Travis Bickle...Hero or Disillusioned Man?

Rating: 10/10 (12 August 2015)

The story of Travis Bickle is one of loneliness, anger, and disillusionment with the dirt and grime of society. Bickle falls for a political campaign worker, and then becomes enthralled in the life of a teenage prostitute. The only reason society sees Bickle as a hero is because of the victims of his anger, but as the movie's ambiguous ending shows...he won't be a hero next time.
Robert De Niro skillfully displays Bickle's mental state in the classic "You talking' to me?" scene (which was an improvisation). Jodie Foster does a great job portraying the teenage prostitute, bringing a depth to the character that few child, preteen, or teen actors can bring to the table. Scorsese's directing ties everything together, making for a masterfully crafted film. This is (currently) my all-time favorite movie, and I don't see anything topping it any time soon.