Taxi Driver

Martin Scorsese has become one of the most celebrated and critically acclaimed directors over the past few decades. It's not hard to see why as his movies have very effectively depicted humanity in a brutal and revealing light producing a certain feeling of tension and unease that has rarely been replicated by other filmmakers. Taxi Driver is no exception as it really set the trend for Scorsese's later films and does a truly remarkable job of portraying human isolation and the insanity that can stem from such feelings. To say the least, Taxi Driver is quite unsettling and really makes you feel as if you're in the movie because it feels so realistic and vivid.

Taxi Driver is completely focused around the main character with little emphasis put on the supporting cast. The story involves Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro), a young Vietnam War veteran who takes a nighttime job driving a taxi to keep himself occupied and avoid confronting the feelings of loneliness and inadequacy that torment him. However, his self-induced isolation only worsens throughout the film as he alienates others around him, and eventually descends into a state of madness since he is unable to develop a meaningful relationship with anyone. There is little interaction between Travis and other characters as the movie is trying to show just how lonely he is, and the boredom of his life is certainly a major cause of his moral decay. He takes it upon himself to "clean up" the streets of New York city by saving a teenage prostitute from her pimp, but his altruistic efforts at the end of the film are greatly outweighed by the horrifying cruelty he displays in trying to free the city. At first glance, Travis could be considered a hero of sorts as he is appalled by the state of affairs in New York city and feels that someone ought to wash away the streets and he shows signs of actually wanting to make a positive change himself. Unfortunately, this initial display of selflessness is soon lost as Travis becomes what he originally sought to eliminate. While the plot in Taxi Driver isn't overly complex, it's meant to be more of a background to the real purpose of the film, which shows that it's possible for anyone like Travis to be completely alone and take extreme measures to try and combat such feelings and even though his actions at the end of the film may be righteous in terms of motive, he certainly displays sociopathic tendencies in having little hesitancy or restraint in doing what he believes to be "right." Travis's transformation from a state of nervousness to genuine madness is truly horrifying to behold, and when you watch the movie you'll find yourself both appalled and marvelled by the developments that bring about the sudden change.

The aspect that really stands out in Taxi Driver is the mood and atmosphere of the film. The movie often switches between the personal life of Travis and snapshots of the city when he's driving around in his taxi. The flashes of the impoverished downtown New York streets give the movie an aura of authenticity as you see for yourself the ugliness and brutality that plagues the lower classes of society. America has long been perceived to be a land of opportunity; however, Scorsese immediately debunks this sense of positivity by constantly showing the destitute masses through the eyes of Travis. What separates Taxi Driver from other movies is that it's grim atmosphere is so intensely realistic that you immediately feel drawn into the film as an innumerable amount of comparisons can be drawn between current society and the one Travis lives in. The bright and shining lights of New York in the background ought to be a beacon of hope and prosperity, but instead they serve to highlight just how disgusting the streets have become as a result of continued neglect. Furthermore, the smooth jazz score for the movie really contrasts with the eerie tone that pervades the film's storyline and further serves to notify the viewer that things are not always as they appear. The overall mood of Taxi Driver appears to be quite simple on the surface, but just like in the streets of New York city, the turmoil bubbling below the surface is far more powerful and provocative.

Few movies have been able to capture the genuine sense of horror present in Taxi Driver. On the surface, the film appears to be fairly simplistic and empty; but the eerie tone provided by the atmosphere really brings the character of Travis Bickle to life as he comes off as being honourable, but also despicable in the way he attempts to carry out his actions. This is not a movie for the faint of heart, but if you are able withstand Taxi Driver's violent premise, you will truly be left in awe by the film's incredible authenticity.