Jake LaMotta Double Feature

Jake LaMotta was a boxer. He wrote a few books as he got older. Below are the reviews of the two films made from a couple of his books.

Raging Bull (1980)

C – 129m (Theatrical Cut) / 121m (Television Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: The Raging Bull
Based On The Book By: Jake La Motta (as Jake LaMotta)
With: Joseph Carter and Peter Savage
Screenplay By: Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin
Producers: Irving Winkler, Robert Cartoff and Peter Savage
Dir.: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, Mario Gallo, Charles Scorsese, Bernie Allen, Jack Lotz, Peter Savage, Martin Scorsese, John Turturro, McKenzie Westmore and Jimmy Williams.
Cinematography By: Michael Chapman
Editing By: Thelma Schoonmaker

The emotional self–destructive journey of Jake La Motta from his highs in the ring and his lows outside of it. Gripping and yet repulsive character study of boxer Jake LaMotta is tops! Wonderful cinematography, editing, acting and sound. A MUST WATCH! De Niro certainly earned his Oscar®.

Trivia: When Jake LaMotta first saw the film he realized how nasty he was. He asked the real person who Cathy Moriarty played, “Was I really like that?” She replied, “You were worse.” This is Cathy Moriarty’s film debut. In 1978 Scorsese was near death in a hospital due to a Cocaine addiction. Robert De Niro visited him and told him to clean up so he could do this film. Scorsese refused because he didn’t like sports film but gave in because De Niro persisted. Scorsese has since said that De Niro saved his life by getting him back into work. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci really punch each other in the, “Hit me” scene. Robert De Niro accidentally broke Joe Pesci’s rib in a sparring scene. Years later Pesci would have the same rib broken making: Casino (1995), with De Niro and Scorsese. Robert De Niro gained 60 pounds for play an older LaMotta, while Joe Pesci lost weight to play the older version of his character. Finally, the editing of the film lasted almost up to the last minute that the film was set to be released. 

Oscar® winner for: Best Actor – Robert De Niro and Best Editing – Thelma Schoonmaker. Additionally nominations for Oscars® were: Best Picture – Irving Winkler and Robert Cartoff, Best Director – Martin Scorsese, Best Supporting Actor – Joe Pesci, Best Supporting Actress Cathy Moriarty, Best Cinematography – Michael Chapman and Best Sound. Golden Globe winner for: Best Actor – Motion Picture – Drama – Robert De Niro. Additionally Golden Globe nominated for: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director – Motion Picture – Martin Scorsese, Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture – Cathy Moriarty, Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture – Joe Pesci, New Star Of The Year In A Motion Picture – Female – Cathy Moriarty and Best Screenplay – Motion Picture – Paul Schrader and Mardik Martin.

Rated: [R]

Out Of Print on VHS and Laserdisc but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

The Bronx Bull (2016 / 2017)

C – 94m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Raging Bull II
Raging Bull 2
Based On The Book By: Jake LaMotta, Chris Anderson and Sharon McGehee
Screenplay By: Rustam Branaman and Martin Guigui
Exec. Pro. – Dir.: Martin Guigui
Starring: William Forsythe, Joe Mantegna, Tom Sizemore, Paul Sorvino, Penelope Ann Miller, Ray Wise, Natasha Henstridge, James Russo, Robert Davi, Cloris Leachman, Mike Starr, Joe Cortese, Dom Irrera, Rebecca Forsythe and Joey Diaz.

Another take on the LaMotta drama in and out of the boxing ring. A sorry excuse for a remake / sequel features a great cast but nothing else. The talents of the cast can’t even save the less than sub–par material.

Rated: [R] – Brutal Fights, Pervasive Language & Some Sexual Content / Nudity
Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Bad Santa (2003) & Bad Santa 2 (2016)

Bad Santa (2003)

C – 91m (Theatrical Cut) / 88m (Director’s Cut) / 99m (Unrated Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Badder Santa
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Brett Kelly, Lauren Graham, Bernie Mac, John Ritter, Octavia Spencer (as Octavia L. Spencer), Cloris Leachman and Sarah Silverman.

A conman and his assistant pose as Santa and Elf in order to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. Trouble ensues when the conman befriends a kid with issues. Amusing and definitely crude humored black comedy is an annual favorite for this reviewer. Great performances and perfect pacing for the three cuts of the film: Theatrical Cut – 91m, Unrated Cut – 99m, & Director’s Cut – 88m. The Director’s cut is the darkest cut of the film. This reviewer favors the Unrated Cut. Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical Or Comedy – Motion Picture – Billy Bob Thornton. Followed by Bad Santa 2 (2016).

