On the Edge of Insanity

Rating: Null/10 (12 October 2001)

"Taxi Driver". Will the cinema ever experience another year like 1976? My goodness think about the five Best Picture Oscar nominees: "Rocky", "Network", "Bound for Glory","All the President's Men", and of course Scorsese's disturbing "Taxi Driver". Robert De Niro (Oscar-nominated) is an ex-Marine who has been through Vietnam and survived, but will he survive the mean streets of New York City? He is not sure and his thoughts make it apparent that he will destroy those who may be willing to destroy him before they get the chance. Things start to look up when he falls in love with the beautiful Cybill Shepherd, but he blows it and it appears that no matter what De Niro will always do something to keep himself alone. Friend and fellow driver Peter Boyle tries to show De Niro that things are not as bad as they appear, but fails in his attempt. Now De Niro's thoughts become more outrageous and he gets an idea to assassinate a presidential nominee that Shepherd is working for and looks to rescue a very young Jodie Foster (Oscar-nominated) from her sadistic pimp (Harvey Keitel). Everything will become more outlandish and in the end everything will come to an end, but in the end, is it really the end? The film is dark, ugly, unconventional, and out-of-this-world. Martin Scorsese proved that he was here to stay with this one and De Niro only re-affirmed his greatness after his Oscar win in 1974 for "The Godfather, Part II". The supporting cast is super and even Albert Brooks makes a lasting impression in a short appearance as Shepherd's co-worker. Paul Schrader's screenplay is super and overall the whole film is an amazing accomplishment that stands tall against the other great movies of the 1970s and every other decade for that matter. 5 stars out of 5.