Story: This is an amazing story of “God’s Lonely Man”. A story that anyone can relate to. Loneliness, the blurs of the lines of good and evil and doing the right thing, the evil in the world. Paul Schrader did a FANTASTIC job in the writing of this film, which is one of the three major parts of this film. The story is phenomenal. Travis Bickle just wanting to find someone. Someone who is like him, but he is a rather unique person. He is one of those people who needs to take time in order to find someone special. He’s a troubled man that wants to do the right thing, but does the right thing the wrong way. That might not make sense to some, but that’s how awesome Paul Schrader was for writing this film. I love that guy.
Visuals: Amazing depiction of New York with the scum and slime of it all. One of Martin Scorcese’s greatest works, he knows how New York works, exactly. And the shows of De Niro driving in the taxi at night look so awesome. When we see De Niro’s eyes in the rearview mirror or lights out of focus in the rear view mirror is just mesmerizing. All of the bright and colorful lights. Just amazing cinematography and direction here.
Music: There only seemed to be literally one track that played throughout the whole film, which was the theme song. But either way, I loved it. It didn’t need anything more or anything less.
Characters: Robert De Niro. This is one of the films I saw that established Robert De Niro as my most favorite actor of all time. He is brilliant in this film. You didn’t think I would leave out the talking to the mirror scene did you? You talkin’ to me? I say this all the time in real life as a joke, it’s just not many people have seen this movie so they don’t realize this. De Niro was improvising too! Just like Dustin Hoffman in ‘Midnight Cowboy’ with the “I’M WALKING HERE!” Jodie Foster played a nice young prostitute. She should go pro… nahhh, I joke. Cybill Sheperd was also real nice too, looking like an angel with that elegant walk, she played a convincing performance too.
Rewatch Value: A great film that will live on forever. Phenomenal story and acting.
Retrospect Realm 