Not the classic everyone thinks it is.

Rating: 7/10 (24 June 2017)

Martin Scorsese made far better films like "Raging Bull," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "Goodfellas." They have actual narratives and the plots make sense. "Taxi Driver" has a confusing narrative and the ending left me annoyed as it wasn't clear what the ending was meant to be! Robert DeNiro - who has made some good films - is well cast as the mentally disturbed Vietnam veteran who gradually loses touch with reality. The way he begins to come loose at the seams - psychologically speaking - is quite disturbing. Martin Scorsese's direction is very good on the whole. As witnessed in previous films from the decade, we are given a truly honest look at city life in New York. The dirty, trashy streets and the dirty, trashy people all contribute to the look of the film and also the way that Travis Bickle (DeNiro) views the world. The violence is explicit, which I except. After all, a film like "Taxi Driver" can't be glossed over with "comic strip" violence. What I don't particularly care for, is the language. It isn't difficult for actors to use all the 4 letter words they can think of and this partly defeats the film. I cringed on occasion at some of the foul language used and the manner in which it was intended. It is the climax that ultimately lets "Taxi Driver" down. Somehow, I doubt whether such events would have finished that way in real life. This is a misfire but an interesting misfire.