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Created Dec 07, 2010 09:48PM PST • Edited Dec 07, 2010 09:48PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Perfect 5.0

   In my first viewing of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, I thought it was a very well made film and respected the fact that it was in fact one of the greatest films ever made. However, I simply didn’t like it as much as other people did. There was something missing that made Scorsese’s other films so great, that little spark that worked well in Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and even Casino. But in my second viewing I saw what made this film a true masterpiece. And boy was it clear.

   Taxi Driver is the story of Travis Bickle. Travis is an alienated insomniac. He grows tired of the scum and the cockroaches that infest the streets. He is soon driven to violence and even goes as far as to turn to violence, even going as far as to attempt to save a young hooker from her pimp.

   What holds this film together are the brilliant performances and the shockingly brutal reality of the effects of alienation. As we see life through Travis’ eyes we sympathize with him on his quest to find peace in this world.

   To put it simply, Taxi Driver is one of the greatest films ever made. A must see.

4. Acting

   Really Great 4.5

   Like Raging Bull four years later, the whole film pretty much stands on the shoulders of Robert De Niro. His portrayal of Travis is simply riveting. As he delivers his monologues one by one he pulls us in to the movie and even sends shivers down our spines.

   Although this is De Niro’s movie, there’s a memorable performance or two to be found in the film. Jodie Foster’s young stripper, Harvey Keitel’s pimp, and even Peter Boyle’s Wizard turn in memorable performances. The one that stands out the most is Jodie Foster, turning in one of her earliest and best performances of her career.

5. Male Stars Perfect 5.0

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Really Great 4.5

8. Male Costars Really Great 4.5

10. Film

    Perfect 5.0

    The cinematography is absolutely brilliant. This was where we were truely introduced to Scorsese’s quick editing and zoom in’s. The musical score by Bernard Hermann is also fantastic and quite memorable.

11. Direction Perfect 5.0

12. Play Perfect 5.0

13. Music Perfect 5.0

14. Visuals Perfect 5.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Horrid 3.8

    This is a truely shocking film. There is quite a bit of violence and the amount of gore, sexual content, and language practically leans toward an NC-17 (or at the time an X rating). So don’t let any small children watch this.

17. Sex Erotic 3.0

18. Violence Savage 4.5

19. Rudeness Nasty 4.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.5

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.5

23. Biological Glib 1.5

24. Physical Glib 1.5