How accurate was De Niro's portrayal of LaMotta in Raging Bull?

Yeah De Niro is a fine mehod actor, cream of the crop, i bet if we could see live footage of some of his other true characters we'd come to the conclusion he portrayed them just as well

 

The Sugar Ray Robinson of the acting racket? I'm trying to think of portrayals of his of true characters as I write this, but none come to mind right now. But it really doesn't matter, it's hard to think of an actor that can do more diverse roles. Anybody see This Boy's Life, where he plays a malicious dork? Oh wait a minute, that's a real character. The Leo DiCaprio role is the guy who wrote it. Anyway he's the guy everybody loves to hate. A small, mean spirited child and wife abuser. Then what about The King of Comedy? Also directed by Scorsese, DeNiro plays a never-could-be comic who in an act of desperation for fame and fortune, kidnaps the host of a late night talk show, (Jerry Lewis), and get this, if you didn't see it, DeNiro's a friggin' riot. Add to that Cape Fear's deranged vindictive ex-con and the lonely nowhere man Travis Bickle, and the list goes on and on of diverse roles this guy nailed. Sorry guys, know I got off track, and of course to say Robert DeNiro is a great actor is like saying Einstein had a good head on his shoulders. But it's hard to name an actor, anywhere, ever, that can nail more diverse roles.

EDIT: Just saw your post Rourke. I caught parts here and there of Mickey's Homeboy. Didn't know he wrote it though. How much do you know about his boxing career? I don't know much...

 

There were some thing left out but honestly cheating on your wife, beating your second wife and your brother, kissing annunderage girl and letting her in your bar(possibly having sex with her also) isn't a light portrayl.

 

LaMotta was worse in real life. A hell of a fighter but a real piece of **** as a human being.

 

Chinxkid, I've only seen a couple of his fights from Youtube, but trust me, I prefer his acting to his boxing He fought a bunch of nobodies I think and some of those fights have been rumoured to be fixed.

 

Yeah i saw This Boy's Life Chinx, quite sad really.

 

I find it hard to believe he was substantially worse than portrayed.

 

Sadder for the DeNiro character, imo, who was stuck with himself for life. At least Leo's got out.

 

I had a feeling that was the case.

 

Did anybody see Night and The City about a Boxing promoter played by De Niro? Iy was pretty good.

 

Good call. This is a boxing forum, after all. It's one of those that's grown on me over the years. And once again, DeNiro's a totally different guy. Hyped-up scheming hustler, more of the streets than the courtrooms. Good lighthearted fun. :good

His sidekick in that, Jack Warden, one of those character actors that never made a bad move on screen, looked pretty good when he took on that young guy who was always riding him. I'm pretty sure Jack had some fights in the ring when he was a young guy.

 

I actually don't remember too perfectly to be honest Chinx, just where he makes the kid fight him in the back yard and stuff like that, been a few years since i saw that.

 

yeah man,thats a good flick.I haven`t seen it in years.its a remake of an old film.the original was set around wrestling

 

Where's your proof, making such accusations against a fighter of all people!

 

Bought the DVD, and in my mind De Niro was LaMotta for a couple of hours! Brilliant performance!

IMO, the only thing that stopped the movie from being more successful than it was, is that LaMotta's life is a bloody ugly story! Nothing pretty, glitzy or 'Hollywood' there to work with - just an out of control guy who wrecked most things in his path and fights for a living.

If the film is really sugar coated, as some suggest here, the real story must be really ugly!!