De Niro Best Role - Travis Brickel from Taxi Driver
Travis from Taxi Driver must be one of Di Nero’s best roles if not his best. I’m sure there are debates out there over this and this blog will not partake in those. Simply put, I don’t care. I enjoyed this movie and there’s so much to talk about with it. It’s a goldmine for film discussions of all kinds. Writing, acting, scenery, everything is good. With that out of the way, let’s talk about Taxi Driver from 1976.
The Mohawk Hairstyle and "The Filthy 13"
Anyone my age has seen Taxi Driver, I’m sure. Maybe it was just the circles I ran in but, everyone had at least seen this movie. It was one we watched and talked about. For my generation, Taxi Driver is a classic. It is chocked full of iconic scenes and ideas. One of the most, and probably the most, iconic scenes is the mohawk assassination scene. From an article I read on SparkNotes, the significance of this hairstyle dates back to the 101st Airborne and D-Day. You can read more about the “Filthy 13” here. The men in this unit all rocked this hairstyle as a symbol of their unity toward the mission. Travis Brickel in Taxi Driver does this when he is going into combat of his own. This shows his military ties. While we know his character was a US Marine, that’s about it.
1970's New York City
Some things stand out to me from Taxi Driver. First, I liked the color used in this movie. As I work more and more in film, I am learning just how much color matters. To me, this movie seems desaturated. I don’t mean to the point of it being black and white, but the color seems to be dulled. This creates a mood that matches the story – Travis’ existence seems to be dull too, at least his interpretation of it. This great piece of film took place in 70s New York and was shot on scene. How exciting to see NY in the 70s! Factor in that the majority is the nightlife too. Ever watch the Comedy Central show Insomniac? That’s what this movie reminds me of.
Speaking of his existence, it is narrated too which is great. I like narration because it makes it clear how the character is feeling, and what is going on in his/her mind, and helps you to relate too. Travis Brickel has some serious issues going on and being able to literally hear his thoughts makes him so much more real and connected to you. I’m not a murderer, psychopath, or anything of the sort so, I can only imagine how these people think. Clemson University provided me with a great education in Psychology, so I’m curious but I don’t know. The journaling of Travis Brickel which are his narrations, allows us to peer into the mind of this kind of individual. This is exactly how I imagine one of these people who commits atrocities and only leaves a manifesto think.
Taxi Driver and the Anthropologist in Me
Anthropologically speaking, I love this movie. Culture fascinates me and if I had 3 or 4 more lifetimes, I would deep dive into some of the odd, obscure, smaller ones that exist. For instance, outlaw biker clubs, hippie communes, Native Americans, and certainly night shift taxi drivers in NY city. Watching Taxi Driver is probably the closest I will come to getting to do this regarding this subculture. I imagine that there are close-knit groups of friends that meet at Diners on their breaks and swap stories of the weird people they’ve driven around the inner city. It seems like there’s a show that highlights this too. There is certainly a dark side to the life of a NY taxi driver.
The Last 20 Minutes of This Taxi Ride is Fast - Whoa!
Taxi Driver is another movie that has a great use of pace in my opinion. It’s slow but consistent enough to keep you reeled in. Then, in the last 20 minutes of the movie, that yellow taxi’s gas pedal is full throttle. It is a ride, pun intended. Aside from the mohawk scene, the ending must be the best part of the movie. Thinking back, it’s my favorite part and not the mohawk. Taxi Driver’s finale is not what you expect and is somewhat open-ended. It’s odd too because you see Travis peak out as a psycho and then it seems like he’s the most normal person on the planet who also is a hero. If you haven’t seen the movie, you need to watch this one and wait for the ending to understand.
Pay the Fare, Taxi Driver Blog is Over
Circling back to this blog’s intro, there is so much in this movie to write about. Overall, this is a fantastic film and I have no complaints. Taxi Driver certainly has some adult themes to watch out for regarding younger viewers but otherwise, it is a work of art. Travis Brickel’s character is so well-developed and thought out. And Di Nero, his acting and portrayal is perfect – he was Travis Brickel, no one else could have played this role. Taxi Driver has some other big names in it too. Jodi Foster and Peter Boyle are a couple of others that I recognized. Travis Brickel’s character makes a lot of statements about society too. One of the most prevalent ones I recall was that the police department doesn’t do anything about crime. This seems to be a common thing in the media even today.
Some closing thoughts on Taxi Driver incoming. Yes, there is fan art on deck and I’m waiting for the art universe to connect me with the right canvas – I believe strongly in the law of attraction. My biggest closing question is this and it’s bothered me for years – the drawer slide piston rig on his arm – does anyone out there know how to make one of these? If so, please enlighten me. If you like classic American outright awesome or cult film, Taxi Driver is a must see. Host a movie night…tonight and watch it! While you’re on my page though, read some more blogs here, check out my art here, and like, follow, and share my social media here. Peace.