What does it say that when a classic, untouchable film like Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull gets an unwanted sequel/prequel, nobody bats an eye anymore? When Raging Bull 2 was first announced, the assumption was that cooler heads would prevail and we wouldn't hear anything more about it. That hasn't happened, though, and the film actually entered production a few days ago, with the first depressing images already released.
Of course Scorese, Robert De Niro...heck , not even Cathy Moriarty have anything to do with it. Also gone is the gritty black and white look Scorsese favored in the 1980 film, in favor of something that looks like a Prohibition era Fight Club. Clearly, this won't be quite the insightful look at Jake LaMotta's life as Scorsese's film. Written and directed by Martin Guigui(Beneath the Darkness), the film proposes to fill the gaps in the Bronx middleweight champ's life, both as a youngster and later on after his career. Newcomer Mojean Aria will play the young LaMotta, with William Forsythe as the boxer in his later years. Joe Mantegna, Penelope Ann Miller, Tom Sizemore, and Natasha Henstridge co-star.
If there's a reason for positivity, it's that the 90 year old LaMotta has again lent his knowledge and expertise to the film, just as he did for Scorsese. The cast is interesting, at least, and I like Forsythe a lot. So I'll try to keep an open mind. Check out the images below, and expect to see Raging Bull 2 some time in 2013...[JoBlo]
