Taxi Driver

Rating: 10/10 (12 July 2006)

It has been described as one of his greatest films, and I could agree that this about BAFTA nominated director Martin Scorsese. Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a mentally unstable Vietnam veteran who has taken a job in New York city as taxi driver because he suffers insomnia. He grows increasingly disgusted by the lowlifes, scum and "trash" in the city at night, and this obviously doesn't help his attempt to get somewhere with Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), who represents the vote for Senator Charles Palantine (Leonard Harris), he even takes her to a porn movie on the first date! He fails also to help 12-year-old prostitute Iris (twice BAFTA winning newcomer Jodie Foster) to desert her pimp 'Sport' Matthew (Harvey Keitel). Driven to insanity of powerlessness he buys four handguns and is intent on assassinating the Senator. Donning a Mohawk hairdo he is ready, but when he can't get close enough, he is gunned down in the end after killing Matthew, oh, he didn't die, and he returned to being a taxi driver. Also starring Peter Boyle as Wizard and Albert Brooks as Tom. I think the main reason to see this film (and the most memorable and notable scene) is for the great improvised line when De Niro is talking to himself in the mirror, number 10 on 100 Years, 100 Quotes, "You talking' to me?". It was nominated the Oscars for Best Music for Bernard Herrmann and Best Picture, it won the BAFTA for the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music, and it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Film and Best Film Editing, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. Harvey Keitel was number 53, Jodie Foster number 23, Robert De Niro number 2 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, De Niro was also number 50 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, and he was number 5 (along with Al Pacino) on The World's Greatest Actor, Travis Bickle was number 30 on 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains, the film was number 22 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, it was number 47 on 100 Years, 100 Movies, and it was number 22 on The 100 Greatest Films. Outstanding!