Taxi Driver Blu-ray Review
The yellow cab moves through the steam. Rain pours down, blurring stoplights. The driver’s narrow eyes attach to the New York City streets, “all the animals” moving in slow motion. He works twelve-hour shifts, six or seven days a week. He is God’s lonely man.
Taxi driver is perhaps the only job that makes sense for an individual like Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro, in his first role since winning an Oscar for THE GODFATHER PART II). There is minimal human contact, even though he’ll be mere feet from dozens a night. He won’t have to say a word; he can listen and watch. And then he can go back to his apartment, to watch television or write in his journal or speak to himself in the mirror…
There will be two central figures in Travis’ life, ones that trigger his motives: teenage prostitute Iris (Jodie Foster, ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE) and campaign worker Betsy (Cybill Shepherd, AT LONG LAST LOVE). (He will of course encounter many others—pimp Sport (Harvey Keitel, MEAN STREETS), presidential candidate Charles Palantine (Leonard Harris, in his first of only two roles) and additional campaign worker Tom (Albert Brooks, in his theatrical debut), chiefly.)
Travis has good intentions (it feels almost filthy compliment him), but no inkling of how to communicate with people. He wants to rescue Iris, but does so, at different times, through use of assaulting words and a sleeve gun. He wants to woo Betsy, but takes her to a Swedish porno. (His phone call to her in an attempt to get another chance, is pathetic, as illustrated in the camera’s pan away.)
Travis Bickle is one of the most complex, fascinating and controversial figures to grace the silver screen. Conceived by Paul Schrader, molded by Martin Scorsese and portrayed by Robert De Niro, Travis is loneliness personified, as well as the attempt to meet, avoid and cope with it. Watching TAXI DRIVER, one will find it difficult to dodge questions like, How do we react when we are lonely? How do we behave when we are alone? How about how we react and behave around those that are lonely? What is the breaking point and how, if at all, do we recognize it? These can’t go unnoticed and neither can Travis. (The most polarizing discussion about the film may not be its use of violence, but whether or not Travis is a hero, whether he’s the “real rain” that comes to wash the scum away.)
As Schrader, Scorsese, De Niro and the viewers delve into a certain psyche, composer Bernard Herrmann guides all through a New York City that is no more. But TAXI DRIVER never once feels dated because of it; instead, it is a time capsule, an image of an uneasy and unsure America confined to a series of scuzzy apartments and porno theaters. It is TAXI DRIVER (and ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN) that best captured the American mindset in 1976 (not ROCKY, although it played to a certain audience).
And it persists today, 40 years after its release. TAXI DRIVER endures because its characters and themes will never go away. TAXI DRIVER is here, always, because there will always be a Travis in the mirror, because there will always be something to discuss.
BLU-RAY REVIEW
Video: 1.85:1 in 1080p with MPEG-4 AVC codec. Fans and potential buyers should take note that this appears to be more or less the same high-definition transfer featured on the 2013 and 2011 releases of TAXI DRIVER. Still, it stands as one of Sony’s most impressive contributions to the format, cleaning up the image wonderfully while still maintaining the grain. Details and textures are stellar throughout, while dimension is commendable and colors are accurate.
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio; Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Castilian) and Spanish (Latin American) 5.1 Dolby Digital. Subtitles in English, Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (Classic), Spanish (Castilian), Spanish (Latin American), Swedish and Turkish. The audio track is also stellar, with clear dialogue, a textured atmosphere, powerful sound effects and a crisp Bernard Herrmann score.
Disc One (Blu-ray):
Original 1986 commentary with director Martin Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader: Recorded for The Criterion Collection for TAXI DRIVER’s LaserDisc release, Scorsese and Schrader (who were apparently recorded separately) delve into the evolution and production of the film.
Commentary with professor Robert Kolker: University of Virginia’s Kolker offers a more technical commentary that may not be for every audience but adds much dimension to the film.
Commentary with writer Paul Schrader: Schrader’s solo track allows him to offer more analysis that the shared one with Scorsese, so fans will appreciate it.
Tribeca Film Festival 40th Anniversary Q&A (41:56): Recorded at the Beacon Theatre, this Q&A session (moderated by Kent Jones) features Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Paul Schrader and Michael Phillips offering personal insights and amusing stories about the production, inspirations, characters, Cannes premiere and more. This is the only new bonus feature on the release.
Producing TAXI DRIVER (9:53): Producer Michael Phillips discusses how he came onto the project, touching on the Movie Brats, the film’s director cast/crew and more along the way.
God’s Lonely Man (21:42): Schrader and Kolker offer a bit of an analysis on Travis Bickle.
Influence and Appreciation: A Martin Scorsese Tribute (18:30): Oliver Stone, Roger Corman, Robert De Niro and more offer their thoughts on the talents and career of Scorsese.
Taxi Driver Stories (22:22): Actual New York City cab drivers discuss their career, offering some fascinating tales.
Martin Scorsese on TAXI DRIVER (16:54): Scorsese offers a personal reflection on the production, themes, style and more of his 1976 film.
Travis’ New York (6:15): Director of photography Michael Chapman and former mayor Ed Koch reflect on the long-gone NYC of TAXI DRIVER.
Travis’ New York Location (4:45): Offered here is a then/now (1975/2006) split screen video of various locations used in the film.
Theatrical Trailer
Disc Two (DVD):
Making TAXI DRIVER (1:10:55): This feature-length documentary offers a comprehensive look at the production of TAXI DRIVER. Various contributors lend their insights into the script, filming locations, characters, themes, iconic sequences and much more.
Storyboard to Film Comparison (8:23) for select scenes. Included is an Intro to Storyboards by Martin Scorsese (4:33).
Galleries: “Bernard Herrmann Score,” “On Location,” “Publicity Materials” and “Scorsese at Work.”