Review of Taxi Driver (1976) by Andy G — 20 Sep 2013

Updated: Taxi Driver must be the masterpiece of the movie brats. Of course I need to revisit The Godfather, but for now Scorsese's picture reigns supreme.

We meet Travis Bickle, a restless 'Nam vet who rides busses and subways at night and watches pornos at the ghetto theatre in the day. He applies to be a taxi driver because he figures he might as well get paid for what he already does. "Will you work Jewish holidays?" the interviewer asks. "Anytime anywhere." He's willing to go to any part of town, no matter how scummy. "It don't make no difference to me," he says.

This might have been the right move for Travis - becoming a taxi driver. But on second thought, maybe not. He becomes obsessed with New York's low-lifes. While visiting its seediest corners he becomes fascinated, even disgusted with the people that surround him.

Travis gets wrapped up in a violent scheme, one that requires the audience's attention. The movie gets graphic. Like a dog owner forcing its pet's face into its freshly laid shit, Scorsese demands us to look at what New York did to Travis Bickle.

This flick is intense. I haven't seen anything like it.

Old (9/19/12): 3/5.