Raging bull, or just bull?

National Review, Dec 18, 2006 by Andrew Fink

In his review of Martin Scorsese's The Departed ("Crowd-Pleaser," Nov. 6), Ross Douthat positions Goodfellas as the director's "career high." Yet Raging Bull is overlooked, despite its obvious virtues. Like Goodfellas, it stars Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci, both of whom deliver Oscar-nominated performances (DeNiro won). At the same time, Scorsese masterfully uses black-and-white and still shots to give the film its wonderful uniqueness--something Goodfellas lacks. Perhaps there is no clear pinnacle to Scorsese's long and fine career, but Raging Bull must be shown at fault before another movie is put before it.

Andrew Fink

Ypsilanti, Mich.

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