"Taxi Driver" (1976)

Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) is a taxi driver with strong opinions about what is right and wrong with mankind. For him, the only exception out of New York City is Betsy, a worker on the presidential nomination campaign of Senator Charles Palantine. He becomes a bit obsessed with her, but when their date ends badly and she refuses his apologies, he cynically realises that “she is just like everybody else” and decides he has to do whatever he needs to make the world a better place. One of his priorities becomes saving Iris (Jodie Foster), a twelve-year-old runaway and prostitute who he believes wants out of the profession but is confined to it by her pimp and lover Matthew. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this is a bloody good movie!

I liked Travis’ character. I don’t normally seem to like Robert De Niro’s characters very much but I liked him. There was something kind of humble about him and there wasn’t any real pushiness like in many of Robert De Niro’s characters. I felt sorry for him and I never feel sorry for Robert De Niro’s characters. Travis was is, in a word, a loner, an observer, struggling internally with what he feels is a tortured life. I love the transformation this character makes throughout the film. Robert De Niro really is a brilliant actor.

Apparently the scene "You talkin' to me?" is supposed to have been completely improvised by Robert De Niro. This is kind of ironic considering it's the most quoted scene of the movie, and indeed said to be one of the most quoted in movie history. We've all heard it from somewhere or another! Well...it started here! Something so simple. It just goes to show that less is more!

Jodie Foster’s character, Iris, is introduced very slowly, only coming into it properly very late on. She was only thirteen when this film premiered. I think that’s incredible. She’s a fantastic actress to be able to take something like that on at that age and do it as well as she did. Because Jodie Foster was only twelve doing the role she couldn't do some of the more explicit scenes. Her older sister agreed to be her body double. Despite the fact she's playing a very adult role, she wouldn't have been permitted to enter a theater to see the finished film without being accompanied by a parent or gaurdian since she was only twelve like her character. But urgh I feel like it was wrong to have a twelve year old in this role and to have the character aged so young. This was the only aspect of the film that didn’t sit well with me. But I know this thing happens in the world and there’s not a whole lot one can do about it. It’s frightening though. Travis does remark that she should be going to school and going out with friends and all of this but yet the film still seems to almost condone it…at least that was my impression. You could take it either way I suppose since Travis did make it his priority to save her from the profession. But I just…It’s not right. Jodie Foster is incredible in it though.

The character of Iris was apparently a very long process. Linda Blair and Kim Bassinger were also considered for the part. Tippi Hedrin's (The Birds) daughter, Melanie Griffith had to turn down the role. Over 250 applicants auditioned before Jodie Foster was chosen. Some of the actresses who were either asked or applied have gone on to become well known including Debra Winger, Kim Cattrall Carrie Fisher, and Michelle Pfeiffer.

The film was nominated for 4 Oscars: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Robert De Niro), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Jodie Foster), Best Music and Best Picture.

I loved the music. Composed by Bernard Herrmann, it was sort of jazzy-bluesy… Based on the trailer and the opening credits, I wasn’t expecting this kind of music throughout the film but I really liked it. It seemed kind of fitting with Travis’ character somehow.

If asked, this is definitely my favourite Robert De Niro movie. And one of my favourite Martin Scorsese movies. It’s definitely a must-see!!

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