One of the last great American New Wave films

Rating: 9/10 (8 August 2003)

This is not Scorsese's best film; there are a few small niggles which prevent it from being so (Cybill Shepherd's performance, a largely powerful script from Paul Schrader that doesn't finish when it should) but it is still excellent and possibly the last proper American New Wave film, along with his Raging Bull. De Niro delivers a brilliant performance which is unbeaten throughout the film (although Scorsese's cameo is remarkable), creating a character we neither like nor hate. It would have been so easy to paint him as a monster. The camera is similarly masterful, showing us the seediest depths of New York. Thank god it didn't go to Robert Mulligan (To Kill a Mockingbird) and James Bridges (the original choices for director and actor).