Crime
Drama
A mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran works as a night-time taxi driver in New York City where the perceived decadence and sleaze feed his urge for violent action.
Directors
Robert De Niro
Travis Bickle
Jodie Foster
Iris
Cybill Shepherd
Betsy
Harvey Keitel
Sport
Peter Boyle
Wizard
Leonard Harris
Charles Palantine
Diahnne Abbott
Concession Girl
Frank Adu
Angry Black Man
Victor Argo
Melio
Gino Ardito
Policeman at Rally
Garth Avery
Iris' Friend
Harry Cohn
Cabbie in Bellmore
Cooper Cunningham
Hooker in Cab
Brenda Dickson
Soap Opera Woman
Harry Fischler
Dispatcher
Nat Grant
Stick-Up Man
Richard Higgs
Tall Secret Service Man
Directors
User reviews4
Review
Featured review
**_Hellish urban decay and one man’s step-by-step fall into Big City madness_**
In the mid-70s, an ex-marine insomniac in New York works the graveyard shift as a cab driver (De Niro) while trying to develop a relationship with a beautiful campaign volunteer for a presidential candidate (Cybill Shepherd and Leonard Harris). He experiences White Knight Syndrome as he seeks to rescue a 12½ years-old prostitute (Jodie Foster).
Written by Paul Schrader and directed by Scorsese, "Taxi Driver" (1976) is an interesting character study of a misfit and his descent into radicalness after the day-to-day grind of living amidst the grungy, unsanitary places of an infernal Gotham, especially the grindhouse district. The protagonist is a ‘contradiction,’ loathing the decadence he observes but frequenting porn theaters in his spare time. Then there’s the irony of a potential assassin perceived as a vigilante hero.
The notable cast also includes a young Harvey Keitel as the girl’s pimp and Peter Boyle as Travis’ mentor-like fellow cabbie. Albert Brooks is on hand as a protective colleague of the campaign volunteer. Scorsese shows up in a bit part as an unhinged cab passenger.
It’s a good companion-piece to similar Schrader flicks, like “Hardcore,” “Cat People,” “Auto Focus” and “Dog Eat Dog.”
The film runs 1 hour, 54 minutes, and was shot in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
GRADE: B+/A-
Wuchak08 Oct, 2024
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Box office
Budget
$1,900,000Gross worldwide
$28,579,636More to explore
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