'Raging Bull' 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review - A Knockout Release For A Martin Scorsese Classic
Jake LaMotta was the middleweight boxing champion known as 'The Bronx Bull' and 'The Raging Bull' during his brief reign. LaMotta had early lessons in life: to steal and to fight. He channelled his tough childhood into the ring, where his aggression became a way of combating deep-seated anxieties and emotional fears. This determination and rage turned him from a young hoodlum into a champion. But his drive for the title, his brutality outside of the ring and his almost-psychotic sexual jealousy will destroy his marriage, his deepest friendships and the career he fought to build.
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Video Quality
Imprint Films presents Raging Bull on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 courtesy of a magnificent 2022 4K digital master approved by director Martin Scorsese in 2160p with Dolby Vision/HDR. This label is based in Australia, but both the 4K UHD and Blu-Ray discs in this set will play in all Blu-Ray players, including those in the United States. The film was previously released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray with HDR10 in the United States courtesy of The Criterion Collection in 2022. We do not have that release to compare, but we do know that it was highly praised for its beauty. This new Imprint release has the benefit of Dolby Vision to fine-tune the experience on the visual side. It assuredly is not a night-and-day difference from the Criterion release, but the Imprint release is likely the best release on the market.
Without a doubt, the 4K UHD presentation serves as a valuable uptick from the included Blu-Ray derived from the same restoration. This 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc impresses right away with the perfect amount of natural film grain which is authentically gritty but not noisy or unwieldy. The encoding here is absolute perfection thanks to a thorough handling by Fidelity In Motion. This allows the presentation to excel with a world of texture in the locales, clothing, and production design. The cinematography from Michael Chapman is impeccable as he creates a three-dimensional image that uses the claustrophobic spaces perfectly to feed into the emotions at play.
The UHD disc maintains a faithful black-and-white palette that is dynamic thanks to the utilization of Dolby Vision for an exceptional interplay between light and dark. The command over contrast and overall clarity is a marvel to witness. Black levels are deep and allow the picture to retain a daring amount of depth and detail in shadowy spaces. Highlights are richer and offer greater stability without veering into blooming. The clarity of the transfer gives you an unbelievable amount of facial detail. There are no indications of any print damage or other such blemishes that would sully the appearance of this title. This transfer is a wonder by all metrics. It is a TKO for Imprint Films.
Audio Quality
Imprint Films brings us this new 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio surround sound track and an LPCM 2.0 stereo track that offer a triumphant audio experience. Dialogue holds up effortlessly, coming through clearly without being lost to the music or other natural effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely including the chatter within the public spaces and the noises from vehicles. The soundtrack of the film comes through with the appropriate fidelity that represents the material ideally for what it is trying to accomplish. The track does not suffer from any unexpected instances of age-related wear and tear. The Imprint Films has delivered an audio experience that holds up with the best of them. Optional English HOH subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
The Imprint 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Raging Bull includes an exclusive 80-page hardcover booklet with an essay from journalist and filmmaker Bilge Ebiri and production notes. This explores the legacy of the feature, the source material, its themes, the background of the creative figures, and more which is very illuminating. The on-disc special features are as follows:
Audio Commentaries:
A trio of archival commentary tracks is provided which delves into the production in great detail including the background anecdotes of shooting various scenes, the development of the script, the decision to shoot in black and white, the camera setups, the production design, and more.
Audio Commentary #1: Director Martin Scorsese and editor Thelma Schoonmaker
Audio Commentary #2: Director of photography Michael Chapman, producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, music producer Robbie Robertson, actors John Turturro and Theresa Saldana, casting director Cis Corman, and supervising sound effects editor Frank Warner
Audio Commentary #3: Writers Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader, boxer-author Jake LaMotta, and LaMotta's nephew Jason Lustig
Raging Bull: Fight Night – Documentary:
A four-part documentary that explores the production of the film in great detail through interviews with Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, director of photography Michael Chapman, screenwriter Paul Schrader, and more.
Before the Fight (26:01)
Inside the Ring (14:45)
Outside the Ring (27:24)
After the Fight (15:22)
The Bronx Bull – An Introduction to Raging Bull:
A 28-minute archival featurette that looks at the real-life La Motta, the legacy of
Raging Bull
, the editing of the film, the performance of Robert De Niro, and more.
De Niro vs. Lamotta – Shot for Shot:
A four-minute piece in which you get some comparisons between the film and real-life events.
Lamotta Defends Title – Newsreel Footage (1:00)
Marty & Bobby:
A 14-minute archival look at the relationship between Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro.
Raging Bull – Reflections On A Classic:
A nearly 13-minute appreciation piece in which notable figures such as Kimberly Peirce, Richard Kelly, Scott Cooper, and Neil LaBute reflect on the legacy of the film.
Remembering Jake:
An 11-minute reminiscence about Jake La Motta by figures from the boxing world.
Marty On Film:
A nearly 11-minute discussion with Martin Scorsese about the importance of film on his life.
Jake's Jokes:
A six-minute piece with La Motta in which you get a sense of his humor.
Trailers From Hell – Dan Perri on Raging Bull:
A three-minute piece that delivers some interesting anecdotes from the Title Designer.
Theatrical Trailer (2:11)
Final Thoughts
Raging Bull is a major landmark in the career of legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese with his visceral exploration of emotional and physical brutality. Robert De Niro gives one of the best performances of his career, which is saying something for one of the all-time greats. The ensemble likewise supports him to perfection with standout performances from Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty. This can proudly be held up as one of the great films of the '80s. Imprint Films has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a 5-star A/V presentation and some top-notch special features. If you are a fan, the film has been treated with the proper respect. Highly Recommended
The Imprint Films edition of Raging Bull is now available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Imprint Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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