The most important shot of the film is when Travis is on the phone pleading with Betsy. The reason the camera pans to show the hallway away from the action is because the conversation is so pathetic and humiliating that even the camera doesn’t wanna see or hear it. Also the ending when Travis looks in his rear view it means he is not well…He is a ticking time bomb
The camera move to the empty hallway wasn't because it, the camera, was disgusted, it was to show the emptiness of Travis's attempt for reconciliation. My father was an assistant cinematographer for that movie as well as "Mean Streets" which Bobby was in before Taxi Driver. My pop said "Dinero would be the coolest guy in between shots, eating with us and joking around, then when it was time to shoot a scene, he was all business." Amazing actor and a caring human. When my father passed in 2014, I was shocked to get an email from Robert sending his heartfelt message of condolence which I won't share.
The 44 magnum had its heyday in the 70's, made popular in the Dirty Harry movies and others, like Taxi Driver, inner city crime & grime was also a big part of movie culture then.
Remember back then the .44 was the big boy on the block it was before 500 mag and before desert eagles became big the .44 represented power but also masculinity with destruction as well a hero and a villain could use it equally
The ending was real. His hair grew back because he was in the hospital a long time. The doubletake he does at the end means Travis is still sick and he will do something else he probably shouldn't do.
You wouldn't have liked New York City in the '70s. It had taken a nose dive since the '50s. Central Park was like really, really unsafe. Times Square was a sleazy porn jungle. The whole place was funky and run-down. The New York Giants had moved to San Francisco, the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles. The Mets were a bad joke (except for the '69 World Series). Murder was commonplace. It wasn't until the '80s that New York began to recover. This movie is a snapshot of the city at its lowest ebb.
The photo of Iris" parents tacked on the wall of Travis' apartment is actually a a picture of Scorsese's mother and father at 23:00. He does these things all the time. His mother is a true character.
Shelby, as someone who lived through it, no you wouldn't want to be in New York City in the 70s. It was one of the most crime related times even worse than today.
Much worse than today for sure. NYC today is actually one of the safest of the 100 largest cities in the U.S., but unfortunately due to the reputation it built up during that time people think it is still like that.
"All the animals come out at night." 🚕 The very city of NY was a character then, when the city was real and shady some people say... there is a excellent documentary called "The coolest Year in Hell" worth watching it to learn more about it. 🤙🏼
I think the thing that sent him off the deep end came before the guy in the cab. When Betsy rejected him I think that's when he went off the rails. I got the impression that having any kind of relationship with her was his last chance at a semi normal kind of life. Everything he does after that is just going farther and farther into dysfunction with nothing slowing him down. That's why when when the passenger starts talking about killing his wife and destroying her face, he pays attention. Travis already has the ideas in his head but that guy provided some focus- if you want to destroy someone then you need weapons. I think Travis wanted to kill Palantine in order to hurt Betsy. His plan was to kill him and also die while doing it. Then Betsy would know Travis is the one who killed the politician she spent all that time helping. I think he wanted her to feel guilty, like she's the reason Travis did it. I think the ending, after he tries to shoot himself, is a delusion. It's what he saw in his mind as he died. He becomes a crime fighting hero. The girl is saved. Betsy comes back to him to look at him respectfully. No one mentions the illegal guns, Betsy and the guy she worked with apparently don't tell the police how crazy he was acting. No way all that was real. That 'God's eye" view? I think that really represented Travis's spirit view as he died and his souls drifts away to where ever it is he winds up.
Paul Schrader the writer says that the ending was NOT an illusion. Although, I think it makes more sense as a dream he had in his coma. Paul Schrader also said that Travis would certainly kill again.
The man in the taxi who wanted to kill his wife with a 44 magnum was the director Scorsese. The actor didn't show up for this part so Scorsese filled in.
The woman from whom De Niro bought all the refreshments became his wife. Scorsese played the guy who kept talking about shooting his wife with a .44 Magnum.
Albert Brooks (Betsy's coworker with the glasses) has made some of my favorite comedies. Lost In America, Defending Your Life, Real Life His real name is Albert Einstein. Seriously.
If you've ever been a working person in a inner city sewer situation like this, Travis does not have a skewed perception of the world around. People knew this when they saw it in 1977 and it's the reason the movie still resonates today. You are not allowed to make a movie like this today.
Even though the ending can have multiple interpretations, in the voice-over scene by Iris' father, he said that Travis was in a coma during the time they came to New York to take Iris back home. That could have been for weeks or months, during which time his hair grew back. Also, you can see that there's a visible scar on his neck from where he was shot.
If he would have shot him in the arm. The perp would have gotten out of jail and did it again. So, he saved the tax payers a lot of money. Plus he stopped future robberies from occurring. I think that he should get a medel and the keys to the city.
Martin Scorsese appears twice in the movie, once as a passenger , the infamous " you see the women in the window " but much earlier he is seen sitting on a wall (3.50) its the shot when we are first introduced to Betsy.
