Taxi Driver (1976) – Story, Cast & Review

 Taxi Driver (1976) – Story, Cast & Review

Introduction:
Taxi Driver (1976) is a dark, psychological masterpiece directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. Starring Robert De Niro in one of cinema’s most haunting performances, the film is a raw exploration of loneliness, alienation, and urban decay in post-Vietnam America. With its gritty realism, unforgettable dialogue, and chilling descent into madness, Taxi Driver remains one of the most powerful character studies ever made.

Story:
The film follows Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), a lonely, insomniac Vietnam War veteran living in New York City. Working nights as a taxi driver, Travis drifts through the city’s neon-lit streets, disgusted by the crime, corruption, and moral decay he sees around him.

As his isolation deepens, Travis becomes obsessed with Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a beautiful campaign worker for a presidential candidate. After an awkward and disastrous attempt at romance, Travis’s loneliness turns to anger and paranoia.

Determined to “clean up” the city, Travis arms himself and plans a violent act of vigilante justice. But when he crosses paths with Iris (Jodie Foster), a 12-year-old girl trapped in prostitution, he redirects his rage toward rescuing her — setting in motion a bloody and ambiguous climax that cements his place as both hero and monster.

Cast:

• Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle

• Jodie Foster as Iris Steensma

• Cybill Shepherd as Betsy

• Harvey Keitel as Sport

• Albert Brooks as Tom

• Leonard Harris as Senator Charles Palantine

• Peter Boyle as Wizard

Review:
Taxi Driver is a chilling descent into the mind of a man unraveling. Martin Scorsese’s direction is raw and immersive, capturing the grime and moral rot of 1970s New York City with unflinching honesty. The film’s cinematography by Michael Chapman paints the city as both alluring and hellish, while Bernard Herrmann’s haunting final score — his last before his death — adds an eerie, melancholic intensity.

Robert De Niro delivers a legendary performance as Travis Bickle — one of cinema’s most complex antiheroes. His quiet instability, punctuated by explosive bursts of violence, feels frighteningly real. His improvised line, “You talkin’ to me?”, has become one of the most iconic moments in film history.

Jodie Foster, only 12 years old at the time, gives an astonishingly mature and moving performance as Iris, the girl Travis tries to save. Cybill Shepherd and Harvey Keitel round out the cast with equally memorable roles that highlight the film’s moral ambiguity.

The film’s brilliance lies in its refusal to judge Travis. He is both a victim and a threat — a man searching for purpose in a world that has forgotten him. By the end, Taxi Driver leaves viewers questioning whether Travis’s violence has redeemed him or condemned him further.

Verdict:
Taxi Driver is a masterpiece of American cinema — haunting, provocative, and endlessly relevant. It’s a portrait of urban isolation and the thin line between heroism and madness. With Scorsese’s bold direction and De Niro’s career-defining performance, it remains one of the most important films ever made.

⭐ Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

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