Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver
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Name	Taxi Driver
Director	Martin Scorsese
Producer	Michael Phillips, Julia Phillips
Writer	Paul Schrader
Starring	Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle
Music	Bernard Herrmann
Cinematography	Michael Chapman
Editing	Tom Rolf, Melvin Shapiro, Marcia Lucas
Studio	Bill/Phillips, Italo/Judeo Productions
Distributor	Columbia Pictures
Released	February 8, 1976
Runtime	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.9 million
Gross	$28.3 million

Taxi Driver. Directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader, the film is a psychological thriller that explores the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the effects of Vietnam War on American society, as seen in the works of Francis Ford Coppola and Oliver Stone. The film stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a mentally unstable New York City taxi driver who becomes obsessed with saving a young prostitute played by Jodie Foster, reminiscent of the characters in Elia Kazan's A Streetcar Named Desire and John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath. The film's success can be attributed to the collaboration of Martin Scorsese with other notable filmmakers, including Brian De Palma and Steven Spielberg, who were influenced by the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Akira Kurosawa.

Production

The production of the film began in 1975, with Martin Scorsese and Paul Schrader working closely together to develop the script, which was influenced by the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Jean-Paul Sartre. The film was shot on location in New York City, with Michael Chapman serving as the cinematographer, and Bernard Herrmann composing the score, which was reminiscent of his work on Citizen Kane and Vertigo. The film's production team included Tom Rolf, Melvin Shapiro, and Marcia Lucas as editors, who worked together to create a sense of tension and unease, similar to the editing style of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather. The film was produced by Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips, who were also involved in the production of The Sting and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and distributed by Columbia Pictures, which was also responsible for releasing films like It's a Wonderful Life and On the Waterfront.

Plot

The plot of the film revolves around Travis Bickle, a mentally unstable New York City taxi driver who becomes obsessed with saving a young prostitute named Iris, played by Jodie Foster, who was also known for her roles in The Silence of the Lambs and Panic Room. As the story unfolds, Travis Bickle's obsession with Iris grows, and he begins to see himself as a hero who must save her from the clutches of her pimp, played by Harvey Keitel, who was also known for his roles in Mean Streets and Reservoir Dogs. The film's plot is also influenced by the works of Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams, and explores themes of loneliness and isolation, as seen in the characters of Willem Dafoe in The Last Temptation of Christ and Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies. The film's climax features a dramatic confrontation between Travis Bickle and the pimp, which was influenced by the works of Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone.

Cast

The cast of the film includes Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, Jodie Foster as Iris, Cybill Shepherd as Betsy, Harvey Keitel as Sport, and Peter Boyle as Wizard, who were all influenced by the works of Marlon Brando and James Dean. The film also features a number of notable actors in supporting roles, including Albert Brooks and Leonard Harris, who were also known for their work in Broadcast News and The Godfather: Part II. The cast's performances were widely praised by critics, with Robert De Niro's performance being particularly notable, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination, as well as a Golden Globe Award nomination, and comparisons to the performances of Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with many praising the performances of the cast, particularly Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster, who were both influenced by the works of Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. The film was also praised for its direction, with Martin Scorsese being hailed as a master filmmaker, alongside Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg. The film holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics praising its gritty and realistic portrayal of New York City in the 1970s, as seen in the films of Sidney Lumet and William Friedkin. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $28 million at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1976, alongside Rocky and All the President's Men.

Themes

The film explores a number of themes, including loneliness, isolation, and the effects of Vietnam War on American society, as seen in the works of Oliver Stone and Michael Cimino. The film also explores the theme of obsession, as Travis Bickle becomes increasingly fixated on saving Iris, reminiscent of the characters in The Great Gatsby and Rebel Without a Cause. The film's use of New York City as a backdrop also adds to the sense of grittiness and realism, as seen in the films of Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. The film's themes have been influential in the development of Neo-noir and Psychological thriller genres, influencing filmmakers such as David Fincher and Christopher Nolan, who were also influenced by the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick.

Legacy

The film's legacy is undeniable, with it being widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, alongside The Godfather and Citizen Kane. The film has been named as an influence by a number of notable filmmakers, including Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese himself, who were also influenced by the works of Brian De Palma and Steven Spielberg. The film's influence can also be seen in the work of David Lynch and Terry Gilliam, who were both influenced by the film's use of surrealism and Neo-noir elements, as seen in the films of Roman Polanski and Werner Herzog. The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1994, and continues to be widely studied and admired by film scholars and enthusiasts, alongside 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Shawshank Redemption. Category:American films