Looks like the release date is mainly for ordering from the Criterion site, because it’s available now as part of the Barnes & Noble Criterion sale. At any rate: hot on the heels of the Worst Person in the World release, where I wrote the booklet essay, comes Criterion’s 4k digital master of Raging Bull, with so many special features it’ll take you a week to get through it. All Marty-approved material. As I learned to my shock and awe.
I’m so pleased I got to write (and narrate) a video-essay on the acting performances and am very much looking forward to the discussions about it, and the observations made by other people.
Doing Worst Person in the World and Raging Bull essentially back to back makes me so happy since two more different movies cannot be imagined. It’s kind of like when I wrote the booklet essays for The Great Escape and Dance, Girl, Dance – a so-called “boy movie” and a so-called “girl movie” (yuk) – back to back. I was juggling my research into the Luftwaffe POW camps and the avant-garde dance scene in the 1920s and 30s … nothing had anything to do with anything else … and it was a good versatility test, that they trusted me with both. I’m not a specialist, if you get my drift.
Anyway, very much looking forward to this release, and judging from internet comments, I’m not alone.
Ready for stardom, Sheila? Raging Bull has always been my favorite film, period, no two-ways about it, it’s that simple. When I discovered you (thank you, Blue Crush) you became my favorite critic. Now things have come full circle :) Can’t wait to catch your essay!
From Blue Crush to Raging Bull is a hell of an arc! lol
Thank you so much – I am really looking forward to all of these special features – all of archival footage, interviews with La Motta, etc. I haven’t seen any of that stuff and it will be fascinating!
//From Blue Crush to Raging Bull is a hell of an arc! lol//
It makes total sense :)
A good movie is a good movie. AND I love “sports movies” although Raging Bull doesn’t really apply, weirdly enough. It’s amazing how LITTLE boxing there is in it!
Well put, Sheila, re a good movie is a good movie. It’s true Blue Crush categorizes much more as a “sports movie” than Raging Bull (which doesn’t really apply, I agree), as far as that is concerned. Color of Money would be a better match for that matter. But, then again, it is also amazing how MUCH of a lovely character study is in Blue Crush! (which could apply for as much surprising as to how little boxing is in Raging Bull!)
Yes – Blue Crush manages to do so much – including a class commentary – which my friend, a surfer who grew up in Hawaii, says is totally accurate. I really loved that element!
//including a class commentary//
Yes, definitely, I love that too!