Scorsese's masterpiece.

Rating: 8/10 (27 July 2010)

"Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man."
Taxi Driver is a perfect example of the novel-like quality that differentiates a Scorsese movie from those done by many other directors. Martin takes a page out of Woody Allen's book and makes the city of New York just as much a character in the film as De Niro or Shepherd. And against that living backdrop, he tells a story of with all the rage and violence of Raging Bull, coupled with a profound loneliness and a unique (almost wistful) style that I've yet to find replicated in any of his other work.
Taxi Driver is my favorite Scorsese movie. It also features my favorite Robert De Niro performance. It's the kind of film that's capable of imparting the feeling of a time and a place to people who weren't even alive back in 70's New York to feel it for themselves. This movie is made to be watched again and again, and don't be surprised if it improves every time. If I could choose any single one of Scorsese's movies to recommend to someone who is unfamiliar with him, I'd go with Taxi Driver. That says it all.