Taxi Driver

The Perfect Film

Director: Martin Scorsese
Release Date: 1976
Rating: 18
Running Time: 120 mins
Genre: Action/Drama
Actors: Robert DeNiro, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybil Sheperd

"I go all over. Don't make no difference to me."

If you know Robert DeNiro from Meet The Parents then you'll know a completely different side to the actor than the 'you talkin to me?' vigilante DeNiro that Scorsese introduced us to in 1976. Almost four decades ago and you would probably now barely recognise the actor, but even then it's fair to say DeNiro was on the top of his game. As a method actor, the Hollywood legend would give everything to a role, and after spending months driving taxis preparing for a role, Bobby left us with a truly memorable and fantastic performance as Travis Bickle - Taxi Driver.

When it comes to film directing Martin Scorsese just completley knows what he's doing, and whenever the opening titles emerge with "Directed by Martin Scorsese", you know that you're going to be in safe hands. There's so much to appreciate about Taxi Driver, from the way that writer Paul Schrader is able to manipulate a classic western plot line, into a more contemporary story fit to suit the life of a disturbed taxi driver during the darker years in New York City. The way that once again Bernard Herman can combine romance with a sinister and dark undertone to provide the perfect score for a films theme tune. But mostly the way that even though the pace of it is so slow but at the same time can allow for so much to happen during it.

It's a simple story but the way that it's centred around such a unique and complex character, we find ourselves entranced by what it has to offer. When isolated and disturbed drifter,Travis Bickle gets sent home from fighting in Vietnam, he finds himself returning to a very different home to the one that he left behind. Suffering insomnia and other traumas from the war, Travis becomes a full time taxi driver ("any place any time") and does his best to settle back into a life in civilisation, but civilisation is not what Travis thinks has greeted him, so instead wants to try and clean the streets of the scum that has taken them over.  "Hopefully one day a real rain will come and wash the scum from the streets."

However, it's fair to say that all the acting in this film is done incredibly well, even from Martin Scorsese himself who has the small role of a passenger who talks to Travis one day late at night after climbing in the back of his taxi. But what's so fascinating about the scene is that given Travis' persona and attitude to New York City in the 70's, once the passenger gets out we're left wondering if he was real or just Travis loosing his mind. And that's partly what's so ingenious about this film as their are so many readings that can be taken from it. Jodie Foster also manages to shine through in this film (at the age of 14) as a young girl who one day gets into Travis' taxi and turns out to be working as a prostitute after running away from home. It's a tough character for any actor to play, and at such a young age, she performs superbly.

If you haven't seen Taxi Driver you're still bound to know the famous "Are you talking to me" scene and if not, well I don't know where you've been. It's a film that's so dark yet at the same time still manages to be so poetic, and though our protagonist, Travis, seems so disturbed and someone who know one can understand, we still can't help but like him. There's something about the slow pace of this film that makes it so fascinating, and it's fair to say that this, much like many Scorsese films, focusses heavily on the character development as we see Travis reach his boiling point. There are parts where people will wonder where this film is going and what even is actually happening, but that's why it's so effective and works. It stands alone as a very unique representation of life in 1970's New York during the depression, and probably is one that many people can understand because of this.

Fantastically acted, and superbly written and directed. A true film that can be watched and watched and will always be able to give more each time.

10/10