Hitching a ride with 'Taxi Driver'

By Jeff Renfro

Martin Scorsese's 1976 film "Taxi Driver" used shocking imagery and new techniques for character development that drastically altered American cinema. Starring Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, the film perfectly conveyed the sense of unease and anxiety that pervaded the country. Repulsing some and attracting others, "Taxi Driver" is an unforgettable movie experience.

"Taxi Driver" follows the life of Travis Bickle, an ex-Marine who has trouble sleeping, and decides that if he is going to be up he might as well be earning money. He gets a job as a late-night taxi driver, who is willing to go into any neighborhood and pick up any passenger. He despises the people that walk the streets of New York at night and describes the city as a cesspool. Bickle becomes obsessed with a young woman (played by Cybill Shepherd) who works in the election offices of presidential hopeful Charles Palantine. During the same period, a teenage prostitute (played by Jodie Foster) jumps into his cab and tells him to drive away. He becomes her guardian angel and his desire to protect her is the impetus behind the bloody finale.

Travis Bickle is without a doubt one of the greatest characters in the history of film. He is a forgotten person who needs to prove to himself that he still exists. This frustration expresses itself as paranoia and eventually comes out as violent behavior. Bickle goes from openly disliking guns to crafting special holsters allowing him to carry up to five guns at a time. His dialogue, including the classic line: "You lookin' at me?", is controlled, but we get the sense that he is holding back, ready to explode at any minute.

Scorsese was at his best on this project. The shots repeatedly frame Bickle as a complete outsider. Scorsese turns New York at night into a seedy, repulsive character. This film could not have been made anywhere else. The best, most uncomfortable shots occur when Bickle is staring at the pimps and drug dealers of the city. De Niro conveys a complete disgust; he looks at them like they are so much less than human. Scorsese not only directs, but makes a great appearance as a cuckold looking for revenge. His description of what he will do to his wife and her lover fits perfectly with the tone of the film.

The controversial, incredibly violent ending of the film is masterful. Bickle has fully embodied his role as protector and he kills several pimps.

Scorsese has a shot that surveys the halls and room where the shootout occurred that is unbelievable. The expressions of the police at the scene are the same as the audience, a mix of disgust and disbelief.

"Taxi Driver" will always be remembered as an exceptional film. It consistently appears in all-time top ten lists. The combination of a visionary director, a perfect actor, and a timely script are rare.

Grade: A

û Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 554-4546 or jrenfro@scu.edu.