Trivia: Larry David was considered for the role of Willie. Bill Murray was signed as Willie but dropped out the make Sophia Coppola’s Lost In Translation (2003). Billy Bob Thornton has said numerous times that he was legitimately intoxicated during the making of the film. This was John Ritter’s final film and it is dedicated to his memory. Tony Cox adlibbed the, “You probably shouldn’t be digging in your ass,” line. It cracked the director up both on the set and in the middle of the night. Jack Nicholson read the script and wanted to do the film but had to turn it down because he was already committed to the Nancy Meyers film, Something’s Gotta Give (2003). The Unrated Cut of the film holds the record for Most Curses In A Christmas Film: 170 uses of the “F” word, 74 uses of the “S” word, 31 uses of the “A” word, 10 uses of the “B” word, and 1 use of the other “B” word in various forms. And finally: In a deleted scene Sarah Silverman played a Santa trainer.

Rated: [R] – Pervasive Language, Strong Sexual Content & Some Violence
[UNRATED] – More of the same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy 

Bad Santa 2 (2016)

C – 92m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Tony Cox, Christina Hendricks, Brett Kelly, Ryan Hansen, Mike Starr and Octavia Spencer.

The conman and his assistant are at it again in Chicago at Christmas time, this time with the conman’s mother. This is certainly a step down from the first film but still enjoyable. It takes a bit to get going story wise but once it gets there, it stays active to a satisfactory level. Fine performances as before.

Trivia: A slimmer Brett Kelly gained more than 40 pounds by eating smoked meat sandwiches in Montreal, Canada – where the film was shot. This being the sequel, was released almost exactly 13 years to the day of the original film’s release, November 26, 2003 and November 23, 2016 respectively. And finally: Willie shares some of the same biographical information as Billy Bob Thornton, who plays him: 1.) Born August 4th & 2.) Born in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Rated: [R] – Crude Sexual Content And Language Throughout & Some Graphic Nudity
[UNRATED] – More of the same
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Jessie Stone Films

Stone Cold (2005)

C – 87m
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Stone Cold
Jesse Stone: Stone Cold
Dir.: Robert Harmon
Novel By: Robert B. Parker
Starring: Tom Selleck, Jane Adams, Reg Rogers, Viola Davis, Alexis Dziena, Kohl Sudduth, Polly Shannon, Stephen McHattie, Shawn Roberts, Alex House, and Mimi Rogers.

A New England Police Chief investigates a series of murders and a rape of a teenage woman minor. This made for television movie is a slick but deliberately paced adaption of the best selling novel. It offers up some genuine laughs, some touching moments and a few surprises. After repeated viewings it is by the numbers of course. Swell acting and beautiful scenery help boost this to solid entertainment. There is a particularly funny subplot with Jesse Stone’s dog here.

Trivia: The fictional town of Paradise, Massachusetts, where the film / novel takes place, is supposedly a caricature of Marblehead, Massachusetts. And despite the aforementioned trivia, the film was shot in Ontario, Canada.

Rated: [R] – Violent Content, Some Sexuality, Nudity, & Brief Drug Use
Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Night Passage (2006)

C – 89m
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone: Night Passage
Jesse Stone: Night Passage
Novel By: Robert B. Parker
Starring: Tom Selleck, Saul Rubinek, Viola Davis, Kohl Sudduth, Polly Shannon, Mike Starr, Stephen McHattie and Stephen Baldwin.

Jesse Stone relocates from Los Angeles, California to Paradise, Massachusetts and finds himself in the midst of a couple of mysteries, one involving a former cop. Although this is the second Jesse Stone film made, it is the prequel to the first one, Stone Cold (2005). As such, it may make more sense to view this one first. That said, this is a rather sorry entry in the series after such a fine start with Stone Cold. The characters from the first film are more developed given their backstory here but little else comes of it. Pacing is once again an issue, this time more so. Tom Selleck, Stephen Baldwin, Viola Davis and Mike Starr are a treat as always though. A subplot with Jesse Stone’s dog that was funny in the first film is rather sad here. Despite this reviewer’s rather low opinion of this prequel, it should be noted that this reviewer sees the value of its inclusion in the television Jesse Stone cannon.

Trivia: Mike Starr’s brother Beau Starr previously appeared in the television adaption of Thin Air (2000), another Robert B. Parker novel that coexists with Jesse Stone.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Death In Paradise (2006)

C – 87m
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone: Death In Paradise
Jesse Stone: Death In Paradise
Novel: Death In Paradise by Robert B. Parker
Starring: Tom Selleck, Viola Davis, Kohl Sudduh, Orla Brady, Gary Basaraba, John Deihl, Mae Whitman, Edward Edwards, Stephen McHattie and William Devane.

The body of a 14 year old girl is found in a lake, a man beats his wife and someone is a tad to close to his biographer who has something to do with, “helping,” underage kids. These are just a few loose ends of a far spread mystery that Jesse Stone must tie together. Well–done, third made–for–television film in the Jesse Stone franchise boasts of fine acting, excellent pacing and nice scenery. There are even a few slightly startling images here too.

