The One Movie That Will Never Be Forgotten

Rating: 10/10 (28 September 2000)

Taxi Driver is one of my favorite movies. Robert De Niro is brilliant as the mentally disturbed, yet universally lonely Travis Bickle. Jodie Foster is extraordinary as the 12 year old prostitute Iris, vengeful towards her parents. Martin Scorsese did a ground breaking movie, not for the violence, but for it's powerful impact as a humanist story in a way of speaking. Upon first inspection of this film, I really didn't know what to think about it. I thought it was unnecessarily violent towards the end, and thus thought the murder in the film was ludicrous and pointless. But I watched it again the next day, and discovered something about not only Travis, but New York. New York was a disturbing place back in the 70's according to Bickle. Even though New York is "cleaned" up modern day, the story and characters are not in anyway outdated.
The picture quality of the televisions, the fashions and background of New York City may feel outdated, but they are materialistic things, not the actual core of this story. Loneliness is their just as much as it is today, and the feeling of this film are universal. The film doesn't senselessly indulge into a preposterous plot or negates from its character, and that gives us time to associate with Travis. We all feel like him at one time or another, and our central protagonist is a chilling yet touching person to watch. He thinks about assassinating a Presidential candidate 24/7. He is an avid porn theater attendant so much it drives the only person that may care for him away, and he feels the way we all ultimately feel: Alone.
This film isn't old or ever will be, because things truly never change. Their will always be "Travis Bickles" in the world, because a room is always filled with a hopeless guy in the corner hoping to be noticed and appreciated. Travis's attempt to save Iris is somewhat of a contradiction; since no one will save him, he must save someone who at one time asks to be saved but doesn't fancy the idea afterwards. Even though Travis is around people while driving the cab during the night shift doesn't mean he is appreciated or noticed. He feels like Iris screaming for help, yet no one seems to answer. Travis knows that he has to answer because it is only fair to another person that you would treat them as you would like to be treated.
Robert De Niro became one of my favorite actors after I saw this film, only acknowledging him as a "respected" actor to that point. But I finally realized that I identified with his character and felt whole again knowing I wasn't the only one who felt alone. Being accepted isn't everything or the material things, only the feeling of yourself. Five stars out of five.