Classic.

Rating: 10/10 (25 April 2005)

It's hard to judge a movie properly when you know from the beginning that this is one of Hollywood's greatest films ever made. You start to watch it with sky-high expectations and supreme confidence that you didn't waste your money on buying this DVD. "Taxi Driver" actually is that kind of movie which lives up-to such expectations. It's based on a wonderful story of a lonely cab driver who is virtually alienated from society, but with psychotic aspirations to be somebody. But his motivations for life were not in full bloom until he met a child prostitute and got determined to rescue her. Robert DeNiro is at his very best as the title character, Travis. His mental transformations throughout the film is brilliantly portrayed by DeNiro. Young Jodie Foster is also excellent as the 14-year-old Iris. In a short screen time she nicely managed to show her talent. The rest of the supporting cast are quite good, too, especially Harvey Keitel.
But only good casting does not make a good film. This film is a classic because it's every part is classic. Take screenplay, and it is one of the smartest ever written, with some legendary quotes like: "You talking' to me?" or "I know, you're a narc." Take cinematography, and hell, how can you forget the violent scene after the final showdown, or the scene that reveals Travis' Mohican haircut? Take background music or the score, played primarily on Saxophone, it vividly expresses a feeling of utter loneliness throughout the film. And for Scorsese, I just don't know what to say. I have to search for the guy who got the best director Oscar that year. It's a shame.