Review of Taxi Driver (1954) by Roxanne R — 18 May 2014

My mother told me this was a great film and after 30 plus years it is available on Netflix instant streaming. I don't recall seeing it before so recently I watched it in HD and I must say it was great.

So many of the stars were so young back then especially De Niro as the ex-Marine Travis Bickle the taxi driver. Jodie Foster plays Iris, a 12 year old prostitute that Bickle is intent on saving. I also find a lot of truth in what Bickle said: "ALL THE ANIMALS COME OUT AT NIGHT".

The city at night is very different from daylight; darkness brings out evil, perdition, waste, filth, trash...Taxi Driver is indeed a study of individual psychosis. I cannot believe this film got in trouble with the MPAA for its violence.

Oh my, by today's standards this is a PG film. I understand why film students study this gem and NYC in the 70's I surmise was tame compared to how it is now in 2014. I recommend the film but I prefer modern times.