Back in the good old days we used to have "Two Dollar Tuesdays" at all the movie theaters. They were always packed with a rowdy crowd and it was tons of fun! Anyway, thanks for another great reaction!
To answer your question about the actor playing the cabstand boss, yes he WAS in The Godfather, both part 1 and part 2 in fact. That's the late great character actor Joe Spinnel who played the conflicted button man Willi Cicci in the Godfather franchise, had a recurring role in the Rocky franchise, and is recognizable from many tough, gritty urban dramas and thrillers.
Another great movie from him is " Cape Fear ". It's a remake from the original. And if you like Al Pacino , I suggest you watch " Dog Day Afternoon ". That's a great movie !!! 👌. The one you say that looks familiar from the godfather , he was also in the movie " ROCKY ".
Wow, such detailed reactions justify the wait of 2 weeks before the next movie finally comes up. Btw, a list of the next 3 movies you're going to react to would be a great thing, just as a suggestion.
The taxi customer taking about killing his wife was Martin Scorsese. You don't understand how a pimp works, which I suppose is a good thing. You go to the pimp to set up the "date." That way the pimp knows there is money coming to him.
Martin Scorsese actually appears twice, his first appearance is in the scene where we see Betsy. He’s the bearded man sitting down to her left that she walks by, he’s got a black t shirt and jeans
Dear Shelby, sorry I got so late to your reaction, but wanted to say I appreciate your articulate analysis and your exploration of the backstory. My friend Robert Kolker wrote a book called A Cinema of Loneliness and he has an excellent analysis of this film as well. Also, my friend Dorothy's father did the music score for this film. There's a dedication to him at the end of the film.
Cybll Shepard appearred on the cover of Seventeen magazine many times during the 70s before she started acting. So Travis is attracted to the It Girl of the time.
Great analysis! This movie is so prescient. It really shows how people who are lonely & isolated can descend into a madness that makes them want to perpetrate violence on others.
A movie like this could not be made now. For example the scene with the black robber being shot might stay, but the Hispanic storekeeper beating his corpse while screaming "that's the 5th time this month" probably wouldn't. It's too raw. I've seen TV shows and movies where a gang of street thugs is causing trouble, and they're a mix of black, white and Hispanic men. You just won't see that in real life, but it sure is inclusive.
This was awesome, Shelby! Really well done. I’m a fan of Shanelle Riccio and Popcorn in Bed and I like that you do what they do but go even deeper with the analysis at the end. Great editing using the clips as broll during the analysis. I’ve been a fan of this movie for almost 20 years and a lot of what you said were things I hadn’t considered. I LOVE the point about Palestine representing the people and his slogan. DUH - Scorsese hits us over the head with it when the wrong word in the “we are the people” slogan is emphasized and Robert Brooks’ character has the phone conversation about it. Also his contradictions were something I hadn’t considered. Sybil Shepherd had him pegged, and he was projecting his own stuff onto her. Really great insight there. Thank you for that. I just found your channel and can’t wait to watch more. If I could recommend a lighthearted but deep palette cleanser for something like this, I’d love to see someone (anyone - seriously, no one has reviewed it on TH-cam) react to Parenthood from 1989. All star cast. Really great. I’d donate whatever to your patreon… you have a patreon, right? Anyway, keep up the great work!
The guy who hired him is Joe Spinell who WAS in the Godfather movies, and is is also famous in the horror community for directing and starring in the cult slasher movie "Maniac" which was later remade starring Elijah Wood. Unfortunately he passed away in '89 when he was in his early 50's. And the long pinky nail is to hold and snort coke. Carrie Fisher had one in Star Wars.
I recently re-watched this as a major influence of my favorite recent movie - Joker. I'd forgotten how good it is in its own right, and was kinda blown away by its other influences, especially on the would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley, who was obsessed by Jodie Foster's character, and basically just did what Travis couldn't - shoot a presidential figure. Maybe art can be too good...
I was never really sure about the ending to this movie until someone suggested that maybe Travis dies in that hotel room and the rest is a dream sequence.And all of it was for nothing.
Side note: about 10 years later, a man who felt threatened by four men on the NYC subway shot them, and was acquitted. Though none of the men died, there were very serious injuries. So, back in the time of the film, it would not have been unlikely for charges against Travis to be dropped, and for his violence to be misinterpreted.
The one you recognized is Joe Spinell and yes, he was in The Godfather. You should see him in Maniac, one of his best roles and a really underrated, but great slasher movie. 9:46 That's Martin Scorsese. The porno they saw was a Swedish sex ed movie.
even though this movie might not be pleasant to watch I think its a good film. and I don't know about living in New York in the 70s and 80s. the crime was brutal. and just an comment on Travis shooting the guy robbing the small market. you absolutely do NOT shoot someone In the arm or leg when they are armed and brandishing a firearm. . that is very dangerous. anyone who EDC should know this that being said I think it was really cool you listened to the director commentary and took time to dissect this film.
