Taxi Driver film review

Review

Cast & crew

Taxi Driver

(1976)

Robert De Niro is mesmerising here as the Vietnam veteran trapped in one of director Martin Scorsese's most frightening circles of hell, as he seeks a twisted redemption by saving the soul of New York child prostitute Jodie Foster. This time the bustling helter-skelter of Scorsese's Mean Streets gives way to a measured, chilly calm, and cinematographer Michael Chapman ensures the Big Apple glistens with barely concealed menace. Composer Bernard Herrmann's superb swansong score — he died just hours after recording it — also lives long in the memory. It's De Niro's show, but the supporting players (Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd) are almost as good, and there's a genuinely scary cameo from the director himself. This deeply disturbing modern masterpiece established Scorsese as a major figure in world cinema, but, be warned: it hasn't lost any of its power to shock. JF

Contains violence, swearing.

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Running time

109min

Country of origin

Genre

Psychological Drama

Original language

English

Screenplay

Paul Schrader

Theatrical distributor

Park Circus Limited

UK cinema certificate

UK cinema release date

July 2006




awards information


	Award	Category	Name	Nominee/Winner

	Academy 1976	Actor in a Leading Role	Robert De Niro	Nominee
	Academy 1976	Actress in a Supporting Role	Jodie Foster	Nominee
	Academy 1976	Best Picture		Nominee
	BAFTA 1976	Best Actor	Robert De Niro	Nominee
	BAFTA 1976	Best Director	Martin Scorsese	Nominee
	BAFTA 1976	Best Film		Nominee
	BAFTA 1976	Best Supporting Actress	Jodie Foster	Winner
	Cannes International Film Festival 1976	Palme d'Or		Winner