One of the greatest films in American cinema history is, without a doubt, Raging Bull. Though the director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert DeNiro collaborated on films before — Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and New York, New York — and after Raging Bull one could easily argue that the biopic of troubled boxer Jake LaMotta is the duo’s finest artistic collaboration and DeNiro’s greatest role (for which he got his second Oscar). Though Scorsese and DeNiro haven’t worked together since 1995’s Casino, many have hoped the two would someday work together again.
Well, we’ll have to keep waiting because even though there is a Raging Bull II currently shooting, neither DeNiro or Scorsese has any involvement in the project.
There were some rumblings as far back as 2006 that a sequel was in the works, which everyone promptly laughed at thinking, “Who’d want to see that?” Apparently National Lampoon’s Cattle Call director Martin Guigui, who is currently filming the project. On the plus side, there’s a lot of talent involved, including William Forsythe (Scorsese’s own Boardwalk Empire) as an older LaMotta with Tom Sizemore (Heat), Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), Paul Sorvino (Scorsese’s own Goodfellas) and Penelope Ann Miller (The Artist). On the the other hand, it is Raging Bull II and has no chance of outdoing the original. Here are the first two pics from shooting, which began on June 15, and the official press release via PRNewswire, which curiously makes no mention that its being produced by Sunset Pictures:
LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — This film may quench the unsatisfied thirst that movie goers desire to see more of this true middleweight boxing legend as well as newcomers who want to see an action film that shows how a man’s inner drive can overcome life’s obstacles. Raging Bull II fills in the gaps and allows us to get to know Jake LaMotta. It answers such questions as what happened to him or what he was like as a youngster. LaMotta himself was present and providing guidance before and during the shoot.
Although Raging Bull gave us the adult version of Jake LaMotta, it did not provide the rare look into Jake’s childhood nor the impact of the after effects of his violent life. Raging Bull II provides this much desired insight into the real-life struggle of a down-and-out pugilist who turns his anger, abusive childhood into a boxing career. Although his brute force turned him into a middleweight champion, it also created challenges in his life.
Martin Guigui, writer-director, has attracted a wealth of established actors, including William Forsythe, Joe Mantegna, Tom Sizemore, Penelope Ann Miller, along with fresh talent such as Mojean Aria as the young Jake LaMotta. Living up to the legendary Raging Bull is quite a daunting task. Although intriguing, Raging Bullfans will have to wait until 2013 to see the film.
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