The scene at 9:47 is sometimes interpreted as being all in Travis's head, like there isn't anyone in his backseat (maybe he's like the devil on his shoulder) and Travis is just fantasizing about killing Betsy and her man. Because Travis really doesn't say any lines (except for a quiet "Yeah..") while Scorsese rants and raves to him.
@@shelbynnave sorry to do this, but the Mohawk is a nod to subjects 1: Scorsese used The Searchers as a bit of influence for the story, so the Mohawk is a nod towards Native Americans (So is Matt) 2: Vietnam Soldiers would sometimes give themselves Mohawks before a Suicide Mission. Trivia: The Pimps were Originally gonna be Black Men.
Loved your thoughts afterwards, it was really interesting. Also great movie! I remember "kind of" seeing it on tv when i was younger, but I didn't really watch it conciously and also wasn't able to pick up on everything. So watching it now as a grown up makes me really appreciate all the aspects of this movie, how well it's made and how deep it goes.
Interesting that you watched it again and again to digest it. I saw it 10 times in the theater the week it was released: I was that impressed with it! Paul Schrader, the screenwriter, wrote and directed another interesting film Hardcore (1979) with George C. Scott. Schrader is also an academic. His book Transcendental Style in Cinema: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer is certainly a departure from the themes in his films.
You've got a really good eye for this. I really appreciate the nuances that you pick up on, and you articulate many for me that I've seen but haven't quite processed. Another excellent reaction!
So I doubt you’ll remember since this was awhile ago BUT there is a very specific and out of place pan 8:53 over while Travis is calling Betsy and you mentioned it was “weird” and didn’t make sense; My interpretation of that weird pan is that’s the last time we see Travis really trying to be a “good guy” getting rejected by Betsy was the final straw I think Deniro is out of shot because that side of his char is dead. We see Travis re-emerge into the frame and he’s a different person for the rest of the movie.
When someone draws a gun on you, I'm thinking of the robbery scene, you go for the killshot so they can't put one into you. If you shoot him in the arm and miss and then he shoots you in the head... game over. Really you're supposed to aim for center body mass but he had time to line it up for a clean head shot, something he likely did a lot of in Vietnam. When you take a gun with intent to steal, threaten or harm others, it should be no surprise when someone outdraws and kills you. At that point of the movie Travis was going to cause an incident, but he did want to be the cowboy hero, but make no mistake, that thief got was was coming to him, and should have been expected as a potential outcome when you become an armed robber. No empathy for that kind of thing. I live in Las Vegas and have a concealed carry permit. I don't go looking for problems, but I won't be caught unarmed in any situation involving threats to my life or property or the life and property of those I'm near at the time. If you don't want to get shot and killed, don't go out looking to threaten and steal, especially while armed. Situationally, if I'm in a store and I hear gunshots near the front door, and I have an emergency exit 10 feet from me, I'm heading out the door, I'm no cowboy, but if something breaks out right in front of me and it's me or them... you can be sure I'm gonna do what's necessary to be sure it's them on the ground rather than me. To me this is simple common sense.
@@jakehamilton9352 A few years ago two cops in Las Vegas got shot down and executed at a Cicis pizza while on lunch break. The perpetrators had just come from the Walmart half a block away. They had guns yet were still shot down. Shot can happen anywhere at any time. Joke if you must but I seriously hope you remain luckily untouched by such tragedy.
Good job. Some say that after God looks down on Travis, he actually does but hallucinates his being a hero in the eyes of the world and also his rejection of Betsy is a fantasy. The only reason I’m not sure if this is so is that as he left Betsy, he gota look at himself in the rear view mirror and turns it away. Rejecting himself if you will.
You might want to watch Night of the Juggler from 1980. It reminds me a lot of Taxi Driver and stars James Brolin, Cliff Gorman and Julie Carmen. Its one of those thriller movies that take place in a single day.
I would like to recommend a film set in New York during the 80s called "We own the night" imo it is really underrated and would be awesome to see a reaction to it. starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall and Eva Mendes
It wasn't lonliness per se, yes he was a loner, but he came back from War and couldn't sleep, people on meth go crazy from lack of sleep, not the drug per se. So, everything plays off that, sure he's lonely and depressed, but he git a date, and took her to a porn movies, he wasn't thinking straight. I think the shootout did somethin to him, and he got back on track maybe they gave him something to make him sleep in the hospital etc. etc. But it is well known, people who are sleep deprived go off the deep end.
Long pinky finger nails were called "coke nails", used to snort coke quickly when you weren't somewhere to cut lines out on a surface. For some reason, men that had them were pretty popular with the ladies in the 70's/80's...
DANG! That was probably the most interesting and insightful analysis of this movie I've ever seen! Really appreciate the deep-dive you did on watching multiple times as well as the commentary (I had no idea about the significance of the mohawk!) i agree with the recommendations to watch "The King of Comedy" and I think I actually prefer it to this movie. It's rated PG so it's not nearly as controversial, but just as interesting. And you're spot-on with making the connection from this film to "Nightcrawler"; the exact same comparison can be made between "Joker" and "King of Comedy". Subscribed; keep up the good work!
