TAXI DRIVER (1976) *** Vigilante cabbie goes nuts and whacks a freak pimp and a coupla wise guys. So what makes this special is somewhere in the production. In fact it has to receive near perfect marks for creating the feel of being a New York cabbie, understated exotic direction and performance by Martin Scorsese, the vivid and not only believeable but unimpeachable street performances of Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster, the reality and simplicity of the descent into madness, and the poetic truth of the reaction of nice girl Cybil Shepherd to being taken out to the cinema to see "Swedish Marriage Manual." Unspeakably difficult scenes, like where Harvey Keitel lures Foster back into the nest for example, are passed off effortlessly. Listen to Leonard Harris, how many decades does it take to change campaign boilerplate?! Despite a love of the blues I have never spent much time at the depths plumbed by the action depicted, so it's not for me to chant about realism or not...but there's something about the dénouement that doesn't ring quite true for me...I'm not sure if it's the fact of the acclaim, or that it's not magnified, perhaps by Harris. I can, however, say that I've plumbed the depths employing the Shepherd character, and yes most of those folk would be delighted with a meaningful relationship with a cabbie or anyone else, just so long as it didn't take much time or effort.
back to Brilliant Observations on 1776 Films home
go back home, or send me email
no more reviews! I want to buy your novel!