While The Fighter got a heft of critical praise and an Oscar win for Christian Bale this just-gone award season, it's worthwhile remembering there was once another almost-never-made-boxer-and-his-brother under-dog story of a very different kind. Back in the 70's and 80's the Martin Scorsase/Robert De Niro duo struck gold time after time. Crazed loner Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver or their co-op in Mean Streets, the pair seemed golden. So putting their brains and passion together to form a story based upon real life boxer Jake Lamotta's life story could have only ended one way. Cinematic perfection (or close to it).
Shot entirely in black and white the film takes us from a young(ish) Jake taking on bouts with Sugar Ray Robinson, as well as slowly drip feeding us his darker side, how Jake easily switches from "best buddy" and loving, playful brother to dark, uncaring and downright violent. The movie takes us all the way through his success, and unfortunately, his brutally honest downfall. While the character remains pretty much unsympathetic throughout, one can't help feeling he never meant to be the person he was, he just didn't know any other way. While that doesnt excuse lashing out at his brother (subtle yet memorable Joe Pesci) and wife (Cathy Moriarty in her film début) for little or no reason, it goes a small way to at least explaining it.
The end result of golden boys De Niro and Scorsase is this black and white gem, seemingly a stylistic choice it was apparently also to disguise small historical inacuracies like cars and the colour of the boxing gloves from the 40's, and it works besutifully. The fights are both stylistically shot while also making you feel every punch. A lot of love went into this film, and it showed on screen, De Niro gained 60 pounds to play the older and out-of-shape Lamotta and it's little touches like that (taking months out from filming to put on the weight) that sell you the character more than what would have been done these days, a fast suit and a balding wig.
While the test of time well tell weather or not The Fighter has the same staying power as this brooding masterpiece, Raging Bull has rightfully taken it's crown as possibly the greatest boxing film of all time (yes, better than Rocky). Small draw backs like the occasional sound flunk was something I could forgive given how much stress Scorsase was under during the editing process, and didn't hinder my enjoyment one bit.
Stunning, honest, violent, tear inducing with no real "feel good" resolution to the tale, this film will break your heart, but you'll love it. 9/10
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