Film Review #009 - Taxi Driver (1976)



Taxi Driver (1976) is a psychological thriller movie directed by Martin Scorsese. The movie is about Travis Bickle (casted as Robert De Niro), a Vietnam War veteran who becomes a taxi driver because of his insomnia and loneliness which is the main theme of the movie.

The cinematography in Taxi Driver is simple and effective. The movie uses different types of shots, like daylight, close-ups, and side shots, which I found really impressive. The music goes well with the movie and makes it even better to watch.

Although I desired greater emotional profundity, the actors' outstanding performances served to increase the film's attractiveness. Beyond an elementary portrayal of the daily life of a cab driver in New York City, "Taxi Driver"' delves deep into the personal challenges faced by its protagonist. Despite the character’s witty, uncritical, and freethinking nature, in contrast with his unstable mental state, the character was sympathetic.


This part of the movie reminds me of "Joker" (2019) because the main characters' behavior and emotions are similar. Both movies have interesting characters who deal with their troubled minds, which makes it interesting to make comparisons, discuss and analyze. Fun fact is that Robert De Niro was the main protagonist in this movie and also he did play in the Joker (2019) movie but as a TV Show host - Murray Franklin.


While I appreciated the screenplay's writing style, I found it to be tedious and lacking in sufficient tension. Some conversations became just words without clear purpose or meaning.


Overall, 'Taxi Driver' is a very remarkable film for its time and is still worth it to watch, particularly in terms of cinematography. Though I wished for more expressive performances from the actors, the story itself was engaging. It's a film that impressively captures the essence of its era while delving into the timeless complexities of human character.


Rating: 7/10

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