Psychological Breakdown is Better in Theory Than in Practice

Rating: 6/10 (26 December 2007)

TAXI DRIVER tells the dramatic tale of Travis Bickle. He is a cab driver, who is haunted by disturbing images of New York City's dark undersides of crime, confusion, prostitution, and corruption. As Travis tries to integrate into the sleazy undertones of the city, he becomes obsessed by the environments around him. He is eventually driven to madness by urban decay.
The fast pace and disarray of New York is brilliantly demonstrated in this film. Travis, in search of anything that he can bond with, is forced into picking up prostitutes, often with very sad and bitter results. Various events, such as these, drive him further and further to the breaking point.
Great cinematography and acting however are compromised by an often very boring storyline where the viewer can not develop any type of connection to the other characters. Other than Travis, supporting actors seem to exist only in reactionary roles to show how the pain of the underworld effects him.
I was turned off as well by Travis' first person narratives. His "diaries" were no longer interesting after the first several entries and became monotonous. Travis doesn't really DO anything in terms of action sequences until near the end of the film. However, by this time, I was bored because I wanted something to happen on screen. TAXI DRIVER, can at times convey powerful psychological FEELINGS of HOW someone may respond to urban madness. But there is not enough action in the story to maintain interest throughout the film. Most viewers will know what is going to happen before it happens. You will also spend a great deal of time just waiting for something to happen.
TAXI DRIVER is similar to looking at a mental health practitioner's notes on a patient who paints a road map that the person may be disturbed. It than tries to go inside the mind of the disturbed patient and the viewer is supposed to be incredibly absorbed into what he/she is thinking. But if you know the person or the similar situations presented by him/her in their own life, the practitioner's notes just reinforce what is already known.
Instead of surprises or strong action sequences, which TAXI DRIVER should have been, the viewers get a psychological road map of New York and its undertones as portrayed in Travis' mind with a predictable conclusion. This results in an OK film, but nowhere near what it could have been. Taxi Driver is overrated.