Taxi Driver

Next up, a film I've had on my "to see" list for a long time. Maybe its because I want to see what Deniro could do before he went nuts and started doing goofy comedies like Analyze This and the Meet the Parents movies. I think the only good movies I've seen him in were The Untouchables and Jackie Brown. 

It is a terrific movie, and the best part of it is the performances, and well developed characters. There are very few issues I had with the film, and almost none with the visuals, probably because Scorsese is a pro. In the midst of watching it, I was really questioning the relationship Travis had with Betsy. Mainly because of the way it ended, which happened almost instantly. Travis did something extremely tough, approach a beautiful woman who he'd never met and convinced her not only to give him a shot, but convinced her about some things about herself. After that first coffee date, he got a second, and proceeded to try taking her to a porn theatre. At the time it was playing out I was questioning the believablility of it, becuase I have to believe a 26 year old, even if he's a loner, has taken a chick out before, and would know that his plan was destined to fail. And it made me upset to see him try this, as it immeditaley ends Betsy's role in the film, and I was looking forward to more of her character for the entire film. But after this scene, I don't believe she has another line. But by the end of the movie, I got it. This early failure adds to Travis' depression and anger at the world he now sees as an insomniac taxi driver in the worst part of New York. 

I was happy that the moment that his character really changed was really well done. When he first encounters Iris in his cab as she's trying to escape her pimp, the progression is really well done. The eye contact between Travis and Iris is well covered through the rearview mirror, and the resulting crumpled twenty dollar bill he's given by Sport to keep quiet. It surprised me at the moment that Travis simply did not react to the situation, and just drove away. I really expected him to get out of the cab and do something, like beat the snot out of Sport and save Iris. But it also occurred to me that his character at that time was still a cautious, quiet loner, who was not able to do something that bold. But seeing this play out clearly changed his outlook. Early in the film he had refused a need for carrying a gun, despite the urging of some of his fellow cabbies, including Peter Boyle, who now I'm starting to doubt ever had hair. After the Iris contact he meets up with an arms dealer, who goes through one by one all the guns he has. Travis tries them out, and you expect he's going to pick one. He then says he want's them all, and then proceeds to take them home and practice drawing them, which given recent events is really disturbing. He also starts to fashion several accessories to his weapons using household items, which isolates him from the audience even more. 

My favourite, and I think most people's favourite character in the film is Iris, the 12 year old prostitute. Which sounds weird, but it works. In a film where the main character has to revolt against the urban jungle, what better embodiment of that concept than saving a brainwashed underage prostitute, who luckily happens to be a sweet, funny girl. Because of her age, Jodie Foster played the character as not being very subtle. For example, she plays the moments where she's making excuses for Sport extremely well, repeatedly telling Travis that she was just stoned when she jumped in his cab. It's plainly obvious to the audience and Travis that she's lying, and unconsciously really wants out.

One more thing I have to mention about the movie is the score. The more leisurely paced moments in the film are usually scored with jazz music, which fits the look and location perfectly. There are some moments when the conflict in the scene caused them to use a more traditional orhcestral score, which I don't think was done as well. It seemed like the score was trying to trick the viewer into feeling a certain emotion, which was unneeded, because the visuals on screen had already done the job.

Sketches are done, will be up next.