Taxi Driver

One of Scorcese’s masterpieces Taxi Driver is a phenomenal watch and a truly unique piece of cinema. Put simply it does not feel like a film in the best way possible, the characters are carefully curated to come across as genuine people and don’t fall victim to overwhelming dominant character traits which would be expected from a psychotic insomniac taxi driver. The film knows no audience but instead knows its environment and how to present it in a mesmerising and deceptively beautiful way. The characters and streets of new york steal the spotlight with a delicious focus on the scum of the earth with De Niro as both partaker and spectator which accurately depicts the viewing experience as the audience is forced to witness the filth and villainy of the human mind. Scorceses direction is astounding with fluid pacing and a strong character-driven plotline that feels like a memory, something director Robert Eggers continuously strives towards. However Taxi Driver doesn’t feel like a memory in a historical sense, but rather through the perspective of authenticity. Our sleazebag protagonist is multifaceted and adaptable, able to go against their own psychology without any grand transformation process or epiphany, using the experience of daily life to guide them. De Niro’s acting is stellar and rivals, and perhaps even triumphs over Christian Bale’s performance as the infamous Patrick Bateman.

The most chilling aspect of the film is the lack of grandiose and exaggeration making the environment and characters feel hauntingly real and reminding the audience how low the human psyche can stoop. Scorsese doesn’t put out subliminal or indeed explicit messages to be taken from the film but instead presents us with a portrayal of the world in which we are passengers with the ability to make judgments. One of the most uncomfortable aspects of the film is that even our guide, the taxi driver, plays a role in the piss and the shit of the New York streets if the spectator represents the undesirability of the spectated what hope is there for humanity. Surprisingly, the narration is effective and well-established in the script allowing deeper exposure to the mind of Travis Bickle and assisting in following the degradation of his stability. Whilst De Niro naturally shines the brightest, the majority of the cast also provide some great performance with Cybill Shepherd as Betsy acting through eyes and face, supporting the authenticity Scorsese achieves. Overall, a lot can be unpicked from this cinematic great however look no further than the fluidity and honest approach in presenting the filth of the world and the filth of those who live in it, this film will not dictate thought and feeling, merely sit back relax and enjoy the ride.