The reason the camera pans over the empty hallway when Travis is trying to call Betsy. Is Martin Scorsese’s way of allowing the audience to give Travis space as the phone call is too painful to bare since he is obviously getting rejected and allows us not to see Travis in his shame at losing Betsy. So he’s basically saying I can’t bare it anymore and am going to give the man space. Scorsese even mentioned that he feels it’s the most important shot in the film as it also shows how alone and isolated he really is at this point. Since we cannot see Travis nor Betsy we also get the feeling that no real conversation is occurring and that the film will take on this new feel in the next half. Scorsese does make you dig deep for messages in his film.
Foster's older sister played certain scenes. I think he was a hero, he saved a 12 year old girls life. I don't see much compassion from yourself for a guy who's got PTSD. This man can do no right in your eyes.
i know it’s a bit cliched to say but i almost feel like he died in the shootout and everything after that which seems ‘too good to be true’ might not be real
This is a movie that if you are into cinema and have an open mind can grow on you. Characters don't fit into pleasant Hollywood stereotypes we're use to. Travis is complex. He is neither a hero or villain. This makes the movie better with each rewatching forcing us to try to make sense of what we have seen. The ending to me is about the irony that he had good intentions trying to date Betsy (admittedly poorly) and she rejected him. Then he kills the pimps with bad intentions and yet Betsy now is interested in him because of the publicity but he is the one rejecting her. Could be a comment on the role of fame. We are enamored with famous people who could be jerks in real life and ignore every day people around us. I think this fits into the theme of the movie that people who are socially isolated who go on killing sprees are looking to be recognized.
The most important shot of the film is when Travis is on the phone pleading with Betsy. The reason the camera pans to show the hallway away from the action is because the conversation is so pathetic and humiliating that even the camera doesn’t wanna see or hear it. Also the ending when Travis looks in his rear view it means he is not well…He is a ticking time bomb
True, at the end he catches his own glance and doesn't likes what he sees.
I thought it was because the hallway is empty.
@@etiennesickleton1483 No Martin Scorsese commented about the shot and said what I said and why it’s so important.
The camera move to the empty hallway wasn't because it, the camera, was disgusted, it was to show the emptiness of Travis's attempt for reconciliation. My father was an assistant cinematographer for that movie as well as "Mean Streets" which Bobby was in before Taxi Driver. My pop said "Dinero would be the coolest guy in between shots, eating with us and joking around, then when it was time to shoot a scene, he was all business." Amazing actor and a caring human. When my father passed in 2014, I was shocked to get an email from Robert sending his heartfelt message of condolence which I won't share.
@@windsorkid7069 That’s an incredible story. It would be awesome to work with Scorsese and Michael Chapman the cinematographer.
Scorsese cameo in this movie is damn legendary
The 44 magnum had its heyday in the 70's, made popular in the Dirty Harry movies and others, like Taxi Driver, inner city crime & grime was also a big part of movie culture then.
44 magnums are fun to shoot the gun that's not fun shooting is the 500 magnum its a wrist breaker lol
The Smith And Wesson Model 29 is my favorite handgun of the period and the jewel of my collection
Remember back then the .44 was the big boy on the block it was before 500 mag and before desert eagles became big the .44 represented power but also masculinity with destruction as well a hero and a villain could use it equally
The ending was real. His hair grew back because he was in the hospital a long time. The doubletake he does at the end means Travis is still sick and he will do something else he probably shouldn't do.
You wouldn't have liked New York City in the '70s. It had taken a nose dive since the '50s. Central Park was like really, really unsafe. Times Square was a sleazy porn jungle. The whole place was funky and run-down. The New York Giants had moved to San Francisco, the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles. The Mets were a bad joke (except for the '69 World Series). Murder was commonplace. It wasn't until the '80s that New York began to recover. This movie is a snapshot of the city at its lowest ebb.
The photo of Iris" parents tacked on the wall of Travis' apartment is actually a a picture of Scorsese's mother and father at 23:00. He does these things all the time. His mother is a true character.
I always thought they looked a bit old to be parents of a 12 year old 😕
Shelby, as
someone who lived through it, no you wouldn't want to be in New York City in the 70s. It was one of the most crime related times even worse than today.
My grandpa also said the city was so filthy and smelled awful during that time
Much worse than today for sure. NYC today is actually one of the safest of the 100 largest cities in the U.S., but unfortunately due to the reputation it built up during that time people think it is still like that.
