Raging Bull (Special Edition)

Rating R Formats DVD Genre drama Starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto Directed by Martin Scorsese Publisher MGM Home Entertainment External Links MGM Home

I read a critic complain that Raging Bull is far from Scorcese's best film and has received far more than it's due. I would, with reservations, second that, giving such a compliment to either Goodfellas or Taxi Driver. But to argue that Raging Bull has been over praised is, I think, to have not seen the same film I did.

American cinema has seen biography taken such poetic heights before, but not often. I'm thinking of the marvelous Gods and Monsters, where James Whale was revealed and mourned in all his wounded glory, shown to be a man. A broken man to be sure. But the point was made that to be a man, however broken, is no small thing.

The real life Jake La Motta raged his way through everything. As a boxer it gave him great success. As a human being, it cost him almost everything. In many ways, this is the true strength of Raging Bull for me. It takes a man that many would dismiss out of hand and finds the poetic center of his tragedies and triumphs, his pride and his folly. The irony of course is that Scorcese and his film will undergo the same process over time. There's a mystery there that makes us, or should make us, tremble at weighing another's life in our mind and heart, but especially at the thought of encouraging others to do so by utilizing mass media. La Motta is impressed and happy with Scorcese's achievement, feeling that it was fair. It's my belief, that upon close scrutiny, one can't help feel while watching it that Scorcese, while no fan of boxing, sees La Motta as a complex figure, not just a loser whose life represents a cautionary tale.

The extras offered here are more than worthy of the film and fans should eagerly snap up this set. Like the recent Goodfellas two-disc set there's literally everything here that film fans could want. It might have been interesting to have some additional stuff for sports fans but the set is amazingly comprehnsive. There are three commentaries including one with La Motta. Other participants include Scorcese, his editor Thelma Schoonmaker and Producer Irwin Winkler. The 4 behind the scenes featurettes cover every aspect of the before during and after of Raging Bull's creation and critical reception. There is also a shot for shot comparison of La Motta and Deniro showing the amazing attention to detail the film has and some newsreel footage of La Motta.