Trivia: The novel actually takes place before Stone Cold, but a scene of Jesse visiting the grave of Polly Shannon’s character was added to change it to after for this made for television movie.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Sea Change (2007)

C – 88m
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone: Sea Change
Jesse Stone: Sea Change
Novel: Sea Change by Robert B. Parker
Starring: Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Rebecca Pidgeon, Sean Young, Mika Boorem, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler, Viola Davis, William DeVane

Jesse Stone’s relationship with his ex–wife takes a turn for the worse so he decides to investigate a murder to keep from relapsing into alcoholism. His life is further complicated when he is put at odds with the town council over a rape investigation. The fourth made–for–television film in the Jesse Stone franchise is nothing special but still not bad. The cast is in fine form but the movie is strictly formula.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009)

C – 88m
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone: Thin Ice
Characters By: Robert B. Parker
Dir.: Robert Harmon
Starring: Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Leslie Hope, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler and William Devane.

During an unauthorized stakeout in Boston, Massachusetts Jesse Stone and Captain Healy are shot. Meanwhile a mother of a missing son, who has been declared dead, in Paradise, Massachusetts receives a letter that leads her to Stone. She hopes it will reopen the case in spite of her son being declared dead. The fifth made–for–television installment in the Jesse Stone series is the first film not to be adapted from a novel by Robert B. Parker, but rather it uses his characters. The film is engaging and keeps a good pace. Performances are for the most part good, but hardly worth mentioning given how well everything else works.  

Trivia: This film was shot in 2007 but did not air until 2009.
Available on DVD & Digital Copy  

Jesse Stone: No Remorse (2010)

C – 87m
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone: No Remorse
Characters By: Robert B. Parker
Co–Screenwriter: Tom Selleck
Dir.: Mark Harmon
Starring: Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler, Mae Whitman and William Devane.

Suspended Police Chief Jesse Stone begins moonlighting for his friend Commander Healy by investigating murders in Boston, Massachusetts. Meanwhile Rose and Suitcase are working on a series of murders in Paradise, Massachusetts. Jesse Stone gives his all to the cases while trying to swear off booze and women but when the trail leads to a mob boss, Jesse may be in deep trouble. The sixth made – for – television Jesse Stone franchise entry is again, not from a novel by Robert B. Parker, though it does use his characters. The film is formula but has a good pace and good performances. One trivia note: The watch Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone wears in this film is the same one he wore in Magnum P.I. Seasons 4 – 8.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost (2011)

C – 91m
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost
Characters By: Robert B. Parker
Co–Screenwriter: Tom Selleck
Dir.: Dick Lowry
Starring: Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Gloria Reuben, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler and William Devane.

Jesse Stone is forced into retirement only to investigate the suspicious death of a young friend. Meanwhile the Police of Paradise, Massachusetts contend with a S.O.B. of a new Police Chief. The seventh made–for–television Jesse Stone franchise entry is again not from a novel by Robert B. Parker but does use his characters. This one has fine pacing, good acting and a good script. The down side is that it is by the numbers. For some that may bring comfort though. Also: How much guilt tripping over the dog can viewer stand?

Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Jesse Stone: Benefit Of The Doubt (2012)

C – 90m
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone: Benefit Of The Doubt
Characters By: Robert B. Parker
Co–Screenwriter: Tom Selleck
Dir.: Robert Harmon
Starring: Tom Selleck, Kathy Baker, Kohl Sudduth, Gloria Reuben, Stephen McHattie, William Sadler, Robert Carradine and William Devane.

After the Sheriff who replaced Jesse Stone is killed in an explosion in the cop car, Jesse Stone comes out of involuntary retirement to investigate the murder; only to find out he must solve the murder himself because all the other officers left the department. The eighth made–for–television Jesse Stone franchise entry is not from a novel by Robert B. Parker but uses his characters. This is a suspenseful and engaging, by the numbers entry, with a fantastic pace and good acting. On a trivia note: a small portion of the Boston, Massachusetts set film, The Last Hurrah (1958) plays on a television screen. This supposedly signaled to the audience that this might have been the final Jesse Stone outing.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Jesse Stone: Lost In Paradise (2015)

C – 86m
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone: Lost In Paradise
Characters By: Robert B. Parker
Co–Screenwriter: Tom Selleck
Dir.: Robert Harmon
Starring: Tom Selleck, Kohl Sudduth, Gloria Reuben, Leslie Hope, William Sadler and William Devane.

Jesse hunts a serial killer in Boston, Massachusetts and worries over a wayward teen in Paradise, Massachusetts. The ninth made – for – television Jesse Stone franchise entry is once again not from a novel by Robert B. Parker, but does uses his characters. By the numbers entry is still enjoyable. Gone are most of the characters from the series but what remains is a pretty good cold case mystery.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy