Martin Scorsese's compelling biopic of Jake LaMotta is much, much more than a sports movie; it is a searing character study of a man capable of harnessing his rage inside the boxing ring, but driven to the brink of destruction by his own demons outside of it. An unflinching, uncompromising true story is given real dramatic weight by a pitch-perfect script, great acting, flawless editing and a director who has rarely been better. A movie like Raging Bull lives and dies by the strength of its central performance, and luckily Robert De Niro delivers what could very well be the single greatest acting performance of all time in the lead role, with an insanely dedicated turn that doesn't shy away from the self-destructive, obsessive, jealous and generally unlikeable nature of the character. Production was even shut down for four months so that De Niro could gain 60 pounds to play LaMotta in the post-retirement years, after the actor had previously been in peak physical condition to play the boxer in his prime. De Niro deservedly landed the Academy Award for Best Actor for his efforts, although the movie was overlooked for Best Picture and Best Director. The stark black-and-white photography, operatic boxing scenes and intelligent writing result in an unflinching look at a deeply flawed man that elevates Raging Bull above being a mere showcase for De Niro's explosive acting.
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