Taxi Driver 4K review by Bobby Blakey
For years Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro have been cranking out iconic films including Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino, more recently Killers of the Flower Moon and so many more. In 1976 the two teamed up for Taxi Driver co-starring Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle and Cybill Shepherd. Now the award-winning classic is getting the 4K treatment in an all-new Steelbook edition.
Taxi Driver follows Travis Bickle, an ex-Marine and Vietnam War veteran living in New York City. As he suffers from insomnia, he spends his time working as a taxi driver at night, watching porn movies at seedy cinemas during the day, or thinking about how the world, New York in particular, has deteriorated into a cesspool. He's a loner who has strong opinions about what is right and wrong with mankind. For him, the one bright spot in humanity is Betsy, a worker on the presidential nomination campaign of Senator Charles Palantine. After an incident, he believes he must do whatever he needs to make the world a better place.
It’s been quite a while since I have sat down and watched this film, so it was a welcome return to witness this masterpiece again in 4K. For those that haven’t had the chance to see it, the film is a deep dive into the character study of PTSD and so many other emotions as Bickle traverses the New York City nights. DeNiro is in top form offering up a performance that is uncomfortable, somewhat likeable and creepy all at once. From the moment you meet him, you know something is off, but the random acts that show some sense of humanity give you hope before his true pain shines through again.
The rest of the cast are all great, but this is DeNiro all the way. His iconic performance takes a film that would have been engaging enough with the story it is telling, but his portrayal takes it to legendary status complete with the famed “You talking to me?” sequence being a mainstay in pop culture still to this day. It’s a slow burn that brings it to violent climax in a perfect way before giving you a sign of hope in his world.
This is the kind of film that could get dissected a thousand times over but should be experienced. It’s a classic film and I am glad that it’s getting a chance to be exposed to a new generation. In addition to the film in 4K, this release offers up bonus content including galleries, storyboards, commentaries, featurettes and so much more.
Grab your copy of the limited edition Steelbook 4K of Taxi Driver available now from Sony Home Entertainment.