TAXI DRIVER

1976 ***1/2 128 mins.

This film does a very good job of showing you how you're not supposed to treat a woman. That's the first impression I had while watching this highly unsettling descent into madness. Robert De Niro plays an ex-Marine who takes a job as a taxi driver to earn a few extra dollars. He fails (rightfully so) in an attempt at dating, and then tries to rescue a teenage prostitute (Jodie Foster). Of course, even there, he treats the girl like crap. In all honesty, there are many problems in the strength and believabilty of the characters and locations. The film is interesting, though, and highly enjoyable, despite its flaws. Harvey Keitel is absolutely fantastic as the girl's pimp.
Number 47 on AFI's 100 Years . . . 100 Movies.
Number 22 on AFI's 100 Years . . . 100 Thrills.
Travis Bickie is Number 30 on AFI's 100 Years . . . 100 Villains.
Rated R for strong language and violence.