"All the animals come out at night." 🚕 The very city of NY was a character then, when the city was real and shady some people say... there is a excellent documentary called "The coolest Year in Hell" worth watching it to learn more about it. 🤙🏼
I think the thing that sent him off the deep end came before the guy in the cab. When Betsy rejected him I think that's when he went off the rails. I got the impression that having any kind of relationship with her was his last chance at a semi normal kind of life. Everything he does after that is just going farther and farther into dysfunction with nothing slowing him down. That's why when when the passenger starts talking about killing his wife and destroying her face, he pays attention. Travis already has the ideas in his head but that guy provided some focus- if you want to destroy someone then you need weapons. I think Travis wanted to kill Palantine in order to hurt Betsy. His plan was to kill him and also die while doing it. Then Betsy would know Travis is the one who killed the politician she spent all that time helping. I think he wanted her to feel guilty, like she's the reason Travis did it. I think the ending, after he tries to shoot himself, is a delusion. It's what he saw in his mind as he died. He becomes a crime fighting hero. The girl is saved. Betsy comes back to him to look at him respectfully. No one mentions the illegal guns, Betsy and the guy she worked with apparently don't tell the police how crazy he was acting. No way all that was real. That 'God's eye" view? I think that really represented Travis's spirit view as he died and his souls drifts away to where ever it is he winds up.
Paul Schrader the writer says that the ending was NOT an illusion. Although, I think it makes more sense as a dream he had in his coma.
Paul Schrader also said that Travis would certainly kill again.
The man in the taxi who wanted to kill his wife with a 44 magnum was the director Scorsese. The actor didn't show up for this part so Scorsese filled in.
The woman from whom De Niro bought all the refreshments became his wife. Scorsese played the guy who kept talking about shooting his wife with a .44 Magnum.
Albert Brooks (Betsy's coworker with the glasses) has made some of my favorite comedies. Lost In America, Defending Your Life, Real Life
His real name is Albert Einstein. Seriously.
All that chaos was actually in Time Square. 1970s Times Square was a nasty place
If someone points a gun at you after trying to rob a store you dont "shoot them in the arm"
Exactly
I thought the same thing lol
Hey! Have you seen “A BRONX TALE” (1993)?
Yes A Bronx Tale is a Must for anyone watching Mob Movies!
Great movie! Robert De Niro directed that one. It is the autobiography of actor Chazz Palminteri. The soundtrack is superb.
If you've ever been a working person in a inner city sewer situation like this, Travis does not have a skewed perception of the world around. People knew this when they saw it in 1977 and it's the reason the movie still resonates today. You are not allowed to make a movie like this today.
Jodie Foster was only 12 when she filmed the movie and, for obvious reasons, some scenes required an adult body double of her.
Body double was Jodie Foster's older sister.
Even though the ending can have multiple interpretations, in the voice-over scene by Iris' father, he said that Travis was in a coma during the time they came to New York to take Iris back home. That could have been for weeks or months, during which time his hair grew back. Also, you can see that there's a visible scar on his neck from where he was shot.
If he would have shot him in the arm. The perp would have gotten out of jail and did it again. So, he saved the tax payers a lot of money. Plus he stopped future robberies from occurring. I think that he should get a medel and the keys to the city.
Martin Scorsese appears twice in the movie, once as a passenger , the infamous " you see the women in the window " but much earlier he is seen sitting on a wall (3.50) its the shot when we are first introduced to Betsy.
Bernard Herrmann's wonderful soundtrack is a major part of Taxi Driver.
Travis was watching The Young And The Restless, one of my mother's soap operas. I often wanted to kick over the TV like Travis did.
Every time you see and hear the pimp think about the words " I'm Winston Wolf I solve problems "
The pimp is Harvey Keitel. Awesome actor. This is such an iconic film. A masterpiece!
Back in the good old days we used to have "Two Dollar Tuesdays" at all the movie theaters. They were always packed with a rowdy crowd and it was tons of fun! Anyway, thanks for another great reaction!
The Mohawk was adopted by some special forces guys in Vietnam.
This might be the best review after a reaction. It's so great.
To answer your question about the actor playing the cabstand boss, yes he WAS in The Godfather, both part 1 and part 2 in fact. That's the late great character actor Joe Spinnel who played the conflicted button man Willi Cicci in the Godfather franchise, had a recurring role in the Rocky franchise, and is recognizable from many tough, gritty urban dramas and thrillers.
Another great movie from him is " Cape Fear ". It's a remake from the original. And if you like Al Pacino , I suggest you watch " Dog Day Afternoon ". That's a great movie !!! 👌. The one you say that looks familiar from the godfather , he was also in the movie " ROCKY ".
Both of those movies are great.
All the street scenes viewed from the cab are whatever was happening at the time.
Wow, such detailed reactions justify the wait of 2 weeks before the next movie finally comes up.
Btw, a list of the next 3 movies you're going to react to would be a great thing, just as a suggestion.
The taxi customer taking about killing his wife was Martin Scorsese.
You don't understand how a pimp works, which I suppose is a good thing. You go to the pimp to set up the "date." That way the pimp knows there is money coming to him.
To some,that of a Taxi Driver's Vision of NYC was brillant, Judge for yourself,Bernard Herrmanns Music score a Flim standout!
He just wanted/needed to do a violent act he didn't care if it was heroic or villainous why it was so easy to switch from one plot to another.
