Partially inspired by the 1972 attempted assassination of presidential candidate George Wallace by Arthur Bremer, Paul Schrader's violent and seamy screenplay was brought to shocking, bloody life in Martin Scorsese's controversial 1976 film. Robert De Niro rocketed to fame for his portrayal of Travis Bickle, a lonely, psychotic Vietnam vet who drives a cab on the night shift in New York City, where he sees only the human "garbage"—i.e., the pimps, prostitutes, junkies, and thieves on the street. Striking up a relationship with a political campaigner named Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), Bickle initially sets his sights on killing the candidate for whom she works, but then he hooks up with 12-year-old prostitute Iris (Jodie Foster), and shifts his focus to her fast-talking pimp (Harvey Keitel). One of the most disturbing films of the ‘70s, Taxi Driver reflected a period when the nation was undergoing substantial moral confusion in the wake of Vietnam and Watergate (in 1981, would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr.—who had seen Taxi Driver several times—would attempt to assassinate President Reagan, spurred by an obsession with Foster). Nominated for numerous Oscars, including Best Picture, Actor (De Niro), and Supporting Actress (Foster), Taxi Driver is presented here in a sparkling 40th anniversary edition, with extras including a new Q&A with key cast and crew members, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes segments, a “Taxi Driver Stories” featurette with NYC cabbies, storyboard/film comparisons, and photo galleries. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)
Taxi Driver
Sony, 114 min., R, Blu-ray: $19.99 Volume 32, Issue 1
Taxi Driver
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