Masterpiece!

Rating: Null/10 (16 July 2001)

What else can I say other than how unbelievable Robert Deniro's performance was! His acting in this film clearly ranks among the best performance's in cinematic history. An actor did not do a good job if you can not feel for or relate to the character in any way. Because in reality if you can't, your not going to care for the person performing the roll, nor the film. I had just recently bought this film, after watching it over a friend's house. I was astounded by this film's message's and realism. This film clearly show's how dirty and sick this world at times really is. Martin Scorsese picked the right idea on a man whom was in this mess, was actually a decent human being. The only thing that turned this man mad, was in turn the world. The world as to which he fought for in Vietnam, yet no one respected or cared for him in any way. I like how they incorporated Travis Bickle's sanity and insanity at the same time. At time's I was a little confused if he was sane or insane, which was great. Only because this gave you the chance to deside for yourself, if Travis was either trying to make good with his sanity, or just rampaging while killing people with his insanity. I (like many others), think that he was sane. He was perfectly sane. The only times I felt he was insane was when he did not care for his health or his own decency. When he started to care (the supposed insane stage), he took care of himself, and treated himself with respect. I feel though, at both times, he was still a little sane. Basically because this man was willing to sit down and write about his day, which is a great thing to do if you deal with "scumbags" all day. That I feel, helped him keep his sanity.
I think though, that the thing that made him this angry, was when he realized and saw what he had fought and killed for in Vietnam. Many think that the war made him crazy, I don't. I think that the people (the pimps, prostitutes, perverts, murderers, scumbags...etc...all of it), drove him mentally unstable.
Jodie Foster played probably her best roll as Iris as did Cybill Shepherd as Betsy. I think everyone that was in this film though did an outstanding job.

This film definately ranks in my top 5. Great (unbelieveable) film.