Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver (1976)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert DeNiro, Cybill Sheperd, Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel
Memorable Line(s): "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking... you talking to me? Well I'm the only one here."

Stark, brutal, and sad. These are all words to describe "Taxi Driver." Engrossing, vital, and captivating are other words, too.

Scorsese's film is seen through the eyes of a tragic loner, Travis Bickle, (DeNiro) at the end of his rope and just looking for a reason to explode. Through his life as cabbie, he encounters the ugly under bottom of New York City including a 12 year old prostitute (Foster) and her street tough pimp (Keitel). Desperately looking for the life raft, Bickle only finds rejection and that leads him to a graphic and volcanic ending.

Not for the faint of the heart, Scorsese doesn't pull any punches. The finale explodes off the screen at you and I can say that at 16 years of age, it was nearly earth shattering. I had never experience such stark and realistic violence on the screen.

DeNiro's performance crackles with a submerged anger, but we also sympathize for someone who is so out of touch with real caring and empathy. Foster shines as the teenage prostitute with a street-wise intelligence and indifference. Paul Schrader's script captures not only the essence of a man on the verge of violence, but also the gritty life of the city.

Definitely not a family film, Scorsese gives the viewer of a man on the fringe of society standing at the very edge.