I think deeper than that though he needed a purpose and meaning in life. To him, going out in a blaze of glory would have satisfied that need
80s in nyc was wild
The guy in the beginning at the desk was the loan shark in rocky
Martin Scorsese actually appears twice, his first appearance is in the scene where we see Betsy. He’s the bearded man sitting down to her left that she walks by, he’s got a black t shirt and jeans
Dear Shelby, sorry I got so late to your reaction, but wanted to say I appreciate your articulate analysis and your exploration of the backstory. My friend Robert Kolker wrote a book called A Cinema of Loneliness and he has an excellent analysis of this film as well. Also, my friend Dorothy's father did the music score for this film. There's a dedication to him at the end of the film.
Cybll Shepard appearred on the cover of Seventeen magazine many times during the 70s before she started acting. So Travis is attracted to the It Girl of the time.
Scorsese did a pretty funny New York film in 85 called After Hours. Despite being a comedy, visually it's even darker than Taxi Driver.
Great analysis! This movie is so prescient. It really shows how people who are lonely & isolated can descend into a madness that makes them want to perpetrate violence on others.
A movie like this could not be made now. For example the scene with the black robber being shot might stay, but the Hispanic storekeeper beating his corpse while screaming "that's the 5th time this month" probably wouldn't. It's too raw. I've seen TV shows and movies where a gang of street thugs is causing trouble, and they're a mix of black, white and Hispanic men. You just won't see that in real life, but it sure is inclusive.
Brilliant film, I think De Niro's finest performance and this is my favorite film Scorsese
This was awesome, Shelby! Really well done. I’m a fan of Shanelle Riccio and Popcorn in Bed and I like that you do what they do but go even deeper with the analysis at the end. Great editing using the clips as broll during the analysis.
I’ve been a fan of this movie for almost 20 years and a lot of what you said were things I hadn’t considered. I LOVE the point about Palestine representing the people and his slogan. DUH - Scorsese hits us over the head with it when the wrong word in the “we are the people” slogan is emphasized and Robert Brooks’ character has the phone conversation about it. Also his contradictions were something I hadn’t considered. Sybil Shepherd had him pegged, and he was projecting his own stuff onto her. Really great insight there. Thank you for that.
I just found your channel and can’t wait to watch more. If I could recommend a lighthearted but deep palette cleanser for something like this, I’d love to see someone (anyone - seriously, no one has reviewed it on TH-cam) react to Parenthood from 1989. All star cast. Really great. I’d donate whatever to your patreon… you have a patreon, right?
Anyway, keep up the great work!
My Goodness! Cybill Shepard was GORGEOUS!
It pans off of Travis on the payphone as if even the camera finds it too awkward to watch him be that clueless and hopeless.
The guy who hired him is Joe Spinell who WAS in the Godfather movies, and is is also famous in the horror community for directing and starring in the cult slasher movie "Maniac" which was later remade starring Elijah Wood. Unfortunately he passed away in '89 when he was in his early 50's.
And the long pinky nail is to hold and snort coke. Carrie Fisher had one in Star Wars.
I recently re-watched this as a major influence of my favorite recent movie - Joker. I'd forgotten how good it is in its own right, and was kinda blown away by its other influences, especially on the would-be presidential assassin John Hinckley, who was obsessed by Jodie Foster's character, and basically just did what Travis couldn't - shoot a presidential figure. Maybe art can be too good...
Paul Schrader the writer of this film, based his story on the diaries of Arthur Bremer, the man who shoot Governor George wallace in 1972.
I was never really sure about the ending to this movie until someone suggested that maybe Travis dies in that hotel room and the rest is a dream sequence.And all of it was for nothing.
The dream ending would have wrecked one of the points of the film- how violence is glorified in today's society.
Side note: about 10 years later, a man who felt threatened by four men on the NYC subway shot them, and was acquitted. Though none of the men died, there were very serious injuries. So, back in the time of the film, it would not have been unlikely for charges against Travis to be dropped, and for his violence to be misinterpreted.
The one you recognized is Joe Spinell and yes, he was in The Godfather. You should see him in Maniac, one of his best roles and a really underrated, but great slasher movie.
9:46 That's Martin Scorsese.
The porno they saw was a Swedish sex ed movie.
Best movie music EVER.
The soundtrack was composed by the awesome Bernard Herrman.
I´ve seen this movie about 10.000 times in the last 20 years but didn´t know about the mohawk background. Education with Shelby. Nice.
So you've spent at least 17% of your waking hours (assuming you sleep 8 hours) in the last couple of decades to watch one movie???
@@scipioafricanus5871 Sad, isn´t it?
@@j.s.9536 That is not for me to judge, maybe it is dedication.
