Taxi Driver (1976)

Studio: Columbia Pictures/Sony
Theatrical Release: February 8, 1976
Blu Ray Release: April 5, 2011
Rated R

Review by James Klein

Hands down one of the greatest American films to have come out of the 1970's and arguably considered the best film in both Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro's long career, Taxi Driver has hit stores on blu ray with the rare commentary track by Scorsese that was recorded back in 1986 for an old laserdisc release. This is a must have blu ray for fans of not only this film but for all movie lovers. If you don't own this film at all, you are not a fan of film.

For the very few of you who have never seen the film, Taxi Driver is the story of 26 year old Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro in one of his finest performances) who chooses to drive his cab in the evening in NYC. Travis is lonely and has no one in his life. Being honorably discharged from the Marines, we get the feeling that Travis is a Vietnam vet who may have saw some combat that has forever messed with his head. When he isn't driving a cab, thinking about how much he hates the city and people, he spends his time writing in his diary, eating sweets and going to porno movies. His child-like behavior is both sweet and scary and when he falls for a volunteer of a political candidate (Cybil Shepherd) and screws up the first date, he starts to lose his mind even more and is destined to clean up the city, starting by saving a young prostitute (Jodie Foster) from her abusive pimp (Harvey Keitel). Travis's only cry out for help is when he tells a fellow cab driver he's "got some bad ideas in his head". With no help and all alone in the world, Travis soon loses it and the ending climax is pure violent brutality and one that almost gave Scorsese the X rating thanks to Dick Smith's graphic make-up effects.

Much has been said about the film throughout the years, being analyzed to death. With it's theme of loneliness, its use of music (from Bernard Hermann's moody score to Jackson Brown's 'Late For the Sky") and the cryptic ending (I have always argued the last 10 minutes never happened and it is all in Travis's head) Taxi Driver has been discussed and talked about for many years and many more to come.

The new blu ray release is amazing and the film has never looked or sounded this good. The picture is crystal clear and yet keeps he grain that film has always had. The audio is also crystal clear with all the noises of NYC traffic blasting out from all speakers. I watched the film with my wife who has never seen the film and the movie still blows me away. The disc also contains three commentary tracks, numerous featurettes, and a new introduction by Scorsese. The blu ray also has some beautiful production stills in a small pocket on the inside of the disc.

Taxi Driver has never looked better. If you haven't seen the film or haven't seen it in awhile, do yourself a favor and get this blu ray. Here is...