Scorsese's journey into hell via NYC: Classic American filmmaking; iconic DeNiro

Rating: Null/10 (22 April 2003)

TAXI DRIVER (1976) **** Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Albert Brooks, Leonard Harris, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle. Harrowing masterpiece from director Martin Scorsese and screenwriter Paul Schrader for their portrait of the underbelly of the seamy world of Times Square and lone psychopath Travis Bickle (captivating De Niro in his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor; he won the previous year in Best Supporting Actor category for "The Godfather Pt.II") driven to violence and the redemption of innocence lost in the persona of 12 year old hooker Foster (Best Supporting Actress nominee in one extraordinary piece of acting).
Graphic and hauntingly disturbing thanks to make-up effects wiz Dick Smith and musical score - his last - by Bernard Herrmann.
Scorsese has a small role as one of De Niro's fares and look sharp for him earlier when Travis first sees Shepherd, he's sitting on a stoop. Unfortunately this film was the inspiration for John Hinckley in his assassination attempt on President Reagan due to his fixation with the material and Foster.