The Film
Despite its cult status as being a counter culture film, director Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver is really just a twisted take on the traditional frontier myth - the hero, damaged by his past (in this case the Vietnam War) can't adjust to normal society, but an act of sacrifice brings redemption. In this 1970s version, it is Travis Bickle (played by Robert De Niro) as the flawed hero, a late shift cabbie who wanders aimlessly through life until he finds someone worth saving; a 12-year-old prostitute named Iris (Jodie Foster). Suddenly his seemingly meaningless life is given meaning, all with the mean streets of New York City as the backdrop.
The film remains as much a time machine back to that gritty New York of the 1970s as it is a turning point in modern cinema. While featuring strong performances, and plenty of De Niro worthy quotes, the story does drag a big at times, but it is always worthy of another ride.
The Picture
Whereas many recent films have attempted to capture the look and style of New York City in the 1970s none have gotten it perfect - and now the bar has been raised thanks to this 35th Anniversary Edition of Taxi Driver on Blu-ray. The film has been newly remastered following a 4K digital restoration from the original camera negative, which was approved by cinematographer Michael Chapman and director Martin Scorsese. The 1.85:1 1080p presentation truly looks as good as this film is going to get, and while lacking the sharpness and detail of more recent film releases, the transfer does the film justice.
The skin tones appear lifelike while the colors of the city actually appear quite vibrant - whereas most 1970s films have a washed out quality that shows the age. There is some grain and the images are a bit soft in places, but really we wish all 35 year old films could look this good.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 channel lossless soundtrack also has gotten cleaned up accordingly. The musical cues tend to be a tad overwhelming, and the music hasn't aged as well as the story, but the sound effects and dialog remain effective. The gun shots lack the "realism" that more recent films have tended to produce, but this remains acceptable as that's how they always sounded. In other words, the film sounds as good as it looks.
The Extras
Where to begin? It is almost a shame that we need to wait 35 years to get some packages for home video releases, but Sony Home Video has outdone itself. The packaging itself is quite impressive, and arrives in the form of a slip case booklet rather than just a clear blue case. In addition to the case there are dozen mini cards that feature publicity photos from the film as well as a miniature version of the original poster.
On the disc there is even more Taxi Driver goodness beginning with the original 1986 commentary with director Martin Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader that was recorded by The Criterion Collection. The Blu-ray features an interactive "script to screen" featurette that allows fans to scroll through the screenplay while watching the film. Additional featurettes include "Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver" and "Producing Taxi Driver," each offering a glimpse behind the scenes from the film-makers' perspective. More interesting is the "Influence and Appreciation," which looks at some of the later films that this one inspired.
The time travel aspect of the movie is further highlighted by the additional featurettes that include commentaries by Schrader and professor Robert Kolker, who discuss the movie scene-by-scene, as well as by "Taxi Driver Stories," which offers real tales from real cabbies, and finally "Travis' New York Locations," a segment that shows how the once gritty NYC isn't so today. One strange bit of out of time experience is offered by a vintage-looking trailer that includes a modern techno score, just in case you needed to be jolted back to 2011.
Final Thoughts
To say they don't make them like this anymore is a true understatement. Even 35 years later Taxi Driver remains a powerful film, while offering a look at a lost time and very changed city. Few Blu-rays have gotten quite this level of update, and this one certainly sets the bar a lot higher for those cult favorites.
Product Details
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