Review of Taxi Driver (1954) by Adrian Z — 05 Jan 2013

A lonely, depressed taxi driver (De Niro) suffering from chronic insomnia gradually becomes unhinged as he develops a fixation on pretty political campaign worker (Shepherd) and later, on ridding the streets of a pimp (Keitel) exploiting a child prostitute (Foster).

Intensely dark character study in which De Niro provides a memorably unsettling performance under the expert direction of Martin Scorcese, who imbues the film's images with a dream like quality, or "nightmarish" as is the case when the film finally explodes in shockingly graphic violence.

Bernard Herrmann provides a haunting score that contrasts mellifluous jazz with ominous chords - sadly his last before his death at 64.