There is no doubt in my mind today, as there was no doubt than, ‘Raging Bull’ 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 the Internet and that is where I am today.įor just the fourth time in my life today I watched ‘Raging Bull’, 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 Kevin and I would walk through our lives in very different worlds, forever linked by watching this masterpiece back in 1980? In terms of the theatre, he was the greatest I have ever encountered. I did direct for a number of years and never again encountered a talent like his, my younger brther Steve the exception.

Incredibly Kevin was removed from the Humber College Theatre Program, though on the they have him ranked as their most famous student, I came in a measly eighth. We were acting students at the time, me with no desire to act, an eye to being a director, Kevin with comedic talent unlike anything I had ever seen before. Kevin and I are still in touch and still remember that chilly November night when we hopped the subway to go see Scorsese’s new film because we were film junkies and suspected it might be something special. He has since done voice-over work, guested on ‘Seinfeld’, ‘Friends’ and ‘That Seventies Show’ and written for ‘Saturday Night Live’. The first time I saw ‘Raging Bull’ (1980), I was with my friend Kevin McDonald who went on to great fame as one of The Kids in the Hall comedy troupe.

Martin scorsese 1980