and sets.
Settings and Visual Styles
Raging Bull is set in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s. The film features a black-and-white visual style that was not as common during that time. The cinematography by Michael Chapman is known for its use of close-ups and slow-motion shots during the boxing scenes.
Techniques
The film uses several techniques to convey the emotional impact of Jake LaMotta's story, including the use of sound design by Frank Warner. The film also features a nonlinear narrative structure, with scenes from different periods of LaMotta's life intercutting with each other.
Trivia and Fun Facts
- Robert De Niro gained 60 pounds to play the older Jake LaMotta, and then lost the weight to play the younger version of the character.
- Joe Pesci's performance in Raging Bull helped launch his career as an actor.
- The film was shot in black and white to match the look of the newsreels from the 1940s and 1950s.
- Martin Scorsese originally wanted to cast Robert De Niro as Joey, Jake LaMotta's brother, but De Niro convinced him to let him play Jake instead.
- The film's title is a reference to LaMotta's nickname, "The Raging Bull."