After watching this movie, John Hinckley went out and tried to kill Ronald Reagan. This would indicate that "Taxi Driver" is a worthwhile movie. In more basic terms, however, the reason this is such a good movie is because it shows how close the categories of "hero" and "psychopath" are, and indeed, how close these categories are to normal life. Travis(Robert De Niro) is a young, lonely, slightly obsessive taxi driver, who displays in the course of the movie, the two main male passions - sexual love and fatherly love. The first of these is directed towards a young professional, Betsy(Cybil Shepherd), a campaign worker for a Presidential candidate; the second towards a child prostitute, Iris acted by Jodie Foster. the first of these passions brings him into fleeting contact with the cold aloof world of US politics characterized by empty sloganeering and an absence of policies. By actually meeting the candidate, Palatine in his cab, Travis begins to instinctively realize the connection between the messed up New York streets with their pushers and prostitutes and the opportunism and cynicism of those who defile their responsibility. After being misunderstood and rejected by Betsy, these vague political misgivings crystallize around his dented male pride and lead him to plot the assassination of Palatine. As he prepares himself for this, however, his paternal feelings are aroused by the plight of Iris, the child prostitute, whom he resolves to rescue. Already living on the edge, he decides that the best way to do this is by killing her pimp. In his mind these two goals become almost identical. Killing the apathetic. patronizing politician, who is socially or politically responsible, and the pimp, who is individually responsible for the abominations of modern city life, like child prostitution, have little to separate them. Indeed, only the candidate's security guards make the difference. Foiled in his first attempt, it is only the second of these goals that he manages to accomplish. Ironically, the courage that would have had him damned as a sociopath in the first case, allows him to become a hero in the second. This film raises the question: Is someone who takes a gun and tries to blow away a President or one of the other fakirs of the frenetic passivity of ungovernment, a hero? The answer is probably yes.

I have this movie on VHS,but I still don't get why so many people love it so much.I guess I'll have to watch it a few more times,because I think I'm missing something.

Good film : Yes!!
Best Film : Don't know about that.

DavidEye said:

I have watched it 50 times...

It was decent. Not the best though.

The best film of all times was The Exorcist. Or maybe Scarface.

coqui said:

Co-sign this...




But I've seen Scarface and still can't gather why folks think this movie is the best of all time. I enjoyed it but didn't see the 'greatness' of it. Eh well, to each his own.

summerdawn said:

I believe the reason is simple:
The Badass Factor. Tony Montana is one of the best badasses ever put on film. For that reason, men love this movie.
Seriously though, the character development is second to none in my opinion which adds to said "Badass Factor". I get so deep in the film just waiting for Tony Montana to become even more of a badass.

The story is pretty good too.

The movie IS awesome...but, not the best, IMO

coqui said:

Point taken. I'll give you the 'Badass Factor'...Tony is mos def a badass.

It's a matter of taste. Taxi Driver never really appealed to me. My personal favorite is "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back"

Definitly in the running for ONE of the greatest films of all time.Paul Schraeder/Martin Scorsese are always a winning combination(Raging Bull,Last Temptation of Christ).

Taxi Driver really paints a realistic portrait on the anti-hero and redifined urban cinema.

Best film imho is Memento (2000). Maybe because after several times watching it I still don't know whether he was framed or not...

i have watched it about 8 times.

I'd say the best movie would have to be...

"A Nightmare On Elm Street"


ok but seriously...um..."What's Love Got 2 Do With It"

U talkin 2 me?? Film was a trippy strange with De Niro playing the roll so well as he does many...as if he's truly that character.

scififilmnerd said:

Me too!

I don't even think it's Scorsese's best. But it's a good movie.

silentflute said:

I agree.

All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets.

roverlo said:

Memento...?

no way! I even like Scorsese´s "Goodfellas" or "After Hours" better than "Taxi Driver"

It is a very good film though

holymoses54 said:

You've never seen Memento?

Put down the Italian gangster flicks and broaden your horizons a bit.

coqui said:

I have seen Memento ...i dont see the big deal in editing a movie backwards...tried the same for Irreversible...but...the story is dull ...when you first see it ...you think ...wow thats brilliant...but then you see it again...and your slightly disapinted...and when you see it again...you realy feel cheated...and to answer your question ...it dont realy matter if he was framed or not...

holymoses54 said:

PanthaGirl said:

holymoses54 said:

What about "Raging Bull"

holymoses54 said:

TOO RIGHT, I'VE INCLUDED IT BELOW ALONG WITH A FEW OTHERS I REMEMBERED:

RAGING BULL
DEER HUNTER
UNFORGIVEN
BRAVEHEART
MIDNIGHT COWBOY
DEAD MAN
PLANET OF THE APES (ALL FIVE PARTS)
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM
[This message was edited Sat Jan 3 21:02:24 PST 2004 by PanthaGirl]

PanthaGirl said:

I love all your choices except for Braveheart...I think Mel Gibson did a poor job on recaping the facts...

holymoses54 said:

Amazing movie yes... And IMO one that should be watched at least twice a year... But not the best, that would be "Brazil"...

Neversin.

holymoses54 said: