An incredible snapshot of 1970s NYC.

Rating: 9/10 (25 March 2014)

Writer Paul Schrader and director Martin Scorsese have a very memorable vision in this highly regarded piece of work, certainly very memorable in the careers of all involved and one which of course is now extremely iconic and often quoted. More than anything else, it's the tale of a man who feels disconnected from society at large, a society which he has come to regard as filthy and corrupt and in need of a cleanup. That doesn't change the fact, however, that the man in question is mentally unbalanced and would likely never completely fit in. Therefore, an all night cab driver would seem to be the perfect occupation for him, and while on the job he meets the various flotsam and jetsam that make up the NYC population. Some viewers don't like the dark, grim, and ultimately very violent journey that this film takes us on, but to some it feels all too real.
Robert De Niro towers over all with his performance as alienated cabbie Travis Bickle, a Vietnam veteran who does his best to live a normal life. The trouble is, he doesn't really know how to go about it. When he starts courting Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a beautiful worker on the presidential campaign of politician Charles Palantine (Leonard Harris), his idea of a good date is taking her to see a dirty movie. During the course of this story, he chats up Palantine, arms himself to the teeth, and makes the acquaintance of people such as Wizard (Peter Boyle), a philosophical co-worker, Iris (Jodie Foster), an underage prostitute, and "Sport" (Harvey Keitel), Iris's degenerate pimp. It's only a matter of time until our lonely protagonist makes the descent into violence.
All of the parts are well cast in this thing. Even when roles aren't really integral to the story (such as Tom, played by Albert Brooks), you do appreciate their presence. Foster is absolutely incredible as the girl in need of rescuing, and Keitel is truly, excellently creepy as her employer. Familiar character players in this cast include Victor Argo, Harry Northup, and Joe Spinell. Scorseses' cameo as the sicko watching his wife's silhouette is one you don't forget.
Heavy assets are the vivid atmosphere and depiction of different areas of the city, especially the seamier ones, and the haunting music score by Bernard Herrmann, which turned out to be the last one by the composer. That's a very chilling opening when a cab emerges from the smoke while the main theme plays.
It's not hard to see why "Taxi Driver" would be so influential; even its detractors don't deny the massive impact that it's had on popular culture.
Nine out of 10.