

However, Raging Bull (1980) is a difficult film to watch, a demanding film to watch and sit through with unpleasant characters, the lead one of the most repellant in movie history. There is no doubt in my mind today, as there was no doubt than, Raging Bull (1980) is a stunning piece of cinema, acted with magnificent power and rage by Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Cathy Moriarty, directed with intense genius by Scorsese, edited by the gifted Thelma Schoonmaker and shot by the superb Michael Chapman the film is without question a work of art, however make no mistake, it is dark art, the cinematic companion to Munch’s painting The Scream.įrom the opening frames, a slow motion title sequence of La Motta (De Niro) shadow boxing in the ring, a metaphor for the film’s synopsis, a man at war with himself, through to the end one cannot deny the staggering power of the film. From print I moved to Internet and that is where I am today.įor just the fourth time in my life today I watched Raging Bull (1980) having not seen it for maybe eight years.

Moving on to print criticism, and teaching, I have never been out of criticism, managing to work as a critic and lecture film history as the Director of the Toronto Film School. I became a film critic professionally in 1990, the co-host and co-producer of a television program called Reel to Real which I worked on until 1999. Who knew we would walk through our lives in very different worlds, forever linked by watching this masterpiece back in 1980.