“He’s out and about, with a lot of people… please don’t shoot up this place.” 😂
even though this movie might not be pleasant to watch I think its a good film.
and I don't know about living in New York in the 70s and 80s. the crime was brutal.
and just an comment on Travis shooting the guy robbing the small market.
you absolutely do NOT shoot someone In the arm or leg when they are armed and brandishing a firearm. . that is very dangerous. anyone who EDC should know this
that being said I think it was really cool you listened to the director commentary
and took time to dissect this film.
Nice commentary, Shelby. Great film.
amazing how differently Betsy looked at Travis after he became a "hero".
Shelby, if you want to know about New York in the seventies watch"American gangster"with Denzel Washington
Yes, Jodie Foster really was 12
Jodie Foster should have won best actress academy award for this. It also wants your career
- *THE TOWN (2010)*
- *PRIMAL FEAR (1996)*
- *PRISONERS (2013)*
- *AMERICAN SNIPER (2015)*
- *CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (2002)*
🔥🔥🔥💪🏼
The guy in the cab watching his wife is Martin Scorsese.
The scene at 9:47 is sometimes interpreted as being all in Travis's head, like there isn't anyone in his backseat (maybe he's like the devil on his shoulder) and Travis is just fantasizing about killing Betsy and her man.
Because Travis really doesn't say any lines (except for a quiet "Yeah..") while Scorsese rants and raves to him.
ohhhh that's interesting I didn't know that!
@@shelbynnave sorry to do this, but the Mohawk is a nod to subjects
1: Scorsese used The Searchers as a bit of influence for the story, so the Mohawk is a nod towards Native Americans (So is Matt)
2: Vietnam Soldiers would sometimes give themselves Mohawks before a Suicide Mission.
Trivia: The Pimps were Originally gonna be Black Men.
Nightcrawler is an exploration of capitalism. Taxi Driver is an exploration of loneliness. And PTSD.
Love your channel ❤
Thank you so much!!
Cant help it your reactions are epic
React to Cape Fear (1991), also with De Niro. He was nominated for an Oscar for that one.
This is a well done review/reaction. New sub
I appreciate it!
I don't think you'd want to be in New York in the 70's. It was a pit of violence and garbage strikes. Maybe the studio 54 version.
Same thing I was thinking
Loved your thoughts afterwards, it was really interesting. Also great movie! I remember "kind of" seeing it on tv when i was younger, but I didn't really watch it conciously and also wasn't able to pick up on everything. So watching it now as a grown up makes me really appreciate all the aspects of this movie, how well it's made and how deep it goes.
Interesting that you watched it again and again to digest it. I saw it 10 times in the theater the week it was released: I was that impressed with it! Paul Schrader, the screenwriter, wrote and directed another interesting film Hardcore (1979) with George C. Scott. Schrader is also an academic. His book Transcendental Style in Cinema: Ozu, Bresson, Dreyer is certainly a departure from the themes in his films.
You've got a really good eye for this. I really appreciate the nuances that you pick up on, and you articulate many for me that I've seen but haven't quite processed. Another excellent reaction!
Thank you so much!
Also variously related: _Drive_ by Nicolas Winding Refn, _Joker_ , and _You Were Never Really Here_ .
The guy in the cab who wants to kill his wife is no crazier than Lorena Bobbitt think about it
So I doubt you’ll remember since this was awhile ago BUT there is a very specific and out of place pan 8:53 over while Travis is calling Betsy and you mentioned it was “weird” and didn’t make sense;
My interpretation of that weird pan is that’s the last time we see Travis really trying to be a “good guy” getting rejected by Betsy was the final straw I think Deniro is out of shot because that side of his char is dead. We see Travis re-emerge into the frame and he’s a different person for the rest of the movie.
Shelby do one on midnight cowboy with jon voight and dustin hoffman.
Your reaction to the TV scene was funny, and what no Coors light beer this time ?!?
When someone draws a gun on you, I'm thinking of the robbery scene, you go for the killshot so they can't put one into you. If you shoot him in the arm and miss and then he shoots you in the head... game over. Really you're supposed to aim for center body mass but he had time to line it up for a clean head shot, something he likely did a lot of in Vietnam. When you take a gun with intent to steal, threaten or harm others, it should be no surprise when someone outdraws and kills you. At that point of the movie Travis was going to cause an incident, but he did want to be the cowboy hero, but make no mistake, that thief got was was coming to him, and should have been expected as a potential outcome when you become an armed robber. No empathy for that kind of thing.
I live in Las Vegas and have a concealed carry permit. I don't go looking for problems, but I won't be caught unarmed in any situation involving threats to my life or property or the life and property of those I'm near at the time. If you don't want to get shot and killed, don't go out looking to threaten and steal, especially while armed. Situationally, if I'm in a store and I hear gunshots near the front door, and I have an emergency exit 10 feet from me, I'm heading out the door, I'm no cowboy, but if something breaks out right in front of me and it's me or them... you can be sure I'm gonna do what's necessary to be sure it's them on the ground rather than me. To me this is simple common sense.
