Raging Bull Review (Blu-Ray)

Nearly three decades after “Raging Bull” captivated audiences’ hearts, garnering several Academy Award nominations, the Award winning Scorsese classic comes to Blu-Ray Disc.

Raging Bull is the story of John LaMotta (played by Robert De Niro), a middleweight boxer whose rise to stardom was countered by struggles with his own inner-demons. Like most Scorsese films of the time, it is a story of loneliness. LaMotta is a man who finds his way to the top with the woman of his dreams, only to fall back down into spiritual poverty as his own personality pushes away his loved ones. The story is told amidst the backdrop of gambling and of course the mob. Despite being a champion in the ring, LaMotta struggles to find success in his personal life before he eventually loses it all.

Joe Pesci plays the role of LaMotta’s brother. In typical Pesci-De Niro mob team up fashion, Pesci plays a hot-tempered guy whose quick to start a fight regardless of whom it’s with.

“Raging Bull” is delivered pristinely in its original black and white format. Unlike most black and white movies, which may not hold up today to new audiences, the emotionally gripping tale of LaMotta will quickly win a place in even the most toughened heart.

“Raging Bull” bears a striking resemblance to the story “On the Waterfront,” another classic boxing tale starring Marlon Brando. In the end, LaMotta pays tribute to the “On the Waterfront,” by repeating the infamous car scene between Terry and Charley. “I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.”

“Raging Bull” took home several awards, including Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role (De Niro) and Best Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker). The film is also ranked as AFI’s “Top Ten Sports Films of All Time.”

This Blu-Ray classic comes packed with several bonus features that feel like a free gift for Scorsese fans and rising filmmakers. Instead of your typical fifteen-minute behind-the-scenes featurette, “Raging Bull” comes with a full feature-length documentary on the making of “Raging Bull,” from concept to final edit.

Special Features
- Commentary by Director Martin Scorsese and Editor Thelma Schoonmaker
- Cast & Crew Commentary
- Storytellers Commentary
- The Bronx Bull: A 30 minute Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
- De Niro vs La Motta: Shot-by-Shot comparison in the ring
- La Motta Defends Title: Vintage Newsreel footage

4 Part Feature-Length Documentary
- Before the Fight (Writing, Casting and Preproduction)
- Inside the Ring (Choreography of Fight Scenes)
- Outside the Ring (Behind-the-Scenes Stories)
- After the Fight (Sound Design, Music and the Film’s Impact)