It’s hard to believe Taxi Driver, a film that made the names of the dream team of director Martin Scorsese, actors Robert De Niro and a young Jodie Foster, and writer Paul Schrader, is almost 50 years old.
A true New York nightmare of a feature as unhinged veteran Travis Bickle (De Niro) becomes obsessed with a 12 year-old hooker, Iris (Foster) following the rejection of his advances towards Betsy (Cybill Shepherd – The Last Picture Show, TV’s Moonlighting). With the Democratic Party nomination for president as a backdrop, Taxi Driver sees Bickle look for a personal retribution against the sleaze of his city.
Unease percolates throughout this Scorsese masterpiece as, grainy and grim, Taxi Driver plumbs the underbelly of a claustrophobic Manhattan supported by a plaintive jazz-influenced soundtrack from Bernard Hermann.
Nominated for 4 Oscars in 1977 – best film, actor, supporting actress and soundtrack. Winner of the 1976 Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Rating: 92%
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