Glad you're prepared for those highly dangerous shopping trips Chris🤣🤣
@@jakehamilton9352 A few years ago two cops in Las Vegas got shot down and executed at a Cicis pizza while on lunch break. The perpetrators had just come from the Walmart half a block away. They had guns yet were still shot down. Shot can happen anywhere at any time. Joke if you must but I seriously hope you remain luckily untouched by such tragedy.
@@verisimilitudeteller I have the hunch that he has a side here, and the only pain he'd be upset by would be on the other end.
Mean Streets is another great Martin Scorsese classic!
Good job. Some say that after God looks down on Travis, he actually does but hallucinates his being a hero in the eyes of the world and also his rejection of Betsy is a fantasy.
The only reason I’m not sure if this is so is that as he left Betsy, he gota look at himself in the rear view mirror and turns it away. Rejecting himself if you will.
really loved your reaction,,,, i hope you continue on your jurney
Thank you, I hope so too!
You might want to watch Night of the Juggler from 1980. It reminds me a lot of Taxi Driver and stars James Brolin, Cliff Gorman and Julie Carmen. Its one of those thriller movies that take place in a single day.
I would like to recommend a film set in New York during the 80s called "We own the night"
imo it is really underrated and would be awesome to see a reaction to it.
starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall and Eva Mendes
It wasn't lonliness per se, yes he was a loner, but he came back from War and couldn't sleep, people on meth go crazy from lack of sleep, not the drug per se. So, everything plays off that, sure he's lonely and depressed, but he git a date, and took her to a porn movies, he wasn't thinking straight. I think the shootout did somethin to him, and he got back on track maybe they gave him something to make him sleep in the hospital etc. etc. But it is well known, people who are sleep deprived go off the deep end.
Absolutely loving this road you're on, thanks for this one.
I think Sleepers or Copland would be a cool minor-De Niro follow-up ;)
Long pinky finger nails were called "coke nails", used to snort coke quickly when you weren't somewhere to cut lines out on a surface.
For some reason, men that had them were pretty popular with the ladies in the 70's/80's...
I think the fact that the man might have cocaine was the attraction...
Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out The Dead is in the same vein as this movie, except with Nicolas Cage as a burned out NYC EMT.
Great movie many men can relate to travis.
DANG! That was probably the most interesting and insightful analysis of this movie I've ever seen! Really appreciate the deep-dive you did on watching multiple times as well as the commentary (I had no idea about the significance of the mohawk!)
i agree with the recommendations to watch "The King of Comedy" and I think I actually prefer it to this movie. It's rated PG so it's not nearly as controversial, but just as interesting.
And you're spot-on with making the connection from this film to "Nightcrawler"; the exact same comparison can be made between "Joker" and "King of Comedy".
Subscribed; keep up the good work!
Thank you so much!!!
I share the same birthday with Robert De Niro
Now that that's over, do you still want to go to New York in the 1970s? LOL!
The reason the camera pans over the empty hallway when Travis is trying to call Betsy. Is Martin Scorsese’s way of allowing the audience to give Travis space as the phone call is too painful to bare since he is obviously getting rejected and allows us not to see Travis in his shame at losing Betsy. So he’s basically saying I can’t bare it anymore and am going to give the man space. Scorsese even mentioned that he feels it’s the most important shot in the film as it also shows how alone and isolated he really is at this point. Since we cannot see Travis nor Betsy we also get the feeling that no real conversation is occurring and that the film will take on this new feel in the next half. Scorsese does make you dig deep for messages in his film.
Thats Martin Scorsese in the back seat plotting to kill his wife.
The commune was usually formed by free spirited hippies. Like near the beginning of Easy Rider.
Foster's older sister played certain scenes. I think he was a hero, he saved a 12 year old girls life. I don't see much compassion from yourself for a guy who's got PTSD. This man can do no right in your eyes.
He decided to go with a bang instead rotten like the rest of the city. But the youtuber can't empathize with him, she is too normal
@@juliuslofaro9257 He put things right.
If you want a good Al Pacino film try these 2: " Dog Day Afternoon " & " And Justice For All ". 👌
i know it’s a bit cliched to say but i almost feel like he died in the shootout and everything after that which seems ‘too good to be true’ might not be real
i could totally see that though... he either died or it was all in his head..
Sport's long pinky was for cocaine.
The crazy guy in the taxi was Martin Scorcese, He likes to make appearances in his movies like Alfred Hitchcock!
This is a movie that if you are into cinema and have an open mind can grow on you. Characters don't fit into pleasant Hollywood stereotypes we're use to. Travis is complex. He is neither a hero or villain. This makes the movie better with each rewatching forcing us to try to make sense of what we have seen. The ending to me is about the irony that he had good intentions trying to date Betsy (admittedly poorly) and she rejected him. Then he kills the pimps with bad intentions and yet Betsy now is interested in him because of the publicity but he is the one rejecting her. Could be a comment on the role of fame. We are enamored with famous people who could be jerks in real life and ignore every day people around us. I think this fits into the theme of the movie that people who are socially isolated who go on killing sprees are looking to be recognized.