Taxi Driver: One of the Most Artistic Films Ever Made

Rating: 10/10 (8 May 2007)

Taxi Driver
This is the movie that forever solidified Scorsese and De Niro into the minds of all cinema fans as film geniuses and legends and made them huge stars. This is one of the greatest movies ever made, a classic, and will be remembered forever.
Plot: Taxi Driver is about a man named Travis Bickle who is suffering from insomniac, loneliness, and maybe even a touch of post-traumatic stress disorder. He is also sick of the scum he sees on the streets every night on his taxi. This is a complex plot that needs to be payed attention to but is also one of the greatest stories ever told in film.
Acting: Along with the story, the acting is the strongest point of the film. Robert De Niro gives one of the best performance of his career(although it is nearly impossible to beat Raging Bull). His improvised lines such as the immortal words, "You talking to me," show his ability to take a situation and make it realistic. He deserved an Oscar for this movie. Harvey Keitel also plays a pimp named "Sport" Matthew which is also a great and sick performance. Cybill Shepherd plays his potential girlfriend but I'm not giving anything away on that. Jodie Foster plays a controversial role as a 12 year old prostitute named Iris who Travis takes upon his shoulders to protect. Peter Boyle plays an elderly taxi driver who gives Travis advice.
Genre/Quality: It is hard to say exactly what genre this film is in. I'll put it in drama but I really do not know what genre it could be called. The quality is also visibly very well done. A fantastic score written by the late Bernard Herrmann, musically shows the deepening madness of Travis Bickle and the music of mid century New York City, and the dull life of a man who never sleeps. The camera work is great, with a beautiful crane shot near the end.
Overall this is one of the greatest films of all time. I strongly suggest everyone who knows a good movie to pick it up.
10/10