Travis Bickle, a twenty-six year old man, decides to change, to do something about this immoral and disgusting ways of the world. He just hasn't figured out what exactly but he knows he is going to do something about it.
Martin Scorsese, gives an insight into a lonely and depressed man's life; Somebody who lies to his parents, yet does not have a strained relationship with them. He writes to them regularly. Travis Bickle isn't insane...It would be wrong to call him psychologically disturbed. Yet, as you watch him buy weapons illegally and talk to himself in the mirror....
"You talking to me???"
You know there is something not quite right about him. His attraction and persuasion towards Betsy (Cybill Shepherd), a campaigner for presidential candidate Charles Palantine (Leonard Harris) seems normal until he takes her to watch a pornographic movie on their first date; Betsy gets offended and leaves. She avoids Travis thereafter. You know Travis isn't your ordinary boy next door even with that cute smile across his face. It's evident, Travis is so much more than what meets the eye. However, Travis' concern and care towards a young prostitute, Iris (Jodie Foster) is juxtaposed with his other strange self and that is when you begin to question: Who is Travis Bickle? Is he the good guy or the bad guy???
Watching a movie in 2010, that was made in 1976, does two things to you:
a) It makes you watch the movie attentively, looking for details that reviews/critiques spoke of
b) It makes you want to travel back in time and watch it, only to know and feel what It must have been like when a brilliant movie like this hit the screens.
The saxophone playing constantly in the background with the piano at various intervals; and the street drummer add an almost macabre music to the film. It seems to be the right element to the equation because It works well and as an audience, you hear Travis' restlessness and affliction in the beats.
Many call this Scorsese's masterpiece but when he's given you films like Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Kundun, The Deaparted, It's fair to say that this man, actually has a collection of such masterpiece! Bow down to Martin Scorsese for being able to create not just one character but characters film after film, characters that you love, you despise, you envy and characters that you will never want to forget. Travis Bickle is one such character!
Yes, If I only had a time-machine, I would go back to 76' and walk down the sleazy ghettos of Manhattan and hail every cab that comes by, hoping that a twenty-six year old cabbie with a marine jacket stops by and smiles and asks, "Where to?"
I'd cornily answer, "Right into your heart Travis Bickle!"
Go ahead, watch this one and fall in love with Robert De Niro. (Oh...and If you're a guy, learn something from Travis Bickle! Just cos It's 2010, It doesn't mean we don't dig, lean, mysterious men who carry that wry smile!!!)
