Taxi Driver Movie Review

Taxi Driver (1976)

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Written by: Paul Schrader
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Peter Boyle, Albert Brooks
Rated: R
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Plot
A mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.

Verdict
What watching this today doesn't capture is how different this was from contemporary movies; how it portrays the city, the mindset of the protagonist, and a meandering plot. New York is a dirty, loathsome city, but that's because we see it through Travis's eyes. He's alienated and bitter, and that distorts his perspective. He projects his failings and feelings of inadequacy onto the city, and he wants to fix it. Since it's the city that's the problem, he must take action. It's a deranged plan from a delusional man. It's a good film, but looking at it now the achievements are muted because it changed so many films that came after it. Many films have done this mood and style since, but this was one of the first. It's a landmark achievement.
Watch It.

Review
Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) is a Vietnam veteran suffering from insomnia. To cope, he gets a job as a taxi driver to fill the nights when he's not at adult theaters. He gets to see a lot of people, which he derides as evidence of the city's decay. But he's also a guy that visits porno theaters at night. He's the exact type of person he claims to despise.

Campaign worker Besty (Cybill Shepherd) is the object of Travis's affections which begin with him parked outside of her office watching her before he finally goes in. Their date goes well until he takes her to the adult movie theater. That goes as well as you'd expect. His attempt at reconciliation ends with him berating her. He's smitten with Betsy, but he doesn't know how to interact with people, and he quickly turns her off. He's an anti-social guy traumatized by Vietnam in this city full of people that irritate him.

Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle

He's mad at the world and a city that ignores him. When a woman rejects him, he wants to avenge his own feelings of inadequacy. We know that's a recipe for disaster; Travis seeking an outlet for his impotent rage. His answer is violence. It's the city's fault, anyone but his own. It's easier to blame the inhabitants rather than endure any personal reflection. He's a guy that doesn't fit in. Thinking it's everyone else's fault makes him dangerous. We don't know who he plans to attack, but Travis is readying himself for war. He's deranged and wants a fight that will cure his monotonous days and nights.

This is dark and gritty at a time when movies weren't. It bucked the trend of typical cinema. We see New York through Travis's eyes. Where many movies of the time made big cities look glamorous with New York as the greatest city in the world, this portrays it as dirty and wicked. This also doesn't have a typical plot. We watch Travis's slow decline into depravity. Taxi Driver showed audiences what cinema could do, and that was different from its contemporaries. No movie put us in a characters mindset like this. Travis thinks the world is corrupt, that's what he sees. It needs to be fixed, and he's the guy.

Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle

Travis wants to do something, and we don't know if he even has a plan or will just act on impulse. Eventually he plans to attack Senator Palantine. That very well could be due to Betsy campaigning for him. Travis's attack is thwarted, and then he attacks a pimp instead.

All of this rage in Travis, and his failed political assassination turns into him cleaning up the mean streets of New York. He's portrayed as some kind vigilante in the press. In the final sequence, he's back to his old routines. He gives Betsy a ride but doesn't seem interested in her. The movie gives us just a hint that Travis's peace won't last. Throughout the movie Travis became more agitated and violent. I'd guess this is just another lull before his intrusive thoughts eat away at him again. The world may not be as lucky the second time around.