HerrSchreck wrote:I've been a fan of this movie for over 30 yrs and I never met any New Yorkers (anyone really)-- nor ready any reviews, until the couple folks in this thread-- who felt that it was a dying man's fantasy, who didn't think it was possible to have Travis blown up by the press as a hero (live in NYC especially thru those days in the 70's & 80's and you'd never question it... I'm still baffled someone could doubt the possibility), least of all doubt that he'd have the coincidence of picking her up as a fare.
I apologize if my tone has been one of denial in terms of dichotomy. I don't deny the possibility. At all. It's there. However, this film is so deliciously gritty and an exercise in realism, and a perfect representation of 1970s (and 80s) NY, that I simply don't buy the end (unless it is a dream). I guess this is the point where we agree to disagree.
The most absurd thing about the movie is the Keitel character-- pimps didnt look that way (they should have stuck w their original plan but I understand the racial thing prevented it). I'm only half kidding.
We are in the same boat here. I'm not kidding. However, I can understand that it would have been a shame for this film to be destroyed in the public eye because of the 'race thing'. This conversation in 2008 would sadly be about the 'reevaluation' of this misunderstood classic and that would be a shame.
The last thing I myself would do is make excuses for a directors weaknesses-- I can hardly get thru a Scorsese film nowadays. When he starts sucking ass powder I say it-- and he's been sucking for at least the past ten years.
He is certainly running through the motions. I don't want to turn this into a
Departed discussion (or really a "Scorsese" discussion outside of the realm of Taxi Driver), but I thought it was a noble effort after the years of flawed film making (Gangs of NY), mediocre film making (Aviator) and outright terrible film making (Bringing Out the Dead).
It's a VERY new york movie. It's very much about the time and place that was the city back then.
Completely agree.
Some things are so extreme they're hard to believe. If WW2 never happened and you wrote a novel of ditto, people'd say "You're reaching pal."
Ditto the recent Wall Street news. Or the past eight yrs of our presidency.
Again, you are kind of skewing (however unintentional) what my problem with the film is. I think Taxi Driver is a masterpiece and a chilling commentary on 1970s NYC (and urban strife in general).
I just don't 'buy' the last scene at all; at least I did until Scorsese told me my interpretation was wrong. If it was meant to be real, I think that it could have been filmed in an entirely different manner with maybe a little more exposition. But then again, that would have bogged the film down. Lose Lose
Good discussion, though