What Makes "Raging Bull" Great.

Martian Scorsesse's Stylistic boxing biopic was named the best film of the 80s by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. While I wouldn't go that far, I can say that this film does live up to the hype.

Based on the life and career of real-life boxer Jake LaMotta the film follows Jake's professional boxing career and his personal life. Eventually, Jake's self-destructive anger destroys both of these things.

Scorsese is known for his poetic storytelling when it comes to his movies. It's usually in the form of highly flawed individuals whose personal faults and decisions eventually fall on them. Jake LaMotta is no different in this regard, as we see his life slowly fall apart throughout the years due to his rage, which is just as strong outside the ring as it is in it. Robert De Niro gives one of the best performances you will ever see in any film, as his physical commitment to the role is astounding. Having a character that you aren't supposed to like or hate is a hard balance to pull off, but the film pulls it off effortlessly thanks to a great script by Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin. Seeing the transition of Jake from the buff boxer to the fat washed-up loser is so fascinating to see unveiled. My favorite scene in the film is when Jake is put in jail for allowing underage girls into his club. He then proceeds to start angrily punching the walls shouting endlessly shouting "Why! " until his hands can't take it anymore, and he just breaks down crying. It's one of the most heartbreaking sequences I have ever seen in any movie. It always makes me cry when I see it. Despite all the things Jake has done throughout the film, I feel for the man.

The supporting performances from Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty as Jake's brother and wife respectively are also strong. Pesci is esspisally a standout as Joey LaMotta thanks to his amazing chemistry with Robert De Niro. The way Joey has Jake's back throughout the film makes him very compelling and makes their fallout at the end that much sadder.

Raging Bull is also a technical masterpiece with its ingenious use of black and white by Ciematagropher Micheal Chapman making for one of the most beautiful films you'll ever see. The boxing sequences especially stand out in black and white with the blood and sweat and the neon flashing of the cameras standing out so much more than if it was in color. Speaking of the boxing sequences, they are both brutal and thrilling to watch, thanks also to editor Thelma Schoonmaker. Scorsese hated the sport of boxing, so he wanted to make them as violent as possible, and it really works in the context of the film. The one use of color in the film is presented in a powerful montage of Jake and his family happy together. What makes this sequence so good is that we know that this happiness won't last forever. The black and white stills of Jake in the ring intertwined with these happy times add to the fact of that inner animal never being too far away.

Raging Bull is Martian Scorsese and Robert De Niro at their collaborative peak as both put their heart and soul into this. The result is a bona fade classic that has gone down as one of the all-time greats.